scrappinmad

Okay here goes. I have a quilt top and back at my house that was made by my Grandmother who died in 1970. The year I was born. The top and back are both made from old scraps of material, old clothes, old curtains and anything she found that would be suitable for quilts. I love them both and don't know what to do. I want to have them hand quilted I think but, I don't know if that would be appropriate. I have amish people in the surrounding communities that you can hire to do quilting. If I do that should I use the top and the back or should I use a differnt material for the backs and turn the back into another quilt top. You see the top and back are both a diagonal pattern pieced. The entire quilt is sqares but, the use of her colors I think makes it beautiful. As the story goes. The quilt was made during the years of the great depression. They owned a candy store and worked long hours. My Mom was born in 1933 so she was quite young. She remembers her mother coming in from the candy making and falling in a chair to listen to the radio and pick up a piece from one of the many baskets that were scattered around her chair. It might be quilts, or crocheting, or knitting, or whatever else. The machine broke and so the majority of the top is sewn together by hand. This quilt is very special to me. It is still in two separate pieces and I want it done but, done right to fit the time of the fabric and the age of the quilt. Please help me I don't know what to do. any in put is appreciated. I have included pictures. it should and will be a family heirloom. She died in the year I was born. So I never got to meet her. any suggestions are appreciated.

Linda
This is the top
[img]http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...aquilttop1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...mmaquilt10.jpg[/img]

This is the back
[img]http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...quiltback2.jpg[/img]
The top is cotton the back is flannel
[img]http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...ammaquilt5.jpg[/img]

mary quite contrary

Those are really cool quilt tops. I'd make two if it were mine but it isn't so that leaves it up to you. Very nice though whatever you decide.

You can get old fabric not just reproduction fabric if you want for the back.

ScubaK

I would put a plain border on each of them and bat and bind them each to make 2 quilts.
Then you have 2 quilts for your family heirlooms.
I wouldn't worry about whether to do machine or hand quilting. I would do machine to reinforce the already there stitching.
I think that this method would help preserve them and by using new materials it would help to strengthen them as well.
Hope this helps.
Kirsten

mgshaw

Those are beautiful!!! Are you sure it was intended for top and back? If they were then I think I would finish it the way she intended. But on the other hand if you make them into two tops you would have two heirlooms. I think it would be okay to use muslin for backings if you decide to do two quilts.

scrappinmad

I am not sure what she intended I think my Mom might have finished putting the back together and I think I would like to make two quilts instead of one. I wasn't sure if machine quilting would look right or night. I am in new water as I am just a modest beginner.

mgshaw

Machine quilting would be Ok, but I think since most of the quilt was pieced by hand I would have it hand quilted. Just my opinion :D I am assuming since they will be heirlooms, they wont be seeing a lot of use anyway.

Shelley

I think I'd go with 2 quilts, even if she had originally planned on one. It might help when the time comes for people to fight over them!

She did beautiful work. Yes, these are heirlooms. I have seen some antique quilt tops, both hand and machine quilted. Either is appropriate. Either way will cost some $$$$. These deserve an heirloom type quilting.

zyxquilts

Those are beautiful! How lucky you are scrappinmad! I think I too would make them each into a quilt. Maybe you could put cotton on the back of the flannel one & flannel on the back of the cotton one? I agree with Melissa, since they are hand-pieced, it would be nice for them to also be hand-quilted. Then again, quilts have been machine quilted since the sewing machine was invented! lol

Susan in Texas

You are lucky to have these. They are worthy to be displayed in the most expensive homes. I think they are perfect for hand quilting, and to be made into two quilts. :)

gcathie

My two cents...I would hand quilt it myself it it means so much to you...you'll love it even more and it will become more treasured.....I would make two quilts muslin on the back...Good luck