Both of my grandmas quilted. My maternal grandma did have a sewing machine but I think she only used it for making clothes (she worked in a childrens dress factory when my mom was growing up). She had a quilting frame in the "front room" and I remember her hand quilting lots of "cheater quilts." I have a couple she made on my bed now, ragged but treasured, loved & used :thumbup: She also crocheted & tried to teach me many times, it finally took the internet a few yrs ago for me to get it, lol. Oh I just remembered she did machine piece, I hope my mom still has the one I remember. It was a bright, simple patchwork made from those loud 70s knits & tied with red yarn. Ugly as sin but warm and I swear that thing always smelled like grandmas house.
My paternal grandma made (still does!) all kinds of quilts. My baby blanket from her is an appliqued 3 bears quilt that's so ragged there are almost more holes than top left. I have it tucked away until someday I'm confident enough to repair it. I found her quilt guild online recently & there's my grandma holding up a prize winning quilt! I have 2 upstairs that she made too in the rotation, one has some gorgeous applique & scalloped borders. She also knits & crochets, she used to make these white crochet angels that she dipped in starch & dried on a form for tree toppers. When I was really young I remember collecting what we called "sweet gum balls" from the trees in her yard, she'd attach them to big styrofoam balls, spray paint them and they hung from the ceiling for Christmas decorations, lol. She used to use the word "tacky"--I still crack up when I hear it and immediately think of those weird tree balls :lol:
I remember when I was 8-10 or so my parents had a yard sale. We had an extra twin bed that sold & my mom included the beautiful appliqued butterfly quilt that had been mine. I don't know who made it, I don't think it was one of my grandmas, maybe a great aunt. I remember it had lots of purple & embroidered antenae, I used to play with the french knots. It was gorgeous & I've thought of it many times since I started quilting. I hope the buyer appreciated it!