Janan

Hello!

Attached is a picture of my completed (almost) Sun Bonnet Sue quilt! I hand quilted in the ditch around the blocks and 1/4 in. outside the Sues. The crochet lace at this moment is only basted, waiting your wonderful suggestions.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the SBSs (1926) came from my 99 year old MIL (Edith's) quilt top, which had been done by Edith's mother. The crochet lace (1932) also belonged to Edith. It was a wedding gift from her mother-in-law. I reconstructed the quilt and will eventually give it to my grandaughter (9 yrs old), when she is older (much, much older lol).

My goal was to complete the quilt before Edith's 100th birthday in December. Other than being part of her birthday celebration, it was the family's hope to drape the quilt over Edith's casket when she passed from this world. I would bring the quilt with me every week, when I visited her in the nursing home. Her mind was sharper than mine and she enjoyed watching me make this quilt out of her treasures, knowing it would go to her youngest great-grandaughter. About 3 weeks ago, she went through a sudden decline. Her mind remained good, but her body began to fail her. I sewed with feverish frenzy. Last Sunday, I was doing the last of the hand quilting during my visit. She was weak and lethargic, but enjoyed the visit. That night she failed quickly and Monday she passed away. I put the binding on the quilt and simply hand basted the lace and it was lovely on Edith's casket.

Now I can take my time putting the finishing touches on the quilt. I want to take the great ideas from you guys and embellish the girls a little with some embroidery. That will be fun. I also want to FMQ in the blocks holding the girls. Suggestions?

Regarding the lace. I want to undo the basting and remove the lace so I can wash the quilt. Before the funeral service, I took a lint roller and damp cloth and went over the quilt, but I have a Persian cat that wants to be involved in all of my projects and I know the lint roller couldn't have removed all the cat hair. And hand quilting it, my hands couldn't have been clean. I'm thinking of hand washing it in a tub with a drop or two of Deft liquid and letting it air dry. You think that would be good?

I have a couple of ideas of how to reattach the lace, depending on your input. Originally, the plan was to simply sew the lace along the top edge. Another idea is to FMQ a gentle loop over the entirity of the lace. That way it would be more secure and wouldn't flop loosely as you move the quilt. If I can't machine quilt over the lace, I could hand quilt it. Another idea I had occurred as I was picking buttons to put in the corners of the quilt. I have a selection of adorable little pastel buttons. If I were to sew buttons along the inside edge of the border, you could "button" the lace on the quilt. Then the lace could be removed when the quilt needed to be washed, then reattached.

I have no idea how my grandaughter will use the quilt when I give it to her (yikes!). I plan to use it occasionally myself rather than storing it away for years. What advice should I give for care?????

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