A friend of the family might want me to quilt something-advice?

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09-07-2015, 08:03 AM

#31

haylillan

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: mid mo

Posts: 509

Quote:

Originally Posted by DresiArnaz

I haven't seen them yet so I don't know what condition they're in. If they're too fragile I'm not going to do it.

I am hoping they were stored well enough that a mild washing wouldn't hurt when the project is done.

She and her husband are probably coming to town soon and I'll know more then.

I'll definitely ask her what she wants but she likes my work so she'll probably just turn me loose on it.

More than anything, I am interested in potential problems I might encounter.

The oldest top I've done was around ten years old.

These are probably at least fifty years old because mom is in her 90's and her daughter had no clue about these quilt tops.

Weird. Seems like something a person would know, right?

If I recall correctly, they might even all be hand pieced so maybe should be hand quilted to maintain consistency.

We'll see.

i have a quilt top my mother made about 58 years ago it was all new fabric looks as strong as the day she made it. she didn't know how to quilt only tied them but wanted this quilted well it never been finshed yet the sad thing is I have a mid arm so one day i will finsh it

09-07-2015, 08:14 AM

#32

IBQUILTIN

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: North Fork Ca

Posts: 8,234

I have 4 tops that my Grandma made, probably in the late 30's or early 40's and the problem I found with them was that the seams seem (no pun intended) to be weak. Probably because the thread is so old. I very carefully restitched the seams by hand and quilted them on the machine with a very lose meander. They look fine and each of my siblings and I have a quilt that Grandma made. I wouldn't be too afraid of them unless they were packed where mice or mold could get to them.

09-07-2015, 07:27 PM

#33

rjwilder

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Posts: 1,538

I agree with Shelbie, I would not send anything of value to the nursing home. The mom most likely will not remember the quilt tops. My mom was in a nursing home for alzheimer's and I have have several friends who have all gone through the same thing. I even embroidered my moms name on the front of her clothing and it just disappeared along with shoes, blouses, you name it. Plus the care home has to bleach things to keep the germ level down. They bleach everything, my mom's brown pants were bleached, they became an orange color. My friends mom lost her dentures and glasses. Another friends mom had a breast prosthetic and it got washed and dried. It ended up being a big rubbery mess.

09-08-2015, 12:54 AM

#34

grandmahoney

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Martensdale, Iowa

Posts: 319

Don't wash the top. Quilt and bind it. And let your friend wash it if she wants. Good luck. My mother in law done on for a friend once. The blocks were old too. The lady loved. Sometimes the memories behind something is more important then the quilt be perfect. What a wonderful thing your doing.

09-09-2015, 10:37 AM

#35

Iraxy

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Grants Pass, OR

Posts: 2,071

Good advice. My beloved MIL went to an assisted living place and it was very good but those industrial washing machines were ruthless. They used hot water to wash everything and seemed to want to wash it to sterility. I made her a quilt of her many scraps and was glad I had left overs because it disappeared despite labels and her name embroidered on the front. I don't think it was stolen but certainly misplaced. I made her a new one and at that stage of her illness I don't think she noticed. So go ahead and complete the quilt(s) but maybe give them to the daughter and make her something bright and colorful to liven up her room.