Funeral quilt
 

Hi, I went to the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston yesterday - something I've always wanted to do, and what an interesting thing to do for a second date as well!

Anyway, imagine my surprise to see a quilt there, of all things, and I thought people here may find it interesting.

This is what the information posted next to it said:

"This mourning quilt was made in the 1920s from the different color floral ribbons attached to the flower baskets, which were sent by family and friends of the deceased to the funeral service.

"The funeral director would remove the floral ribbons from the flower baskets after the funeral service and give them to the family. Usually the family members of the deceased would sew the floral ribbons together and a fabric backing was added.

"The mourning floral ribbon quilt served two purposes, to keep the family members warm at home and also a rememberance of the deceased.

"There are very few floral ribbons mourning quilts in existance today, because of the deterioration of the ribbon fabric over the years."

A beautiful rememberance, but that was my first thought, how would the ribbon stand up to laundering?

Oh my. I don't think I would ever go to a funeral museum.... too morbid for me. But, the quilt is interesting. I can understand why the ribbons would deteriorate. And, I'm surprised that this quilt is so colorful. Do the ribbons have words on them? People make memory quilts all the time so I shouldn't be surprised at a funeral ribbon quilt, I guess.

And that mourning quilt from the 20's looks like a modern jelly roll quilt!
Interesting info!

funeral museum...... and on a second date? Whose idea was this? I did'nt know there was such a thing, what other interesting things did you see?

I too thought it looked like a jelly roll race quilt.
I think it would not be used and wouldn't need laundering. It should only be displayed and dusted off occasionally with a dust brush on the vacuum, not all quilts need to be used.

Whatever else he turns out to be, he's original! I think it sounds fascinating, especially the quilt part!

Very interesting!

Very interesting… I've never seen or heard of this one. But have heard of 'passing over' quilt. It's used when a body is removed from a room, especially in a NH. More easy to look at than a body bag. My Mom is in a NH right now & I have wanted to make 2 for that Home, 1 for guys & 1 for ladies, using up my orphan blocks. Of course, the NH home keeps it & reuses it. Don't know off hand the dimensions.

My family is from the South and there was a time when the funeral ribbons were given to a family member to create funeral pillows. The ribbon was cut and folded to look like flower petals. They were sewn onto a round pillow for, and a large button was added to the center. Looked like a daliha when it was done. Close family members would receive the pillows. Cool idea for a quilt.

Wow some of those ribbons were very long. They put those long long ribbons on baskets? Interesting to say the least! You're right though, a quilt is the last thing you would expect to see at a funeral museum. Although I don't even expect to see a funeral museum. I hope the location of your date was your idea because you said you always wanted to go see it LoL.

Is your date in the mortuary business?
Whatever, I hope you continue to respect each others interests!
Thanks for sharing

I've never heard of such a thing. Interesting. What a bright and happy funeral quilt.

This brings back memories for me. During my time as a hairdresser, I also worked part time at a funeral home and did the hair and make-up. In one particular instance, I met with some family members who had a photo of their mother. They brought a young girl about 10 years old. She made a pillow for her grandmother to rest her head on. I asked the family members if they wanted a few private moments with her before the viewing. She had already been dressed and just finished with her hair. They were very happy. The funeral director placed the pillow underneath her head. The little one said "Now that's my grandma. She always like my pillow cuz she said she always had sweet dreams". She can have sweet dreams from now on. I think the ribbon quilt is a beautiful idea. Whatever works to help one get through the mourning process. Some believe gestures like that to be morbid, some believe them to be beautiful. I like the beautiful beliefs. Anything that delicate would/should be gently washed by hand.

My first thought, too. Might work for a wall hanging, but not to be used.

And I'd find a funeral museum interesting.

Thanks for sharing. I had not seen anything made with the ribbons.

Here in Richmond, some of the museums have examples of jewelry made from the hair of the deceased. Prior I had seen lockets with hair inside, but never seen a locket made of hair. I can only image the delicate, time consuming efforts that went into making such a fragile items.

It's interesting to hear of the different mourning customs to be respectful of different people and their times.

My quilt guild has made 3 quilts to be used for removals. They were appr. 87" long x 58" wide. You have to make sure it will be long enough and wide enough and if it's too long or wide they can just fold it over if need be. The first one was just a scrappy nine patch and snowball pattern, we used darker more traditional fabrics with the main snowball being tan. http://www.flickr.com/photos/76263938@N02/8877628437/ The second one was semi-dark reds, creams and blues with a star theme. http://www.flickr.com/photos/76263938@N02/8877657351/ This last one was made using greens, brown http://www.flickr.com/photos/76263938@N02/10856446085/ Make sure you make it big enough to accommodate all sizes, ours were appr. 87" long and 58" wide.

To answer a couple of questions, I mentioned that I liked watching Antiques Road Show, and my date told me his mother gave him a miniature casket, about 12" long or so. I mentioned that it may have been a salesman's sample, and I mentioned the funeral museum at that time. He also has a cousin or brother in law or something that is a mortician and he has helped with ... stuff that goes on in a mortuary, not to be too creepy about it. So I mentioned the funeral museum and he thought it sounded interesting so that's why we went. There were more hearses than anything, but I enjoyed looking at the cars - all the way from the Model A to the most recent, which was a 2003 Cadillac (I think) that carried Presidents Reagan and Ford to their final resting places. There were several Packards, and looking at those cars, I hate that they just don't make cars with style anymore. No style at all. But anyway, it was definitely a different thing to do on a 2nd date. Another 2nd date I went on once was to a gay bar to a female impersonator show. That was interesting as well...

Very interesting! I've never heard of that before.

beautiful quilt. i'm a retired florist and would like to offer a couple of comments. First regarding the ribbon - large 3" plus wide ribbon was used extensively in both wedding and funeral work, up until the 60s or 70s. The ribbons were high quality woven fabric made from real satin, silk, velvet or materials. Much of todays florist ribbon is made from acetate, also waterproof and affordable. Large elaborate bows went out of style many years ago. there are still some of the older type of ribbons made but they have become very pricey therefore used much more moderately.

Funeral customs vary greatly in different regions of the USA. Also have changed in the last 10 years or so as more cremations are done verses the traditional 3 day wake

very interesting. i'd love to go to the museum, I was a casket embroider when I was working. best job ever and I got to be creative too

How interesting, you learn something new all the time! Thanks!!






1

Thanks for sharing your date with us:). I also find this kind of thing interesting, and love to visit galleries, collections and museums. I think I'd rather go to a museum than a gay bar (I'm not the party type:)). It is amazing how customs vary from region to region within one country.

I used to visit cemeteries quite often when my youngest son was working in the monumental masonry business. Learned a whole lot about monumental art and symbolism.

I remember seeing a pillow with dfferent coloured ribbon folded into points at the houses of my great Aunts and my Grandmother when I was a child. The pillows were either round or heart shaped and I remember one mounted on the wall. I thought that perhaps they may have been a "sewing/craft" item that was made but they could have possibly been made as a memorial. I will have to ask my 90 yr old Mom if she remembers items being made in remembrance.

Hmmm - wonder what the 3rd date will be? Or will there be a 3rd date?

Good luck!!

This is amazing. The whole story. I know I would find something like this interesting to. I am one of those that don't find passing to be morbid, it is part of life.

I want to here more about your dating as or if it progresses. The two of you can start a dating idea service as far as I'm concerned. What an intriguing date!
peace

This brings back memories. A quilt was made either by my grandmother or mother from the floral ribbons when my grandfather died in 1955. I need to look at the construction method the next time I visit my brother!

Well, that was a creative date. :thumbup: I like any museum, and this one would be interesting to see how folks have managed to deal with their grief and have memories to remember their loved ones. We still make memory quilts, but usually using shirts or ties.
And yes, do tell...will there be a third date? :eek:

I also want to make a quilt with a cross to put in the coffin instead of flowers, Flowers are way to pricey. I will make my own and embr. in it wife mother, mamaw sister friend and they my family can have it as a keepsake. that is my thought does that sound to morbid to thin k about I am 56 and r not going to live forever but that is what I want so no money will be wasted on flowers for they died or collect dust. So what"ca think? crazy or practical.

My Mother made Yo-Yo's from the ribbon on my Father's flowrs. She then made a pillow top from them. He died in 1961 and then are still whole. Must have gotten a lot better ribbon in the olden days, than we do today.

Thanks for sharing, a place I would be interested in touring. and by the way, have you ever seen the old hearst on display at a funeral home in Dallas? They are so interesting. They also have some old ones on display in Gainesville, fl.
My brother is a funeral director and that is a good idea to have a quilt to cover the body bag when doing home removals.

My husband passed away in March, 2013 and I used a quilt that I made for him for our 45th wedding anniversary. It told of all the places we had been, where our roots were and where our parents came from. It the bottom right corner was a hand embroidered design that I made of the Little Brown Church in the Vale where we were married. It meant a lot to him when he was alive (it was a coverlet size - 52x80) and I treasure it more so now. When we went to Fort Snelling, the quilt was removed and the flag covered his coffin.

My mother passed away in July, 2013 and we placed one of the many quilts she had made and we displayed on the table. It was her favorite quilt and that too was very comforting to my two sisters and I. I, now at age 75, know what quilt I want on my coffin. It is my memory quilt - took me over two years of work to make it and I am exceedingly proud of it. It was the first one I ever made also. Also, Snow, it is not morbid. We got so many compliments of the way Mom's quilt were displayed and even the minister commented on the quilt that was covering the lower half of my husband's coffin. I want my memory quilt to go to my granddaughter and the memory quilt of my husband's to go to my grandson. As I sat at both funerals, just seeing them there gave me such peace and comfort.

Edie

What a wonderful idea both concepts I would make small quilts for my children to be laid on my casket and given to them afterwards. I already have 7,348 projects ready to do but these may take a priority. Thanks

Thank you all for your inquiries into my dating Junior. I live in Houston, he lives in Louisiana and we plan to connect every weekend. He swears up and down he doesn't mind the 3-1/2 hour drive, although I hate to put it on him, what with the price of gas and all. And if this doesn't melt your heart, nothing will: He told me to post this, from him: "To be close by your side and see you smile and hear your laugh, there's no place on this earth I would not go with you." Awww...he's a keeper! The first time he came out, I told him beforehand that I was working on a quilt and had a deadline I needed to meet, so I would understand if he wanted to wait until the following weekend. Nope, he came out anyway and we talked while I sewed (we met first in a neutral location until I was comfortable enough wtih him to have him in my home) and he even helped hold things into place while I pinned! Guess what he's getting for his April birthday!

I have one quilt put aside to cover my coffin...I love it and don't want wasteful, expensive flowers. My daughters have their orders about it and love the idea.... Hubby says He thinks it's weird but fine with him. Hell, HE won't be there, he's going first if I have anything to say about it.

Several years ago I was at a quilt show where part of the display was a quilt a woman made to be displayed on her casket at her funeral. It was gorgeous, but I don't know how I'd feel making somethign like that...

Once, long ago I had a quilt that needed new binding on the top. I didn't have any binding scraps or much of anything to make some so I used a piece of that floral ribbon. What I found out was that it wears quite well if you are careful to secure all the edges but it ravels like crazy if you miss a spot. Worked well in a pinch!

Prissnboot, if he makes you laugh...that's so important. Sounds like a good guy. Be cautious and good luck!