Wow! It's gorgeous. I agree w/QuiltE, leaving it as is, and using it as a coverlet on her bed. Just beautiful as is

Just remember that crochet cotton doilies need to be ironed when washed because they "shrink" up. So if you want to use it as a quilt, you will need to do a lot of stitching to keep the doilies from shrinking and shifting.

I think the tablecloth idea is PERFECT! It makes a beautiful tablecloth that I would treasure if it was given to me. My Mother used to crochet things like this also but I never got anything when she passed. :-( I was never shown how so I couldn't even join them like you did! That way the project will look just like she wanted to look. Just on the table, not the bed.

I have 2 of these crocheted pieces from my great grandmother. The lacier one, like yours I use as a tablecloth. The heavier one is a bedspread, and boy is it heavy! Takes the place of a quilt, but my husband HATES it, says it reminds him of the xray apron they put on you when you go for x rays. Hence it is called the "lead sled," and remains at the foot of the bed. So I'd consider the heft of whatever you decide to do with this piece.

I also like the tablecloth idea - and plastic on top of it to protect it! (Gasp!)

It's too pretty to languish in a box in a closet somewhere.

I do vaguely remember those crocheted things being stiffly starched and stretched. I also remember those sheer curtain stretchers! Wicked things with those sharp things around the edges.

I love the crochet work your mother did. I, too, would leave it as it and just use it on the dining room table or as decoration. It's beautiful.

I have sewed small individual crocheted doilies, onto my crazy quilts. I use a matching color thread and start in the center and do it by hand. Your Mother did beautiful work.

I cut apart a "find" into 4 inch circles. Of course it wasn't anywhere as nice as your table cloth. The circles were sewn as snowflakes onto a Christmas landscape quilt.

It is so beautiful I would want to use it as a tablecloth instead of the quilt.

So beautiful! I, too, would use it on a table over a colored tablecloth; or, use as is across a bedspread. Sewing it down on fabric it will pull when it is laundried and be distorted. When I have my crocheted table cover cleaned I send it to the cleaners and ask them to starch heavily before ironing. The starch will help keep stains off this beautiful creation.

Enjoy!!!!

delma