Maybe you could just take turns having it. let it change houses.

I agree that you should take a picture and pass it the person it's for. I won't pass the quilt from person to person. Some would not take care of it as some people to not know what goes into making one. My grandmother made a quilt that my mother had and she went to an assisted living and we told them we would take care of the quilt but someone there didn't listen and washed and dried the quilt. We were not happy. The person didn't realize that it was an old quilt (over 50 years old)

When you grandmother passed, the sisters decided that your mother should have the quilt. Now it has been passed to you for safekeeping. Since too many people don't know how to care for a quilt and in today's modern world many don't have the space for display or storage or the memory of things ... take a picture of the quilt and a picture of your grandma, then write a "key" for the blocks, write the story of the quilt. Make everyone who expresses an interest a copy and keep the quilt together. Handwork is to be treasured.

I would not deconstruct the quilt...it is a real treasure and it would be wrong to deface it in anyway...I would take a picture of it and frame one for each family member that is interested in the quilt...

I agree with a photo of the block that pertains to that family. Years ago my mom gave me a framed block from the Sunbonnet Sue quilt my Great Aunt had made me as a child. Years later she gave me the quilt but said she did not know what happened to the one missing block! Yea! I have it and can put it back in its place.

I agree with quilteraurie, if it was my decision. I don't think it should be taken apart. Her hard work should remain intact.

I like the idea of taking a photograph of the whole quilt - sort of like the Dear Jane poster - and then close-up photo(s)of the relevant block(s) and providing that to whoever might be interested.

You could find out "how" interested they are if you ask them to make a contribution to the cost of doing this.

YOu could maybe send a 5x7 photo to each family with a short history of the quilts and the individual blocks and then ask them if they would be interested in the poster and other pics (with a suggested cost for them)

I've found it 'amazing' how asking for a contribution to the cost can dampen the interest in having something.

What you could do is go ahead and take photos of it and photos of the pieces pertaining to each family with a little family history and also a photo of the label if there is one. For those who would like a "replica" of the quilt, you could make minis of similar fabric. I would no longer have it in a box. Definitely keep it on display all the time, if nothing more than on a quilt rack. You could keep your family blocks on display and when you have "family" coming to visit, you could fold it so the "visiting" family's blocks are on display. Also if there is going to be a family reunion where many will attend, you could take it for display.

My grandmother and I and a few of my cousins made a crocheted table cloth for a table that seat 8 with a 12" drop. It was Cathedral center. She passed away 6 weeks before I got married. When she passed I looked for the table cloth to use on my bridal dinner table. I explained that I thought it was a way to remember her and I thought it would be something that all the grandkids could use at their bridal tables. We looked everywhere. My father found it out in the garage in pieces. One of the relatives who used it for body work design cut it into pieces. I just wanted to pass it around. I remember many dinners on that table cloth. You could use the quilt at a large table, just put a large sheet of clear plastic to protect it. Each family could sitat that section of the quilt. i'm afraid if it were deconstructed, you would really regret it.

I have a piece of my grandmothers quilt. I never met my grandparents from either parent. My aunt cut it into nice size pieces and gave it to me and my sister , it is so preciuos to me. A piece of her. I live in the north , my aunt in the south. So passing around is not possible. I love I have a part of something she made . I have photos of her but the quilt piece makes her real. Cut it. And have no regrets. Spread the joy around. I am here to say I am thankful she gave me a piece of grandma.