I just got a quilt from my mom
 

It's a queen size, that her sisters had made for their mother (my grandmother, obviously). When she passed away 10 years ago, they all thought my mom should have it, it came to me now. Each block is specific to the grandchildren, as well as the sisters and some of the husbands. I would love to be able to share this with my family in a meaningful way.

What I am about to say may raise a lot of angst, but I was thinking of deconstructing it, splitting it into the families and making wall hangings for each branch of the family. It was mostly hand stitched, all hand quilted about 40 years ago. It's been in a box, behind a book shelf for most of the last 10 years.

Please give me a new idea. I don't want to deconstruct it, it seems wrong, but I don't know how to share it with my cousins without doing just that. I want to get this posted, but I will post a picture or two of it in just a few minutes.

I agree that to deconstruct it would be wrong. Would it be possible to duplicate the blocks that were particularly relevant to each family member and present the blocks as a framed wall hanging or fabric art?

Firstly I would ask the cousins what they want, after all not everyone feels the same way about things. If they do want a piece then I think it is a lovely idea to share so why not take a close up photo of the quilt and put a piece of the quilt and the photo into a frame that way it can be enjoyed and in view and hopefully last a very long time for future generations.

Have you asked them how interested they are in having a part of this quilt?

I know in my family there would be some who really wouldn't care at all about getting it, others who would want it all to stay in one piece and one who might truly treasure the section that was "theirs".

I know, not much help, but I would probably want to keep it all in one piece unless somebody really, really, really wanted the part pertaining to their family.

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I like the idea of duplicating the relevant pieces, and yes, I am sure there are those in my family who could care less about a piece of it. Maybe a duplicate of the relevant pieces made into a wall hanging or framed or a pillow, and a really nicely done photograph of the whole thing. Great ideas!

i agree that it should be kept whole. i like the idea of duplicating the different parts for the different branches of the family. this thread gives company info on how to print the picture on another fabric...
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t225233.html

Don't harm the quilt! Rather than divide the quilt, why don't you join the creators and have a family gathering. The quilt can be the honored guest - just think of the new memories that can be created because of this wonder quilt.

I like this idea, but we are scattered all over the country and that could be quite an undertaking. Food for thought though. Thank you for your suggestions. I have never done hand piecing or hand quilting, so I may try my hand at that, as tribute to my Aunties who made the quilt in the first place.

You could photograph the whole quilt and then photograph the block that pertains to each member and an explanation of the history of the quilt and what their block means or how it was constructed. Then from the photos and writing...

I would hate to take apart something that had been lovingly hand made. Whoever made it put their heart into the work, because she loved everyone on it. Try to figure something else, like my-Ty. Have a party and let the quilt be the guest.

I agree completely. Unfortunately, my daughters wouldn't care a thing about having it in a wall hanging. Now if they had the whole quilt, they would probably put it in one of their guest rooms and enjoy it there. The one that just had a baby might enjoy a replica of the blocks that pertained to her somehow sewn into a quilt for her daughter.

It has such a nice wide sashing that I would cut it there. You could either bind each and use as a wall hainging, don't bind but frame each piece, or make into a pillow. This would leave all that hand sewing intact. It would be a shame to lose that.

I just could not take it apart, would break my heart!!

Many years ago, my MIL and her sisters (she had 7) each made a block for a Sunbonnet Sue quilt. One of the DILs (not me, this was before I began quilting) did a center block and put the quilt together. Then, each year, at the annual family reunion, the quilt got passed from sister to sister and it spent the year at that sister's house. For many years, it was passed from sister to sister, even as the sisters began passing away. Now, only one sister remains, and I have wondered where the quilt is. I like the idea of having the quilt and the blocks photocopied. You could make an album for each family.

I am totally in the other court. The quilt is not a sacred thing. I think your idea of deconstructing it and sharing with others is the right one and it honors the spirit of the quilt.

We have one of these quilts in my family also. How about taking a nice photo and transferring it to fabric with a picture of Grandma and making a wall hanging out of that?

I don't know the dynamics of your family but could you have a "traveling quilt" that would spend time with the different family members who were interested in it? You would have to set up some rules and a label on the quilt should give the history of the quilt.

if not duplicating each block for its respective family members, how about a good close up photograph framed for each one involved? Just a thought...

Some great suggestions here - I would just go with what you feel comfortable doing. It is a wonderful heirloom!

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.

It is not difficult to take a picture and reprint it onto special 81/2 x 11 pieces of cloths/paper sheets found at most quilt or hobby shops. You can then do as suggested with pictures of your Gma too and make a small wall hanging for those you want to share with, but I'd ask them first if they were interested before going to all the work. Here is a picture of a memory quilt I made with pictures that I either scanned into my computer or that were already on my computer.
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I have a friend (who does not sew or quilt). Her grandmother passed away. Grandma had a beautiful quilt from her mom or grandma (so it was VERY OLD and beautifully hand pieced and quilted) and the family wanted to share it.. (Hold your breath---). They cut it into 4 pieces and my friend framed her section. (Makes me sick).

How about passing it around and letting it " visit " the families who are interested in it? Keep a journal of where its been and how it's been loved with photographs. If it eventually wears out, your family will all have a wonderful history of that great, meaningful quilt.

check the fabrics well before deconstructing it. They may be deteriorated. and you will not gain anything by doing it.

I haven't read all the replies to your post yet so perhaps someone already suggested this...
You could take the quilt to a photographer and then have copies made into stationery and send each 'sewing sister' a note on your grandmothers birthday. They can have the card framed and save the memories or toss it, but you will have shared the quilt with them.
I have had cards made using photos and they are inexpensive and delightful. www.snapfish.com does a great job and so does www.costco.com There are many websites that do stationery and/or large, frameable prints.
Whatever you decide, I hope you will leave the quilt intact. It is a treasure.

I don't know if you have a genealogy of your family. A photograph of the quilt for the cover would be awesome. If you have different branches, a photograph of the square that represents that line would be appropriate. That way you have a meaningful gift for each of your family members, you haven't broken up the quilt, and they each share in the quilt.

I also would make duplicates or even a photograph. I definitely would not take this lovely bit of family history apart.

How very fortunate you are to have been given such a wonderful gift by your mother, the owner of the quilt.
Taking the quilt apart would truly be the wrong thing to do. I agree, taking a picture of the whole quilt, or individual blocks, and presenting them to family members would be a good solution. I love the quilt and the history behind the making of it. Sister's working together, with love, for their mother. What a treasure.

Thank you again for all the wonderful ideas. I really like the idea of sending it to 'visit' with each part of the family and writing about and if it wears out, at least everyone would have some time with it.
I wanted to share it because most of the work was done by my Aunties. And I'm sure at least one of their kids would get a big kick out of having it or spending some time with it.

I am very glad I asked here, I knew I would get great ideas. Thank you very much.

I like the idea of the photograph accompanied with explanations. Then everyone can enjoy it.