I've heard of casket/coffin quilts before, but never have seen or experienced quilts at a funeral. I attached a few links to web articles that might be of interest:

http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/mourning.htm
http://www.shadowmanor.com/blog/?p=169
http://www.kellybutterbaugh.com/graveyardquilts.html

I have heard of quilters making a Mourning Quilt that was draped over a casket then given to a spouse or SO (significant other) after the service.

When my grandmother passed away in October, there were two quilts and a throw that were displayed in the manner you described. I had never seen that before, and I thought it was a wonderful idea. They were from co-workers of my and/or friends of three of my aunts. My aunts then took them home.

My sister passed away 3 years ago and we displayed many of the quilts that she had made. The visitors loved looking at them and the family loved remembering how much she loved to quilt. Also a friend passed away last year and they had placed a quilt on the casket and display several large quilts. They also had a table with a table runner on it and one of her quilt books. It was so fitting as she lived and breathed quilting. She had made a quilt for her husband but had not gotten the binding on it. I am going to finish it for him.

When my Aunt passed away,I sewed 4 " blocks using all differant patterns & shades of yellow, her favorite color.
When sewn together it was 10 blocks x 12 blocks
I added a pre-quilted off white, 4" cotton boarder all the way around.
On the back I lined it fully w/the off white pre-quilted fabric.
It was so easy to do, I did it the day before her service.
The quilt was used inside her casket to cover her,it remained in the casket.

At my mother-in-laws funeral, we covered her from just above the waist down with a tied fleece blanket made by my daughter that my mother-in-law just loved. She was cremated wrapped in it. I think my daughter was comforted knowing Grandma had her quilt until the very end.

i had just discovered this really neat pattern to make three baby quilt tops from three yards of material. long story short a fellow guild member helped me pick out the fabric and it was really colorful. i decided to make one of them into a lap quilt for my uncle who was in a nursing home. well unfortunatly he passed away saturday night and so i am in the process of finishing his quilt to donate to the nursing home in his memory. i hope it turns out ok and no one looks at all the mistakes - but it is made with love!

Hi, just reading all the messages. Am i right inthinking the quilts that are displayed at the funerals are ones that the person who is deceased has made, or are they sometimes ordered from a florist that someone else has made for the florist and sent to the funeral instead of flowers being sent. If so how much wouldbe charged roughly and how big are the quilts!! Just curious as i'm from australia and have never seen this and been to a few funerals as i'm a member of a cancer support group.!!! :?

The Quilts that were sent to my Mothers funeral was lap size,and store bought , but the way that they were arranged was beautiful. The top was gathered with flowers on it.

What a wonderful tribute.

I have not seen this before. But what a tribute and loving gift to give in honor of someone loved. Thanks for sharing this with me.
Jan