Since I work in a fabric dept I hear a lot of customers talk about quilts. From time to time I hear about quilt tops they have that their mother or grandmother's have made but not finished. One had just found several that her mother and grandmother each had made. She said she knows she has to do something with them and plans to quilt them, but hasn't gotten to them yet.

It just struck me a sad. To know the long hours those women had put into them but never finished for one reason or another. Makes you wonder who they were making them for, why they were never finished, and what else was going on in their lives at the time they were making to quilt tops.

That is one reason that I try to do a writing of the process of each quilt or even wall hanging quilt I am making. My goal is to completely finish each one I start so that whoever I am making them for will have it in hand. If I am making one with no one in mind to receive it I still want to have a write up about it. Maybe even include a bit of what is going on in my life at the time I am quilting.

I like what my Aunt does (DH's Aunt actually). She has a history written up about herself and how she got started quilting, and also does a write up about each quilt.

Just a Monday morning thought that has touched my heart this past weekend while talking with a customer.

Great idea !

Well, bless ya! My Maw In-law has one that is her grandmothers, and this lady is 96 yesterday. Can you imagine how old that top is? She will not let anyone touch it, but I thought what a nice sofa picture it would make to mount it and frame it to share.......But NO. I love the history idea. Nice Monday morning thought, thanks. Ruth

My Ex's Dh grandmother is so thoughtful about everything....it is amazing to me..When you first see her house you may think it is a mixture of different styles....but what it really is ...is every single thing in her house has meaning...she is 90 years old and every lamp, doll, knick knack, and furniture all came from someone she loved.....or she had since childhood..it all has a "story" I just love that about her. I told her she can't die on us until she puts sticy notes on everything to tell us teh "story" it would be to crushing to go through those things.

my quilt group chairman has forms that I made copies of. Now they are a template on my computer. So that as I work on each project I can fill in the blanks and add remarks about the work and the current affairs of the time. It's so much fun. And since my daughter is a seamstress as well I'm sure she will enjoy having these when I am gone.

My mom has about a dozen pieced tops. She doesn't like to quilt but loves to sit and piece them by hand. They mean just as much to me even though they are not quilted. The patterns are the old fashioned patterns and the colors are vivid.

About 22 yrs ago I was given some dresden blocks from a friends family, after she passed away. They are old blocks, I'm guessing 30's, and her family had no idea who made them. I didn't know how to quilt back then, but kept them anyway.
Since I learned to quilt 3 yrs ago I decided to finish these blocks into a quilt. I got some expert quilting advice and sewed them together, then hand quilted it. I am so glad I finished this project since the blocks are very old.
I can say the thought crossed my mind that whoever started them intended for the quilt to be completed and for some reason it wasn't. It's kinda of like being a part of the original quilters dream.

What a great idea...I love the thought of documenting a quilt from start to finish :D:D:D

It is strange that I can remember every quilt and comforter I have ever made and whom I have given them to. I have a list on the computer and printed out a list of them also, I print out after so many additions to the list to keep it updated. I can't remember the years I made all the earlier ones, but, have years on the latest ones. I wouldn't like to write out all the other stuff.

Well, some day when my ticket gets punched, someone will possibly wonder what's up with all those UFOs in my sewing room. In the spirit of this thread, I think I will make a sign to explain why they are UFOs and givet the finder permission to put them to good use.