Vintage/Historic Quilt Top - Now What?
 

Writing this has been really hard.

A very, very close friend passed away several years ago, leaving me the entire contents of her sewing room to distribute according to her verbal instructions. Everything has been re-homed with the exception of a very few items that have personal meaning for me.

The one quilt top I kept is especially rich in history and connections. This particular quilt top was hand sewn by my friend's grandmother during the Blitz in London, WWII. She sewed it while sheltering in the London Underground. It is unfinished - just a top. There were bits that needed to be connected to the main part of the top and I was instructed to use a machine. After a lot of agonizing, I did it. The top is together as per her instructions and I'm stuck. There was no discussion about how this top should wind up: stored, hung, etc.; just strengthened and joined and with me.

Your help, technical, conservation suggestions, etc. would be much appreciated.

I am so sorry for your loss of a dear friend. I am very much of the opinion that storing a quilt is a waste, and just plain sad. I think, given it's history, I would be tempted to hang the finished top as a showpiece, or perhaps even offer to loan it to a quilt museum, but in the end I would quilt it and use it--not every day, but when I needed a pick-me-up. I think wrapping myself in a quilt like that would be like getting a hug from a dear friend who is no longer around to give one.

Enjoy your gift!! Work on it with love, then find a way to display it for yourself! JJBlaine said it very well.

What about finishing the quilt and offering it to a museum in London? It was made during a time in their history. It would be shared with families who have been thru that time period.

I'm sure its beautiful. It would be a tribute to your friend for keeping it all these years and to her grandmother who made it.

or if finding an appropriate museum in London is too daunting, check out the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, NE--they have lots of special quilts--with history--and work to conserve them. There's also a new WWII Museum expanding in New Orleans, although that is basically all I know about it. it's such a rich piece of history that it deserves to be hung, viewed and conserved for everyone to see the civilian side of WWII

Such a beautiful story, rich in history. London museum is a lovely idea and may being comfort to those who can onlyh think of the horrors of being in the shelters.

You've been giving such a treasure.

We would love to see a picture of the quilt too, please don't forget to post one.

You obviously have a treasure. Please find a path of finishing it, displaying it and talking about it. The longer it is hidden away the farther it gets from relevance- it is relevant now. There are many museums that have World War II sections if that is the route you want to go. Otherwise, display it in your home.

So sorry to hear of your losing a dear friend. You have a piece of history in itself. What a nice treasure and I think you would like to finish the quilt and enjoy it. As JJBlaine suggested-finish the quilt and when you need a hug just wrap this quilt around your shoulders and know that your friend is hugging you and it will give you strength to move on for the day or chase the blues away when you are down.

If you decide that you would like to return the top to the UK here is a link to the Quilt Museum in the city of York in England -

http://www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/

Their email address is - [email protected]