It's late but I finally finished the french braid quilt I made for my husband's grandmother for Mother's Day. I don't know whether she liked it or not, so far I haven't heard anything. I hadn't planned on making it and since I was short on time I chose the french braid pattern since it is so easy. I'd always wanted to do one and after Googling for a free pattern, I dug into my stash and added to the fabrics my mother-in-law had picked out. Grandma's favorite color is red and she adores roses. She crochets and everything in her house has chevrons, so I think the quilt will fit in nicely. I quilted it using my 6600 Janome, using FMQ to quilt roses and leaves across it. I used Glorianne Cubbage's "Twice Quilted" method, which I absolutely love!!! Thanks for letting me share it with everyone.

Oh my that is just beautiful. I love the color. The red with the black border is so pretty. Your quilting is awesome. Thanks for sharing.

That's very striking.

Tiffany, I'll bet your hubby's grandmother is blown away by her gift. It's beautiful! I love the colors and the quilting. You did a great job! :thumbup:

Stunning!! You did a great job with the quilting. :)

Very nice. I am sure she loved it.

That is a beauty! I really want to make a french braid quilt! Thanks for sharing this one with us!! :thumbup: :D

it's an eye popper! the quilting is fantastic

Beautiful!!! I'm sure she loves it -- she couldn't possibly feel any other way about it!! ;)

very very very pretty

Pretty!

Thanks everyone for the wonderful compliments. This quilt actually has quite the little story to go with it. I made a quick quilt for hubby's grandfather. I had only met him once about eleven years ago for an hour but when I heard he had stage 4 lung cancer on top of dementia I knew I just had to make him something. He weighed about 90 pounds soaking wet and was freezing cold all the time. I whipped up a quilt and sent it off, hoping it would do him some good. When they got the package, the first thing Grandma (whom I haven't really met either) demanded to know where her quilt was at. :shock: The entire family then pretty much told me I had no choice but to make her a quilt. Now, I don't know this lady and I have to admit I was a bit put out. I had made a quilt for Ed out of kindness, not obligation, and instead of getting a thank you all I got was this little old lady demanding to know where her quilt is. I wanted to get resentful but instead I decided I would make her a quilt and hopefully it is one she will love. Evidently she also crocheted everyone else blankets (not my hubby though) but she's never received anything in her life from anyone, so I'm hoping this makes up for it and that she feels good when she wraps up in it.

I really love this pattern and will probably do a few more whenever I need a quick quilt that doesn't take much thought to put together. I saved a panel to make up a tablerunner for myself, so that I have some sort of memorial of the quilt. ;)

And evidently the quilt I sent Ed was his most treasured posession the last couple months of his life and it was just about impossible to get the quilt away from him long enough to wash it. I may not have known the man but I am glad that God gave me an opportunity to touch his life. I have no clue what happened to the quilt but I'm okay with that. My reward came in knowing it served its purpose and that it was well loved. Thanks for letting me share this odd little story with you all.

What a terrific story Tiff. The quilt is beautiful, I'm sure she feels wrapped in love.

Oooh, this quilt is so pretty! :) I'm sure she will love it - and I just wanted to say I think it was very sweet of you to make the first quilt for her husband. I'm sure you brought him some sunshine in his last days on earth. Bless you!

What a touching story and thanks for sharing with us! Your quilt is beautiful -- especially the sentiments! Know you touched two lives for sure and that grannny will always treasure it! :-D :-D ;)

Great quilt and touching story.

Great story and quilt!!!!

Beautiful!!!

What a nice story! It sure is a beautiful quilt!

I love this story and the quilt is gorgeous. I especially like that you have the extra border section on the top. It sets it apart.

What a lovely quilt and I'm sure it will be treasured!

Touching story. Your quilt is beautiful! I want to make a french braid quilt. I bought a book a couple years ago & still haven't started one. Yours inspires me so I need to get started!!

Aw, shucks, you made me blush. Thank you!


That was sort of a happy accident. Grandma is very short and at first I just had the bottom section. It might have worked and I know she's short but I finally decided it just wasn't long enough. I had two extra panels I had made and I decided to cut one into thirds and stack them on top for added length. I think it made the quilt much more visually interesting.

Beautiful!

Thank you for such a touching story. Sometimes older people get grumpy but I don't think they mean it. Often they say what they want and don't care what others think and may not word it carefully.

I am sure this is the case here. Maybe if and when you send her a quilt, she will crochet a blanket for your husband. Maybe she doesn't even realize that she did??? Probably no way to know.

God's love covers a lot and so are you for deciding to make the quilt for her. You are a good person.

I guess she's always been a grumpy lady. I'm not going to take it personal. I decided to believe that this is God allowing me to help a lady in her mid 80s who just lost her husband, has a very sick son who lives with her, and she strikes me as scared and lonely. If I throw a fit about a quilt, that would just make me very petty. Heck, I imagine I'm going to be a bit of a bugger at 80 so I'm not going to hold it against her. ;)

I sound all nice about it now that I had a chance to process it, but I have to admit that I was quite a bit put out at first and just surprised at the reaction. Evidently I was patting myself on the head a bit too much and expecting everyone else to do the same. It sure brought me down a peg or two. :lol:

The important thing is that you don't take it personally. I am sure she is lonely and scared especially if her son is sick too. She probably feels like the whole world is against her. Just be grateful that God has given you the opportunity. I believe that what goes around comes around. I will probably be cranky at 80 too.

Very nice, and yes she will like it, you made it

How beautiful