I knew my grandmother had sent these to me, but I never really looked at them. I've had them for at least 4 or 5 years. I've got 20 17" 8-point star blocks that are hand pieced and are on muslin bases, and 5 blocks that I assume were from a swap as they all have names on them. I've emailed my mom & uncles to see if they recognize any of the names.

Hubs is suggesting I make the star blocks into a quilt & give them to my mom for her birthday (she was born on my grandmother's birthday), but I am a little nervous about that. Would machine piecing the blocks ruin them? What would you use for sashing? And what about quilting them? I am not a hand sewer, so finishing this by hand is not going to happen.

There are also 2 'table' sets, placemats & table runner, meant to be appliqued & embroidered, but I know I won't ever do them.

[img]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DXg3XPzYp3M/TL...s%20Blocks.jpg[/img]

[img]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DXg3XPzYp3M/TL...%20Blocks1.jpg[/img]

Those blocks are beautiful! Machine piecing and quilting them is better than doing nothing with them.
Go for it and give to Mom!! :D

Lucky you. They are beautiful and so special.

Those are just beautiful. They need to be finished in a quilt. I say go ahead and machine piece and quilt them.

I agree with Susan Margaret. They can't just stay hidden away. Your mom would love it.

Oh, I forgot about sashing. I don't think I would do any b/c I wouldn't want newer fabric mixed in.
I think they will look fine as is.

I machine quilted a quilt that my grandma hand pieced. No problems.

I added sashing to the blocks my mom and her sister had done for their hope chests in the 1930's. The blocks did wear out first, but it was still at least 20 years after I did the sashing in the 1960's and the quilt was well used.

IMHO, if I were to add any fabric to finish (borders, sashing) I would only use muslin. Fabulous blocks.

There is a lovely thread that Eddie did about quilting some antique quilts that were given to him.
You might look at that. They turned out very nice.
Blessings

That will be one beautiful quilt! Good luck!

I love all the blocks...I'd sew them into a quilt somehow...

Beautiful blocks!! that's really special!

Go for it!

I would just go for it....whatever you do has to be better than laying in a box being unseen....good luck and it will turn out just fine no matter what you do!....:-)

Ditto this.

I would finish the quilt too, Mom will love it :D:D:D

The exchange blocks, I think would be cute framed and hung up in a sewing room :D

Sew them into a quilt, and add sashings if you'd like. Adding a border will also make the quilt a bit bigger~

Go ahead - make that quilt!!

Will be great!

Since they are your grandmothers, why not frame them and give them to your mom and uncles and their kids...nice way to remember her and it will make sure that her beautiful work will be remembered and seen by alot of people....maybe number them and add history about the blocks with each one...