Wow those are really nice. Goodluck and post when finished.

I vote for 2 quilts and handquilting. the tops are just beautiful!!

My thoughts exactly.... two quilts and muslin backing...hand quilting it yourself would make it more of a treasure. It doesn't have to be small perfect stitching....unless of course, you can do small perfect quilting. :wink:

WOW WOW WOW :shock: those are beautiful, you are so lucky to have those. I agree that you should use each one for two seperate quilts.

With regards to the quilting...are you a hand quilter? If so then it would be such a nice chapter in the story of these quilts if you could do them yourself.

If not, then I would say machine quilting them would also be fine, if I were you I think I would prefer it, as it would stengthen them. But then I can't hand quilt so I would have no other option!

I think hiring someone to quilt them is an ok idea, but doing it yourself would really add to their history.

can't wait to see what you decide to do.

They are beautiful, I say handquilt.

Both are incredibly beautiful and historical. It really makes me think about how spoiled we are today with all the quilt shops and fabrics available to us. That she created such beauty from what was on hand is so inspirational and amazing. Especially the second one, to me at least, she was way ahead of her time with her progression from lights to darks. You are such a lucky person to have these!

I have never hand quilted and do not know the first thing about it. If hand quilted I would probably send it to the Amish.

How lucky you are to have such lovely reminders of your grandmother!

I would make it into 2 quilt tops - double the memories, double the treasures. I'd also label them with something like "In loving memory of (name), who pieced this treasure. Then I would put her birth date and date of death.

As for the other, I would say to do whatever you can afford.

Good luck.

Traditional Amish Backing is to have muslin on the back. One quilt means all the love and use is put on that one quilt. If you make two it will spread out the wear, in my house we call it loving them. Twice as much love with less wear. I would make two quilts. It is wonderful that you have these to cherish.

One common way to quilt is "stitch in the ditch" meaning you sew through all three layers in the seams of the little blocks. That way the quilting is seen less and the sewing pops more. It's also much easier than trying to make a complex pattern over the top. Stitch in the ditch could be done on a sewing machine or by hand because the quilting hides fairly well in the "ditch". Of course with two quilts you could make one on the machine and one by hand. Or quilt them completely different ways.

Be sure to find inspiration whenever you need it because as you feel they are treasured now, that will only increase as they come closer to the finished quilts they will someday be.

My mother started hand quilting a quilt when I was a little girl and had an Amish woman finish it shortly before I was married. It turned out beautifully and she matched mom's work so well you can't tell who did what.