Vintage Crazy Quilt
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#1
02-27-2020My great-great grandmother made this crazy quilt. She was born in 1849 and died in 1937. I'm not sure exactly when she made it but her husband died in 1874 and she had to support her 2 children so she took in seamstress work from the elite ultra rich here in Newport, Rhode Island. This quilt appears to have some very fine fabric scraps as well as some thinner fabrics. I can guess at which were from men's shirts and ties and which were from draperies. I'm guessing she used some scraps from her jobs in the mansions in this quilt. I'm including a picture of my great-great grandmother holding my grandmother's sister when she was a baby. 
#2
You have such a treasure in this quilt. I am currently reading a book called "Once upon a Quilt" It is a scrapbook of quilting past and present. It tells lots of stories about the women who quilt and why they quilt. Your Grandmother had a great story to tell in this quilt.
#6
quiltingcandy , 10-02-2014 05:47 PM
Super Member
You are so fortunate to have such a treasure. My great grandmother (Nanny) was a seamstress/milliner. She left her home in KS to claim land in the OK land rush for her brother (who was too young). No one bothered to save anything she made. I asked one time, because my mother & my grandmother both loved hats and Nanny loved to make them. But my mom once said they loved what she did, but never thought about saving them. My aunt said they were more fascinated by the lady across the street from Ireland than their own grandmother. No one realized they had nothing left until I started asking questions.
#8
Quote:
I'm sorry you don't have anything of your great grandmother's. My great aunt had this and left it to my aunt who gave it to me about 7 years ago on my birthday. My aunt has an old sea chest full of family memorabilia and she is willing it to me because I've always had an intense interest in the family history.Originally Posted by quiltingcandy
You are so fortunate to have such a treasure. My great grandmother (Nanny) was a seamstress/milliner. She left her home in KS to claim land in the OK land rush for her brother (who was too young). No one bothered to save anything she made. I asked one time, because my mother & my grandmother both loved hats and Nanny loved to make them. But my mom once said they loved what she did, but never thought about saving them. My aunt said they were more fascinated by the lady across the street from Ireland than their own grandmother. No one realized they had nothing left until I started asking questions.
