Inherited quilts
 

My mom recently passed away and I was given her trunk. In it I find several quilts that my great grandmother made. Nothing fancy, she was a "back on the farm" kinda girl and if I am correct (I will never know) the fabric used were scraps of whatever she had to work with at the time. Hand sewn and hand quilted. Also in there, from my grandmother (whom I learned everything I know about sewing) was a crazy quilt. I vaguely remember her working on this. Traditional black satin fabric, very bright blocks and thread. And she embroidered the names of everyone in our family on it! It's gorgeous! It's at least 50 yrs old.
Now I just don't know what to do with them. I have no idea how long they had been stored in my mom's trunk. Many many years. Now they are stored in my trunk which one day my daughter will have and she will take them out and say how beautiful they are and put them back in like I have done.

So my question is, if you have old quilts, what have you done with them? It seems such a waste for them to spend another 30+ yrs stored away.

i agree that they should not be stored away. perhaps your local library would allow them to be displayed for a short time. perhaps a local guild would let you enter them in their quilt show.

First, so sorry for the loss of your mother. And welcome to the QB - where you're sure to find a wonderful exchange of ideas, inspiration and support!

As for your treasures, I'm no expert at vintage quilts and how to preserve them but I say bring those beautiful quilts out and enjoy them! Even if they're put on display vice actually used regularly. If nothing else, please put them on display here - would love to see pictures!

Welcome from the Northern Neck of Virginia :wave:

Christine

there are lovely wooden storage furniture made with quilts in mind. special glass and the wood is sealed so not to damage the fabric, etc. YOu might look into those. even so, if stored quilts are where they can be seen always refold and change them around every once in awhile.

If you have the space, or even throw over a couch, etc. bring one out for a week or a month to enjoy, then change it for another.

I have a couple quilts that were made by my grandmother and my husband's grandmother. I always have one hung over the bannister of the staircase and I'm getting ready to hang another in the spare bedroom. I love having quilts out so people can enjoy them.

Oh, yes, this is a dilemma. I have a quilt top that my grandmother made and my mother inherited it and kept it in a drawer for almost 40 years. When helping her clean out her stuff, I pulled it out and she said, "I don't know what to do with that." There was a story of disappointment for her around keeping it in the drawer, but won't go into that.

So I told her I'd take it, and it introduced me to quilting. I rented time on a long arm and free motion quilted it. Had no clue what I was doing, and now look back at that quilting and laugh. However, even though it is a truly ugly scrappy quilt, clearly meant to be used and abused to death, it looks better on a bed than it ever did in a drawer. When small grands visit, we look at the different fabrics in it and decide which is our favorite, so it is making memories for them and for me.

Which is the point of this. If you tuck those quilts away in a trunk again, no one gets any pleasure or memories from them. Take them out and use them. That's a much better fate for a quilt than isolation and dry rot.

My cousin places quilts every where and her favorite spots are on her beds. She changes them often making sure they don't get direct sunlight and very little light. My neighbor does the same. you will never see the same quilt when on the bed as the top quilt. Also both use quilt ladders. they cover the rungs with muslin.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas...Those quilts really were meant to be used....and I think I am going to do just that. Either on a bed, my banister, chair. Yes I am going to pull them out and use them as they were made to be used. Gingerly, but used :thumbup:

I agree - use them. I know that I am making my nieces and nephews quilts and I want them to be used.. even by their kids if it comes to that