Finally finished
05-26-2025, 12:24 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 1,073
Finally finished
When my mom passed away in 2006 and we were clearing out her house we found 18 blocks in a box in her closet. The fabrics looked like they were mostly from clothing with some of the blocks being hand sewn and the rest by machine. The blocks are wonky and not square and they ranged in size from 17" to 21" and as you can see they are pretty scrappy as I quilted this I discovered some fabrics were used once and smallest was about 1" x 2". I didn't do anything with blocks until about 5 years ago when I decided to square the blocks to 16 x 16 and chose the best of the 18 blocks (a couple were worn in places) and sewed together in 4 across by 4 down making the quilt 62 x 62. I then decided to add a border and that took awhile to find a print that would go with the other fabrics. Anyway it is now finished quilted and binding added.
When we found these blocks my siblings were going to toss in donation pile but being a sewer nat a quilter I rescued them and they inspired me to start quilting and finish this project. I have no idea as to the history of this quilt prior to finding it. My mom sewed but did not quilt and I don't remember my grandmother or great-grandmother quilting either. I asked my aunts and cousins if anyone knew the history of the blocks as there are some quilters in family but none knew anything about them.
So here is the finished quilt known as The Closet Quilt which I will label with the history I know and pass to one of my sons when the time comes.
When we found these blocks my siblings were going to toss in donation pile but being a sewer nat a quilter I rescued them and they inspired me to start quilting and finish this project. I have no idea as to the history of this quilt prior to finding it. My mom sewed but did not quilt and I don't remember my grandmother or great-grandmother quilting either. I asked my aunts and cousins if anyone knew the history of the blocks as there are some quilters in family but none knew anything about them.
So here is the finished quilt known as The Closet Quilt which I will label with the history I know and pass to one of my sons when the time comes.
05-26-2025, 03:05 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,970
What a story your quilt has! And the fact that finding those blocks inspired you to start quilting is wonderful!. Your quilt is a treasure that is finally finished, has a name and has a future. You are a great daughter!
05-26-2025, 08:07 PM
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,559
Congratulations for making something of the orphan blocks. The quilt is very special, because the blocks inspired you to become a quilter. It's also a reminder that women who had very few fabrics to choose from still used them to create something colorful and useful.
