While unpacking some of the five bajillion (I know, I use that number a lot, but I think it's pretty accurate sometimes...) boxes from our move, I came across a very treasured possession that has been packed away for many years. It is in some serious need of repair.
These are some of the blocks in a baby quilt that my great-grandmother Bessie made for my mom's baby shower for me! So it's almost 45 years old (I'm not quite there yet). This poor thing has been drug through the ringer by me over the years and is in terrible shape. I've hauled it everywhere I've ever lived and I am ashamed that I didn't take care of it as it deserved. My only defense is that:
(1): I am overly fanatical and obsessive about washing my bedding and
(2): I didn't learn to care for fabrics until I had been out on my own for quite a while and it was already pretty trashed.
Anyhow, now that I have finally learned my lesson, I have made it my mission to do something to preserve this heirloom of mine. My great-grandma Bessie was an excellent quilter. These blocks are perfectly pieced and the hand-quilting is amazing. Her stitches are so evenly spaced, it looks like they are machined, but they weren't as she didn't use one. Her color choices were also beautiful. The thing that makes this so amazing is that she was legally blind. Her eyesight was almost non-existent so the love and painstaking care that she must have taken with this quilt is over the top. I can't imagine how many hours she poured into it.
I haven't really decided exactly how I'm going to go about rescuing some of these blocks. I can't decide if I want to take some of the best ones and frame them for the sewing room or if I want to preserve the majority of it as a wall-hanging. Whatever I do, I'd like to make sure that they are protected from abuse like that which I put it through. The material is fairly fragile so it definitely won't be a bed quilt any longer. I'm still quite new to the quilting world so I really don't have any more ideas than that for now.
Do any of you have suggestions on what I should do? I'd appreciate the help.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! What a treasure it is to have qulit blocks from your great grandmother! :)
ReplyDeleteNice to have you visit...
ReplyDeleteI am no expert on restoration but maybe it could go on a type of canvas frame but maybe using muslin instead of canvas..
The quilt could be tacked down in a few placed (delicately) and then it could be put behind glass..for your grandchildren's room one day.
That's a great idea Jane. Thank you for coming by. I'm clueless when it comes to things like this.
ReplyDeleteIt's so beautiful...and what history!
ReplyDeleteIt must have so much sentimental value for you.
)O(
boo
Oh, what a treasure!
ReplyDelete