My mom has always been very creative and gifted when it comes to creating things. When we were growing up a lot of my clothes were sewn by either her or my Grandma. My mom always had some kind of embroidery or handwork that she worked on and as the years passed she got interested in quilting as well. I suspect that that gene got passed along to both my sister, Paula, and myself as we both loved to cross stitch and do a variety of sewing projects over the years.
Those sewing projects included making matching outfits for the cousins at Christmas time. This went on for quite a few years. We would pick a fabric that seemed to work with both boys and girls and shirts, pants and dresses were made to be worn for picture times when the family all gathered. Looking at those pictures definitely makes me laugh and most likely makes my boys cringe.
4 of the cousins in their matching outfits
But those memories also provided another tangible piece of handcrafted love. My mom decided to make a cathedral window quilt. Her goal was to make the quilt as unique as she possibly could and to have every single square feature a different design. That was a lofty goal for a quilt that is large enough to cover a queen size bed but she achieved it.
She has a piece of paper filed away somewhere that documents how many hours was spent in making the quilt and probably how many squares there actually are as well. That will be a post for another day but today I wanted to share some pictures of this amazing labor of love.
There are so many fabric swatches that have memories associated with them. As I took pictures of the quilt I could identify quite a few that were from things that I had sewn or were from articles of clothing that were sewn for me. It was like taking a walk back in time.
I especially loved finding ones that were associated with my two boys.
This came from a little outfit that Micah wore as a toddler.
This was the fabric used in Aaron’s nursery.
My niece had a Raggedy Ann themed room growing up and this was from my sister’s stash.
A candy cane from one of those cousin Christmas outfits.
A Halloween tablecloth featured black cats and spider webs.
Another cousin Christmas outfit if I remember correctly.
Another Halloween tablecloth scrap put to good use in the quilt.
This one takes me way back. I had a yellow dress with a smiley face fabric pinafore over it. My favorite dress growing up.
My mother has graciously gifted the quilt to me and while I do not have it on the bed right at the moment I love having it in my house. Knowing all of the time and love that was put into crafting each and every square makes me smile and I am blessed to be able to have this memory quilt of sorts.
Do you have anything in your possession that was created with love and passed down through the generations that serves as a reminder of a time gone by? I would love to hear all about it in the comments section. Don’t forget to comment for Comments for a Cause
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52 Comments
Leave a commentI have two quilt tops my Grandmother pieced. Although I don’t have the history of the scraps I am sure they are from clothes she made. She always wore dresses with matching aprons that she made.
I love that idea that her aprons and dresses matched! I don’t even wear an apron but I love that thought and what a great thing that you have two of those treasures.
Museum quality folk art.
It is! But it will be in the Chiles museum in North Carolina!
The fabric that is the teddy bear with red background was pj’s for my boys 40+ years ago (flannel, I believe)! I have done that pattern (all by “hand”) and can totally appreciate all that went into it……her workmanship is impeccable!!!!!
I knew you would appreciate the time put into this quilt, Doreen. She worked tirelessly on it. I will pass along your praise to her—that will make her day!
What a precious item to have in your possession. So much work and love is represented in this lovely piece. My mom didn´t do much quilting but embroidered, crocheted, knit and sewed many things for all of us. I have two Afghans she made for me. They look great in my Spanish house. I love the matching outfits!!
Thanks, Darlene. I love it and it sounds like you have some great things from your mom as well which are such treasures to have with you in Spain.
This is priceless. There’s a small lap quilt at our lake house that mom made from wool squares taken from coats and other things. I can remember some of the fabric as being from stuff Dad wore. I look at it each time I’m there. I think I should bring it home with me next time.
I think the coat quilt idea is quite a popular one and yes—you should bring it home with you. Having a part of your dad with you is important and this is a way that you can do it in a small way. I love that your mom did that.
I’ve decided my next hobby will be quilting ….this is certainly an amazing piece – what a treasure!
It is a treasure! I think your next hobby would be amazing! I have toyed with the thought of quilting for a long time and have invitations here to join the “quilting club” but I have not taken them up on it yet. Maybe someday. 🙂
The quilt is so beautiful! My aunt quilts, too. She made me a quilt with patches from one of our deceased family member’s clothes.
Aw. I guess a lot of people do things like that with loved one’s old clothes and it is a way of keeping them a part of your life in a sense. Thanks for sharing.
What an absolute treasure. Since I sew some, myself, I can really appreciate the time that must have gone into this, especially to make it so 3-dimensional. The memories sewn into it are priceless. Lucky girl, you.
I know! I am so lucky, aren’t I? I love that I have so many great memories that are associated with it as well.
This is an absolutely stunning quilt. I’ve never seen anything like it and can only imagine the hours invested in its creation. What I love are the stories attached to each fabric. That makes it double more precious.
I have my mom’s diaries, a most precious gift from her.
Yes—I will always cherish this quilt. I know my mom worked on it for hours and hours and hours and I am so thrilled that I have it now. My mom has diaries as well but she has threatened to burn them. 🙂
Gorgeous quilt! We have a simpler patchwork quilt that was laid out by a great-aunt before she died, then sewn and quilted by my mother, sister, and me over the next few years…but the fabrics are just bits of cotton that struck the great-aunt’s fancy.
Oh I bet it is wonderful to have that quilt and to have all worked on it together. What a great piece of history you have and simple or not I am sure it is a loved piece. Thanks for sharing that with me.
Beth Ann, How precious! So many memories and such a beautiful quilt. You are so blessed to have that, as I’m sure you realize.
Yes, I do and I am thrilled that this was the one thing I told my mom when she was making it that I wanted it someday. I will gladly share with Paula if she wants to share it. 🙂
What a beautiful quilt Beth Ann! My mom crocheted me a patchwork afghan…her mom had made her one and it was the afghan I always cuddled in. A few years back, while my mom’s arthritis wasn’t too bad, she was able to make Tara one too. Isn’t it wonderful to have something handmade from a loved one to cherish? Incidentally, I remember you sewing those cousin Christmas outfits! lol
Thank you so much for stopping by! I love that you have a patchwork afghan from your mom—what a great thing to snuggle in and even better that Tara has one as well. Oh yes—those days in Greenville were the days of making those outfits! 🙂
That’s beautiful! I love cathedral quilts, as well as all the memories scrap fabrics can evoke. 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by! There are so many wonderful memories associated with this–both with the fabrics and remembering my mom working on it.
Wow! A stunning quilt! I got the notice yay!
Thanks, Gibber! It is a work of art in my humble opinion. Glad you got the notice!
I made a small 12×12″ cathedral window quilt and I remember how much I enjoyed it with the thought that one day I, too, would make a larger quilt for a bed. But alas, raising a family interfered with that idea. I guess j need to be another 10-15 years older to accomplish that one. My mother also made several outfits for my sister and I so, while going through her fabrics this summer, many memories were returned to the surface as each piece of fabric unfolded another story of the times.
Thanks for sharing
I know that you understand how wonderful this quilt is since you are such a magnificent quilter. I can imagine that you had a lot of memories flooding back when you sorted those fabrics. I got to wear the same dress twice when my sister and I had matching clothes. I bet Andrea did as well! 🙂
That is so beautiful – and how special that you have memories of so many of the fabrics! My mom once made a quilt from wool and corduroy scraps, cut from some of our clothes. I’m honored to have it!
Oh I love that idea of wool and corduroy scraps. I bet it is amazing! I would love to see a picture!
That quilt is … amazing!
Thanks, Marla! I am so excited to have it because it is so special.
Exquisite.
Thank you! I think so!
Truly a labour of love with such a wonderful result. Regards Thom.
I have some of my grandmother’s tatting and I also haver tatting tools. I always thought I might learn how some day, but not to many people know how. Ironically I also have a piece of my dear late Mother’s Cathedral quilt squares that my mom started before she passed away. Seeing yours makes me wish she had finished it. Your quilt is gorgeous and so memorable!
Oh I love tatting! Don’t have any clue how to do it but it is so pretty and I bet you can find someone who can help you do some. I am so happy to have such a wonderful piece of history in my house now. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
You are so fortunate to have been gifted this memorable work of art. Beautiful…I know too that many many hours went into this beautiful quilt. Plus the fabrics and the stories behind them, what,a treasure you have. When you find that paperwork with all the hours, etc, it took to make the quilt, make a label using photo fabric and place on back of quilt. That way the information will stay with the quilt for sure.
I know! I am! I love it and I love the idea of making sure that the information is kept with the quilt forever. Thank you for that!!!
This is so so beautiful it actually brings a tear to my eyes! My grandma was an avid quilter. I can remember her and other ladies from the quilting group sitting around the big loom, fingers and needle flying, while I laid on the floor underneath and watched the beauty created. Oh how I wanted one of those quilts!!! My grandma’s tradition was each woman in the family would get a home-made quilt on her wedding day… but alas, by the time I was getting married Grandma had long stopped quilting. As I unpacked boxes in my new marital home, I was so happy to discover a small handmade quilt in with some dolls I had been saving. As you also did, I recognized many of the scraps used to make it, and I remembered Grandma sitting patiently teaching me how to sew a new patch and then attach it all together. Did she know she’d be too old to make a whole queen size by the time her wild little spirit finally settled down? Perhaps. LOL
but it’s definitely something I treasure now, and love it when I see my own girls now tucking their dolls into bed with something made with Love.
Thank you so much for telling me your sorry. I loved reading all about everyone’s quilts and memories as well. I bet it does make you teary to see your girls using that little doll quilt. 🙂
What a beautiful quilt! I’ve never seen (or heard of) a cathedral quilt. When my Dad died, my Mom took his ties (he had very interesting ties) and started to make a crazy quilt out of them. She never finished it, and when she was dying many, many years later she pulled it out and asked me if I wanted to finish it. I did – after she died – and used one of her long scarfs to make a cross in the center of it all. I’ll show it to you when you come over!
I love the idea of a crazy quilt made out of ties from your dad! What an amazing gift to have that and how wonderful to make it complete with a scarf from her. I bet it is beautiful and I can’t wait to see it.
It was a surprise when I started to read your blog today. I want to say thanks for the nice things you said. I must add that on the day I finished it was one of the hottest days of the summer and I was so happy to have it finished.
I want to learn to quilt, my neighbor makes beautiful ones. Also, will you make Jeni and I matching outfits for Christmas? 😉
I will work on it! ?
What a beautiful quilted keepsake! Loved the matching outfits. My mom used to make a flannel shirt for all the fellas in the family, big and small.
Oh flannel shirts would totally rock. I love that idea and yes–the quilt is an amazing gift.
[…] blog the Cathedral Window Quilt that my mom made that I now have in my own home. You can read that post here. I have not taken up quilting but it is something that intrigues me. I was fortunate enough to […]
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