I wrote this post about quilts in July 2013. I have written other posts about quilts since then, especially on the Barn Quilt Trails we have done. Also, an update on the quilt I was working on when I wrote this. I still haven't finished it. :)
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Quilts
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| Quilts from museum exhibit |
As I was perusing the exhibit, I thought about the quilts I grew up with. I had one with a flannel backing for the winter and a lighter-weight one for the summer. I slept with one of those two quilts every night for years. They were made by my grandmother for me, and all of the work was done by hand. However, they looked different than the quilts I was seeing in the exhibit, as neither one of my quilts had a particular pattern with regard to color or shape. My grandmother used whatever inexpensive source of fabric she could find, often from old clothes, whether or not they matched. Those quilts were very representative of much of the way my family was (is)--very practical.
I also remembered another quilt of my youth--one that I started as a teenager using squares of fabric cut from old jeans that I had. I pieced several squares together, but never got much further than that until a couple of years ago, when I got it out and decided that I was going to finish it. I got additional fabric and made it big enough to fit a twin bed. However, I ran out of steam. Maybe someday I will finish it. In the meantime, I like to look at it and remember the different jeans that are represented and what was going on in my life when I wore them.
Now, I have a new quilt interest--barn quilts. These are large quilt squares painted on wood and hung on the side of barns or other outdoor structures. I see them occasionally in my travels, and it's always fun to find them. Also, Uncle Billy has started to make them, and if I can figure out how to hang one, he will make one for me.
Did I mention I love quilts? See some of them below.
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| Part of the quilt exhibit at my local museum. |
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| Quilts made for me by my grandmother. Left: Winter, Right: Summer |
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| Lucy checking out my in-progress quilt. |
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| Some of Uncle Billy's Barn Quilts. (Patterns in a clockwise direction: Lemon Star, Bear Paw, Rolling Star) |
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| Another one of Uncle Billy's Barn Quilts. (Pattern: Indian Maze) (Picture from Shelley at Intermittent Farm Report.) |
Until next time.....
When we were in West Virginia last summer, we spotted lots of Barn Quilts. I knew about them from previous posts of yours. I was pleasantly surprised at how enthusiastic my husband was about finding them. Then again, his mom has made quilts (more in line with your grandmother's practical method of using what you have on hand), so he has an appreciation for them. We have one from her that looks very similar to your childhood "winter" quilt.
ReplyDeleteWe stayed at a VRBO rental in Wyoming a few years ago. The owner of the lodging is a professional quilter, and our apartment was decorated with many beautiful pieces of quilted art. We specifically chose to stay at that location because of all the quilts in the photographs of the rental. :)
That must have been fun staying in a quilters place. Quilts take so much work, and back when my grandmother was a girl buying a quilt was expensive, so they made their quilts out of necessity. Today it is more quilting is more of an art form than a necessity. But I appreciate them in all forms.
DeleteThese are gorgeous! I never learned to sew, let alone quilt. But quilts are especially cool because they can hold so much history all in the fabric!
ReplyDeleteThe history in the fabric is especially fun. I can remember different dresses that I wore that are in my quilts.
DeleteI admire those who can make quilts. I like those mismatched quilts, make from all types of leftover things, they are quite clever. Uncle Billy's quilts looks great
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
I still want a barn quilt. Maybe that will be a project for me next winter.
DeleteJamie (Jannghi.blogspot.com): Quilts is also my topic today.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't as many things to choose from for the letter Q as there some of the others. I look forward to reading your post on quilts.
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