My Quilting Heritage
- A19th Century Appliqué Quilt
The quilt has 16 appliqué blocks separated with sashes and surrounded by a scalloped appliqué border. The outer border is a repeat of the scalloped appliqué border with four corner panels of appliqué/embroidery. See below for a close-up of the corner blocks. The batting used in this quilt is very very thin - typical of 19th century quilts. The quilting design is quite intricate. Most of the quilting is echo quilting around the appliqué pieces with hidden motifs stitched.
On 8-23-98 I received a wonderful gift from my quilting heritage. My Mom sent a box of 2 quilts that my ancestors made. One of the quilts is from the early 1900s the other is from the mid-1800s. Let me share my thoughts with you as I opened and saw these quilts for the first time...
I carefully take the bed-coverings out of the packaging. Slowly I unfold them. Partly out of caution for the gentle fabrics and partly out of wanting the surprise to linger. Tenderly, I stroke the different fabrics and awe that some look like the 19th century reproductions in my fabric stash. My fingers touch the small even quilting stitches. I look at my quilting hands and wonder if the maker's hands looked like mine. I picture her sitting in a chair quietly and methodically stitching the layers together. I pause to admire the small, almost invisible, appliqué stitches that produce a song in fabric. A song that proclaims Creativity, Warmth, and Love. I look closer at the tattered places that show the quilt was well loved. I wonder who had the opportunity to be sheltered from the storms at night or the cold of winter. My eyes well up with tears. I wonder if she thought of the future. Thought of me - her great great granddaughter. Did she realize that one day I would hold a loving piece of her life? Quilts tie a bond from one generation to the next. Again, my eyes water. I hold the quilts close to my heart and hear the heartbeat of the women who made them.
I want to thank my Mom for sending me these two quilts. I cherish them. What a wonderful gift!
On 8-25-98 my Mom sent a note regarding these quilts.
"I'm so glad you received the quilts. I did not expect to arrive so soon and was just getting ready to tell you they were on the way. I am so glad they have lived up to your expectations; they need to be enjoyed even if they are too fragile to be used."
"Both quilts are from the same approximate time period; I know Mither didn't quilt after she left home as a young girl. That would put it at around 1900 and earlier. They have been dragged from East to West and North to South with many stops in between. It is a shame they can't talk and tell us of all the sights they have seen. The oldest one has been in a covered wagon and lived the frontier life, Indians and all! You should really get to see the Oregon Trail Museum in Baker City - the ruts are still there as is a wagon that rolled over a drop-off. The inside displays are carefully recreated with the actual belongings from various families and museums and it makes you realize what tough people these were."
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