My Family Quilt

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     My Mother and Grandmother were not really sewers or quilters although they had their moments of trying. Grandma told me she made quilts during her years as a stay-at-home mom living in a holler in West Virginia but it wasn't a skill she kept when she moved to the big city of Chicago during the 1950's.  After I made a few quilts in the late '70's, she decided to make one from patches of cloth she cut out from her polyester pants suits. 
     We affectionally called it "The Ugly Quilt."
Grandma Marie raking the back yard in West Virginia
     Unfortunately the quilt was not attached securely to the top of our car when we were moving one year and was blown away on the freeway, lost for all time.  I'm still very sad about losing that quilt, even if it was ugly, it was the only quilt I had from Grandma.  Grandma's real skills were in the kitchen.
     She was a really good cook.
     She taught these skills to my Mother, Sister and I.  
She even started my children out very young.
Grandma baking and my oldest son "cleaning" the dishes.
     Grandma made the best Fried Apple Pies and my Mom continued that tradition for many years.
Mom and my youngest making Fried Apple Pies
     When I was a Girl Scout, Mom was my leader.  She and I learned so many things in Girls Scouts!  One of the skills we gained was crocheting.  Mom really took off with her new found skill and thus I have a pile of afghans she has made.  I've only photographed a few for you; the blue chevron was made for my sister, the yellow chevron was for me and the red rose afghan was for Grandma.
     During my first pregnancy Mom found a quilt kit and decided to make her first quilt.  It was a log cabin quilt as you go kit.  She struggled with the piecing and didn't know how to finish it so she gave it to me unbound.  It sat in a box because I didn't think it was a very good quilt for a boy.  

     When I got pregnant a second time, I decided to finish the quilt.   I wasn't very skilled in bindings but did my best to add a prairie point binding to the uneven edges.
     Sometimes I'm a little embarrassed to look very close at the quilt but I'm so glad I kept it.  It was the best the two of us could do at that point in time.  And, now that Mom has passed on, it is so nice to have something lovingly pieced by her.  It shows how far she and I have come together over the years because without her love and support of my "projects" through the years I wouldn't have the skills I have today.

This blog post is my part of my friend, Cheryl Sleboda's 
"My Family Quilt" Blog Hop

Oct 1. - Sylvia Lewis
Oct 2. Judi Hurwitt
Oct 3. - Deborah Massie Boschert
Oct 4. - Sheila Frampton-Cooper
Oct 5. - Pokey Bolton
Oct 6. - Frieda Anderson
Oct 7. - Lisa Chin
Oct 8. - Cheryl Sleboda

I hope you will hop on over to all the other blogs 
to see their Family Quilts 
and leave a few kind words behind as well.

Comments

Frieda Anderson said…
It's so fun to remember how we got started and the things we did with family members. Memories are precious.
October 7, 2013 at 9:48 AM
utahoosier said…
I have a quilt that my great Aunt Violet made with squares from her Double Knit Polyester Pant Suits (that she made for herself). Like you said... very Ugly. It's been washed so many times that the ties have come loose and the batting is bumpy, but I still use it and think of her everytime I get it out. It's great for family picnics and sitting in the back of the truck at the drive-inn. Love the post and reminiscing.
October 7, 2013 at 11:21 AM
Lynda said…
Lisa, what a wonderful post and glad you finished and still have your mom's quilt. And losing grandma's ugly quilt - that's sad! My mom didn't quilt but was a great seamstress. However, her mom was an awesome quilter and I have probably 10 of her quilts. All four of us kids got a stack of quilts over the years. My brother before he died really used his quilts including putting them in the back of his truck. I ended up getting them when we cleaned up his house and they are just pieces parts. Mine are packed away for who knows what and he really loved his! Now that I'm thinking about it I probably need to get them out of the attic and look at them and even put them about. Gosh, I didn't mean to go on and on. Great post and great blog hop.
October 7, 2013 at 1:08 PM
Chickpea said…
I love your story! my moms craft where very hippyish in the 70's! she is a very skilled potter now but I don't have too many pieces, she thinks I won't like them ; (
juju
October 7, 2013 at 8:35 PM
Sylvia said…
Love the afghans! My mom made a slew of granny squares in the 70's. A bunch of them are still up at the cabin!
October 7, 2013 at 10:07 PM
Sheila Frampton-Cooper said…
Wonderful stories Lisa! I was feeling your loss about your Grandma Marie's quilt...

So wonderful that you finished the quilt from your Mom.

Very touching post Lisa. :)
October 8, 2013 at 1:30 PM
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