A Step Back In Time...

Today I take a step back in time...

Recently I quilted a vintage, hand-pieced quilt top for a friend.  This quilt top is the second of three that my friend acquired from her Mother-in-law.  It is unclear whether her MIL pieced them or if they were pieced by another family member...  None the less, it reminded me of two of the first quilts that I made... 

They were from a Block of the Month "club" that I was invited to by a friend. You are probably familiar with the drill - $5 the first month for the block pattern and the fabric needed for the block and only $1 each month thereafter when you return with a completed block. (The price has probably gone up since this was in 2003.)  

The fabric selection for the BOTM featured 1930's reproduction fabric.  I had in my collection of fabric some original 1930/40's fabrics that had be set aside and saved from my Paternal Grandma, Katherine Schleich.  (There was also a collection of signature blocks that included the circle of friends and neighbors of my Grandma S.)  When I located that fabric it was then that I decided that I wanted to make two quilts...

In that same year my Maternal Grandpa passed away and we moved my Grandma from Tucson, AZ to Trinidad, CO so that my parents and our family could help care for her.  Each month I would take the pattern and the finished blocks to her house to show her. 

These blocks were reproduction fabric  

                          

The blocks below are mostly original 1930's fabric... 

(some of the solid fabrics were reproduction)

I called the quilts "Getting to know Grandma" I & II

It was a very special time with Grandma T... She would share stories of how her Mother & Mother-in-law would attend quilting groups at their churches.  I heard many stories about her childhood and her experiences as a young mother and stories about my Mom and Uncle.  It was always a good time when she would reminisce.  

It was also a special time with my Grandma S (who passed away a few years before I was even born).  I had the opportunity to go through the fabric and quilt blocks and patterns that she had saved, as well as the collection of crochet thread and doilies patterns... I had the opportunity to hear stories from my Dad as he would share stories about the neighbors and friends whose names were on the signature blocks that came from Grandma S. 

So, **sigh** I wish I could know more about where the quilt top that I recently quilted for my friend is from.  I hope that Tracy can learn more about who made them and have the opportunity to pass on the story to her children.

I would love to know the story of why there are six blocks like the one to the right and three like the one above, which matches the border.  Was this intentional?  Was it because they ran out of fabric, but wanted the quilt to be bigger?  This curious quilter wants to know!

Ok, enough of being all nostalgic and such... I have quilting to do!

Happy Stitching!

Melva

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