Friendship Quilt To Remember

A friend of our family whom my mother had taught to quilt several years ago asked Mom if she would participate in a friendship quilt that she is making. She also invited me to put my name on it. She is making the quilt and provided a block for each of us to sign and embroider our name on. It got my mom to thinking about friendship quilts and she pulled out a quilt that her mother had made. My mother is 92 and she thinks this quilt was made when she was in grade school which would make it probably in the 1920's.

I had never seen this quilt before (it always amazes me when she pulls these things out that she's had hidden away for many years!) Anyway, she doesn't really remember the quilt being made, but her mother's, grandmother's, sister's and Mom's own name are all on the quilt and also many other women never heard of by me. She proceeded to point at each name and tell me exactly where that woman lived from their farm and a little bit about each lady.




I wonder as I practice my embroidery stitches (I'm a little rusty) for the current quilt if this women's kids or grandkids will look at it some day and remember some of the people who's signatures are forever saved on her quilt. I think it is a really neat idea and maybe someday (when the quilting genes that I surely possess kick in) I will make something like this for my kids and grandkids.

So Many Quilt Blocks, So Little Time

There really are no limits on the types and style of quilt blocks to choose from and the variation of ways to put them together. I have posted some examples that might give you some ideas to start with and create your own quilt.





The example to the left is a quilt using all flower motif quilt blocks. Notice the wide array and types of flowers represented. You could just pick one particular block and make a whole quilt with that theme. My personal favorite is the iris block in the lower right hand corner. I can think of some really pretty variations using different colors of iris that would make a really beautiful quilt.








The motifs in this quilt are considered country. Notice the hearts, cat and pinwheels. These blocks also could be used in any combination and would make some really outstanding quilts.







This is an American Quilt, not only because of the striking red, blue and white blocks, but the many variations of stars and stripes. Again, just using one block or repeating two or three blocks would make this a great quilt to celebrate our country!









Mini quilts are a great way to try out some patterns, or just be creative and make a nice wall hanging, a baby quilt, or a nice lap quilt. These are made using variations of the blocks in the previous quilts.







The pictures and templates for these quilts are from a Better Homes and Gardens book entitled "101 Full Size Quilt Blocks and Borders."