On my last visit with my mom, she sent me home with two quilts from my maternal grandmother. I finally pulled these out of the bag to take a closer look, remembering the quilts from grandma’s guestroom beds.
I called dad to see if he knew any more about them. While he couldn’t remember the specific quilts, he recalls his mom (Mary Means Jordan) working on quilts with Aunt Helen (his Uncle Paul’s wife). Apparently, it was a neighborhood affair with a group of women sitting around a big wooden frame, sewing the patches. Dad reminisced that he’d get dropped off at Aunt Helen’s house when his mom was busy. There was nothing to do with no toys or other children to play with, so he was stuck watching her quilt with the other ladies. Dad’s quilting memories are from pre-school age through second grade. That puts the likely origin of these quilts in the early-to-mid 1940s. He said that the women made quilts as a Patriotic effort during WWII and donated them to the war effort.
My grandparents owned the Jordan Store in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (pictured in the lower right), from the 1930s until the early 1970s. I remember the fabric section in the basement, which is likely the origin of some of the fabric.
This beautiful quilt has vibrant colors and is hand-quilted with a flower pattern.
Yet, it’s this quilt that holds a soft spot in my heart. I can picture it on the spindle bed I used to sleep in during my visits.
The colors are vintage and soft – looking at it feels like a warm hug.
I love the defining aqua accent colors.
The trouble is that this quilt isn’t in as good of shape as the first one. There are spots, the edges are frayed, and some of the squares are missing entirely.
I love quilts, but I prefer a down comforter on the bed. So the question is what to do with this treasure. Now that I’ve discovered it again, I hate to put it away but don’t know what to do with it. I’ve thought of hanging it on a quilt rack or mounting it on the wall, but it will continue to wear.
My latest idea is to cut out a section and have it matted and framed to hang in my bedroom. The thought of cutting into this makes me sad (and scares me). On the other hand, being able to look at this every day – preserved in part – seems like a happy thing.
I’d love to hear from folks who have experience with a project like this!
How beautiful. I found some ideas online
https://www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com/blog/12-tried-and-true-ways-to-repurpose-old-quilts/
A table runner! Love that idea.
Tough decision. I have a stack of old quilts in the corner, just a stack, nothing more and it makes me happy when I glance at them from time to time.
wow, first of all the missing squares are normal. Some dyes from the 40’s. ( blacks and reds) ate the fabric. Second I would not cut it up. You can get a quilt ladder and fold and hang it on it. Quilts that old with cotton batting should be refolded regularly and on different folds so the thread don;t wear. You tube has how to fold quilts for storage. Some recommend on the diagonal. You really ought to write down the information you have from your husband and keep it in an envelope kept with the quilt. If yo want a piece on your wall take a good photo and print it.
I think you could do several projects from the one quilt. How about a tablecloth/runner, a throw pillow, a potholder, and then frame a portion of the quilt . Some of the leftover scraps could be used to make heart-shaped ornaments. Lots of possibilities. I know it would be hard making that first cut on the quilt but since you have another one in good condition that you will keep intact, it might be a little easier to cut on the second one. Keep us posted with your final plans for the quilt.
Thanks for the background on the dies and the advice on folding!
Your quilts have such lovely colors! I have a very old quilt which is quite tattered in places. I keep it on top of a bookcase, and love seeing it there. I have gifted a piece of vintage quilt that was framed – beautiful! You could add a sleeve to the one in good condition and hang it out of sunlight – my cousin did that and it held up well.
It would break my heart to cut that beautiful quilt. The missing pieces don’t bother me at all. I have one old quilt from my Mother in Law’s family and I just have it folded on top of a pie safe in a darker corner of my living room. After reading the comments here I will be sure to refold it periodically. Do you have a guest room where you could use the quilts on the beds? At least in the summer months? Such nice memories for you. I’m drooling over that more worn one! Jan in MA
No guest room at the moment! Lots of food for thought.
There are people skilled in vintage quilt repair. I can think of one blogger that I follow: you can google From My Carolina Home, her name is Carole. I think she has stopped accepting repairs during the pandemic but you might consult with her to see if she thinks your quilt is repairable. It would be a shame to cut it up. I’m sure there are others out there, but I can only think of her at the moment. She’s very meticulous with her repairs.
When I was newly married I inherited a quilt that was my grandmother’s. 2 quilts actually. The best quilt was a handmaid quilt with squares of ladies holding bouquets of flowers. The quilts hD been stored in a metal garbage can in my Uncle’s porch in Ft. Lauderdale FL. for years. I enjoyed getting pictures of my 1st baby on It but then the strips between the squares were totally shot. I cut out the squares and framed the best ones for my sisters and daughters. I love old quilts too. If you hang your quilt on a wall be sure to place out of direct sunlight. Enjoy it while you can!!!
I repaired a quilt that belonged to my daughter’s grandmother-in-law. When she passed, I was given the quilt because they knew I made and love quilts. I replaced the batting and backing. I made replacement squares from the family’s men shirts and my daughter’s sons’ shirts. I sewed the squares over the missing and badly damaged squares to keep the original squares in place. I then returned the quilt to my daughter’s father-in-law to keep in the family.