Quilts that have a story

Not all quilts have a story but when they do it makes the quilt just a little more special. Big or small stories add something. I have one such quilt and I would like to share the story of my quilt which I call Stars in the Loft.

Stars in the Loft, 2002

 

In 1999 I was snooping in a hayloft in an old barn turned antique shop on Manitoulin Island. I found an old quilting book and bought it for fifty cents. The book was published by Dover and on the inside cover Dover's publications were listed along with their prices. This book was $4.95. The best I can tell it was published in the late 1950s or the early 1960s (but I could be wrong).
 

 

Browsing through the pages I came across a black and white picture of a hexagon quilt. Other than saying it was a “mosaic quilt" there were no further details about the quilt and there was no information about its history or the maker. For years I searched everywhere trying to find out about this quilt but was unsuccessful.

 

The opening paragraph reads “This illustrated quilt is known also as the Honeycomb Quilt for its resemblance to waxen cells made for storage by the honey bees. The pattern is an all-over design of entirely pieced workmanship”.

There were instructions for making a honeycomb quilt and a pattern for but clearly the template was not intended to make this “mosaic”. At its widest point the templace measures 2 1/2"! No pattern? Not a problem because I draft patterns all the time. I pulled out my paper, pencils, erasers and pencil crayons and was off to the races!

 

 

My Dad was an artist and enjoyed seeing my creations as much as I enjoyed seeing his. We were very much alike in so many ways; we were both uncomfortable with praise or compliments. For us it was the doing and making that was important and that gave us the greatest pleasure. In the Spring of 2002 the quilt top was nearing completion and my Dad fell ill. He hadn’t seen the quilt because I was so proud of it and I wanted it to be a surprise. Dad was in the ICU and it was clear he would not be coming home but I wanted to be able to share the quilt with him. I worked away feverishly and was able to complete the quilt top. Stars in the Loft would the last quilt I would be able to share with Dad. When he saw it he nodded and smiled. Not many days after he died. I went on to finish my quilt and eventually displayed it at my Guild’s Quilt Show where it won a ribbon for something or other. I treasure this quilt; it is loaded with memories of my Dad and Manitoulin Island.

There’s a little bit more to this story and I’ll share that with you tomorrow along with some close-up pictures of the quilt. In making the quilt I learned several lessons that I’ve since applied to other quilts and I'll tell you about that as well.

Look what was blooming in the garden this morning! I don't kow what it is but it is pretty darned cute.

 

White violets in Mom's garden

 

 Close-up of white violets

Shooting stars in Mom's garden (she has pink and white)

 

Pink shooting stars embroidered by Mom

 

Until I post again, happy sewing!