June 6, 2008

"I Remember Laura" Blog-a-Thon Week 1



Another fun Blog-a-Thon to partipate in! This one promises to be as exciting as the last as it centers around one of my very favorite childhood memories - that of reading "The Little House on the Prairie" books. I believe it was Karla's mom , that sent the complete set to our family when we were in Africa. Either way, the set is incredibly dogeared after four girls reading and re-reading and re-reading them over and over again!
Miss Sandy at Quill Cottage is hosting this blog-a-thon with this weeks feature being quilts or quilting.

Laura and her sister, Mary were started in the needle arts at very young ages and were required to work on quilt squares working them into the nine patch pattern. In memory of this, Miss Sandy wants us to share our quilts or quilt related items and share their stories.




This is the only quilt I've ever made and it's made out of the very popular double knit in the Flower Garden pattern. I love this quilt not only because of the bright cheerful colors but of all the memories it preserves. All the fabrics were scraps of clothing items my mom made for either herself or us girls on her Singer Treadle Sewing machine. This beautiful machine still sews a perfect stitch and I believe she plans to use it to make the bridesmaids dresses for her first grand daughters wedding this summer! Pretty incredible when you realize she was given this machine by her pastors wife who sewed all the clothes for her four boys on it before she gave it to my mom!


Back to the quilt - I was only nine years old when I cut out ALL these shapes for this quilt. If you've ever cut double knit , you have a real appreciation for this endeavor. After pinning the pieces together, I worked the treadle while my mom guided the needle on the machine. Having had three nine year olds now, I realize how great the desire must have been to have this quilt for my "Holly Hobby" bedroom! I can't imagine my kids sticking with a task this momentous! Because of all of Mommy's duties as a pastor's wife and mother, there wasn't time to hand quilt it so we took the quilt top to a lady that did machine quilting. She sweetly put a beautiful pink sheet for the backing- because you see, even then I LOVED pink!


My great-grandmother Somerville quilted and Grandma Fair did too. I have a baby quilt that she made using patches that she had had her nine children embroider as children(including the boys)! It's very fragile and is packed away.

9 comments:

Vee said...

It's beautiful! And, yes, I do appreciate all the effort that it took to cut all those pieces from double-knit. :D

Hope that you've been having fun on the tour...so many delights to see!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Denise, thank you for your comment on my blog and for inquiring about my health. I try not to dwell on my cancer in my blog cuz I want my blog to be about life and its blessings. But since you asked and I don't mind...I am doing well right now. I am not cancer free, but have no active tumors at this time. I had 15 months of chemo, so they needed to give my body a break. We pray that the Lord will heal me and I know He can, but I just walk each day with Him. It is very scary and I am surprised I am not nutz...more than usual! Thanks for caring...have a wonderful weekend!

crafty diane said...

Thank you for visiting my blog and your nice comment on my quilts. I really love your flower garden quilt and the sweet story that goes with it. Having had 3 children myself I cannot imagine a nine year old cutting out all that double-knit either!
Have a Blessed Day,
Diane

Sandy said...

This is one of my favorite quilt patterns and yes, I appreciate your effort at cutting what appears to be one million pieces for your quilt! Wonderful story and wonderful quilt. Thank you for sharing both and for joining the blog-a-thon.

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Decor To Adore said...

What a beautiful quilt and an even greater story.
A mother to 3 nine year old? Wow! My hat is off to you.

Carrie said...

How fascinating to hear about your making a quilt at such a young age.

3 for school said...

I've never done a quilt out of double knit, but I have cut regular cotton. That was challenging enough! I have yet to actually quilt my own or even put all the squares together. I think of the saying, "If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." Yours a very pretty quilt! What a mom to help you so much!

Trini said...

The only quilt you've ever made? And you were nine years old! Wow! It's absolutely gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Very nice post. I enjoyed reading it. I hope you have a wonderful day.