This year I was priviledged to finish a very special quilt top …

Amy M’s grandmother pieced this top in the 1930-40’s. And then she died, when Amy’s mom was only 8 years old.

It was discovered earlier this year, and Amy decided it would be a very good present for her mom.

I quilted it using cotton thread, and an organic cotton batting, which gives the soft hand and low loft typical to the 1930’s. I also used a stencil from that period.

We’ve left it as we found it, a few rows not finished, with the exception of a few pieces that had to be replaced from my stash of 1930’s fabrics. We’ve bound it with a piece of pink that was given to me by a very special friend, from a group of shirting fabrics from the 1940’s from a textile mill in New Jersey. It’s perfect!

The miters can be a little tricky, but just a bit of patience and some extra stitching makes them stay down nicely …

I hope Amy’s mom loves this as much as Amy and her daughter did! I know it’s quilts like these that make me absolutely love my job.