Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Memory Quilt

I recently saw this post on Annie O's blog and it reminded me of a quilt that I finished in June of 2007.

This is one of 5 memorial quilts I made in 2006 & 2007. This quilt was made especially with my mother-in-law in mind. She had lost her husband after a long battle with scleroderma a few years prior. Most of the plaids in this quilt are scraps from my father-in-law's flannel shirts. I found the pattern "Diamonds Are Forever" in American Patchwork and Quilting's April 2004 issue. I designed and added the floral border using a needle turn applique technique.

This is the first quilt I made with complicated machine quilting designs. I mimicked the floral applique designs with quilted stitches on the two borders that did not have applique.

The picture above is of the large pocket I added so the quilt could be folded up on itself and used as a pillow.
All of my father-in-law's shirts had to have pockets to hold his reading glasses. I saved a few of these pockets and used them for the labels on each of the quilts.

This project brought back so many memories. Each Christmas my husband, his brothers and his father would get new matching flannel shirts. I wish I had the pictures to show you the guys hamming it up for the camera in their matching shirts.

12 comments:

FabricFascination said...

What sweet memories, and a beautiful quilt too.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

What a neat idea for a quilt. I bet your mother in law loved it. The applique and the pocket on the back added extra nice touches.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Jackie's Stitches said...

What a special quilt! I love the story behind the pockets and I love that you used them.

ale balanzario said...

Hi, this is the first time I visit your blog, you have very nice work on it, love all the things you make, your jewerlly is so beautiful.

AnnieO said...

Thanks for sharing your version, Chris! It looks warm and cozy and has all those very special memories that make it so heartwarming.

Reedsburg Area Quilt Guild said...

Chris, This is just beautiful. I made a memorial quilt this year also for a lady using her husband's shirts. Her reaction to it was unbelievable. It is truely a birthing process to come up with something that will comfort and memorialize a lost loved one. You did a beautiful job with this one. I would love to see pictures of the others you made.

Debbie

dawnkristine said...

Wow Chris thanks for sharing that is really a special project, one of the best I think!

Needled Mom said...

Beautiful! I love the pockets on the backs too.

JennaLouiseCreates said...

What a wonderful idea and sew very special and thoughtful. Thanks for sharing and stopping by my blog. Happy Holidays to you! Jenna Louise

ArtPropelled said...

What a lovely idea keeping the pockets from your father inlaws shirts. Your memory quilt is a work of art. Absolutely beautiful!

Gwen Buchanan said...

oh beautiful Chris... I love white on white... the little puffs and wrinkles give it so much character...

Greenmare said...

oh how wonderful. I have my father in laws shirts also, but I'm not ready to cut into them yet. I know someday it will be the right time and the right pattern. I do love the pocket for the label, perfect!