Somewhere in my blogging I have mentioned the quilting that goes on in our fellowship. For years, the ladies in our church have been making beautiful quilts and passing their knowledge on to the younger ladies. For each young couple that marries the ladies make a double wedding ring quilt.
This is one of the most difficult quilts to make, but very beautiful. Yesterday the ladies started on Lindz’ quilt. Lindz and Shay picked out two solid colors of material for their quilt. Those colors will show up where the rings cross and will be the dominant colors. The rest of the rings are made up of individual little pieces of material – all different colors and patterns. The centers of the rings are called blocks and are passed out to the families of our church. Each family will embroider, appliqué, paint, and etc. their name on the block. This is the fun part that makes the quilt so special. Once all the pieces are put together, the quilt will be set up in a large quilting frame for the ladies to do the actual quilting. This photo is not Lindz’ quilt, but just a google image to give you an idea what the quilt will look like.
This is one of the most difficult quilts to make, but very beautiful. Yesterday the ladies started on Lindz’ quilt. Lindz and Shay picked out two solid colors of material for their quilt. Those colors will show up where the rings cross and will be the dominant colors. The rest of the rings are made up of individual little pieces of material – all different colors and patterns. The centers of the rings are called blocks and are passed out to the families of our church. Each family will embroider, appliqué, paint, and etc. their name on the block. This is the fun part that makes the quilt so special. Once all the pieces are put together, the quilt will be set up in a large quilting frame for the ladies to do the actual quilting. This photo is not Lindz’ quilt, but just a google image to give you an idea what the quilt will look like. There is lots of work involved, but getting together with the ladies is much fun. Sometimes we just have a few ladies, but yesterday a whole crew of folks showed up. It was a great testament to the love they have for Lindz. I love working with my "older lady" friends, but having the younger ladies show up was really great. Aunt B went into "teacher mode" showing the girls how to do different things. Janie was the whip cracker keeping us all on task (which I sometime think I could live without) but she is knowledgeable and plays a role. Megan showed up, and was my partner in crime. Our job was cutting the little individual pieces while the other ladies were sewing them together. I can sew, but I find it tedious. Yesterday I used the rotary cutter until I thought my arm was going to fall off. I’m not sure they should give me a job where I have a blade in my hand when someone is bossing me around. I get a bit grumpy when I get tired. Fortunately Meg kept me laughing and I managed a good attitude, and I did not cut my fingers off or anyone else’s.
All the women went on and on about how beautiful Lindz’ quilt will be – how all of the colors were just bright and beautiful just like Lindz. All the wedding quilts are beautiful. All are unique and special just as the brides themselves. Maybe because it is Lindz, this quilt does seem extra special. I can’t wait until we someday make one for Jesse.
Here are some photos of my 25th wedding anniversary quilt. It is a friendship pattern of some sort. Notice the "center block" with Toby’s name and mine. Jesse’s block is the Sunbonnet Sue to the right. Bo’s block is the Sunbonnet Sam to the left. 
Some of my favorites were the blocks my art girls did – the younger girls on the left, the high school girls in the middle and the older girls on the right. - Very artsy! 
11 comments:
I painted that tulip! They told me I can't paint on the blocks anymore... very sad....
My Mother and Grandmother's did the quilting thing..some were beautiful..made from scraps of material left from making dresses and men's shirts.
I looked at that tulip and thought I bet Rea painted that!
Lindsay's quilt will be so fun! Gotta love color!
Wow... if this ain't America, nothing is!
I love your anniversary quilt. The idea of everyone playing a small part in completing it is beautiful.
That is so cool. What a neat tradition!
The anniversary quilt is beautiful! Some of my cousins made one for their parents 50th. I think it's such a wonderful keepsake because each person puts a bit of himself into the block.
Quilts are amazingly beautiful - a real art form and very Americana. There is just a lot of love put into the building of the quilt along with the personalized blocks and memories of each piece of material. For me, the best part of the quilt is the quilting - sitting around yacking with the other ladies while applying tiny stitches to make the quilt puff up. Great stuff!
Although Jesse has made herself several full size quilts, I like making baby quilts. Like Becky knits while watching football, I like to quilt or crochet.
I am in awe of quilters. My dearest friend is an expert quilter and she makes the most gloriously beautiful works of art.
Lou - have you ever heard of Quilts of Valor? They are a national organization that produces quilts for our wounded warriors. Groups all over the country do things from quilt tops to long arm work, to shipping to collecting fabric. I've done one quilt top thru a group that my friend is part of - it's a truly wonderful experience. Go to www.qovf.org for more info. It might be something your church group could be part of.
Kris, Soldiers Angels does blankets of different sorts for the soldiers similar to what you mentioned, but I have not done any, although I do have a soldier to send packages to and such.
Wow! I love double wedding ring, but have yet to attempt it. I'm not so good with curves. LOL! Someday.
Your anniversary quilt is beautiful, too.
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