Suite101 e-Book
Quilts Like Grandma Made

From the time as a little girl when I watched Grandma Cook piece "Flower Garden" quilts, I wanted to make quilts like that. She used scrap fabric, any color would do, the bright print on the skirt of a worn-out cotton housedress, scraps left from making little girls' clothing. A printed flour sack was a real prize to her. The quilts always turned out the same, beautiful, softly quilted, lovely to hold. I was never fortunate enough to be the recipient of one of her quilts, but I never forgot the look and feel of those quilted beauties.

My first opportunity to try my hand at piecing came many years later. Some of Mom's friends were piecing a friendship quilt. A friendship quilt is a cooperative project where each person makes a block and signs it. The blocks are then put together for a quilt. Mom did not quilt and she asked me if I would make a block for her. Of course I would make the block. Surely this would not be so difficult. After all, hadn't I watched Grandma for hours on end? I had no pattern but a nine patch block is fairly common so that is what I made, three rows of three small patches.

These many years later I know how important it is that each block be exactly the same size. The friendship block I made was not exactly the size wanted, the 9 patches were not exactly even, but I did embroider my mother's name on it so that everyone would know who had given that block. She seemed very happy and pleased when I took it to her. But now, I wonder -- did she even give it to the quilt group? And if she did, what in the world did those ladies do with it?

Yes, I did learn to piece quilts and even made a "Flower Garden." I have made dozens of quilts through the years, baby quilts, wall hangings, bedspreads for myself and for others. I think Grandma would be proud.

Wouldn't you like to make a quilt of your own? It's not as difficult as you may think. Follow me and we will tackle the first steps in quiltmaking. We'll talk about fabric, color, patterns and answer any questions you may have as we go along. You will be pleased at what you can do in a few weeks.

Table of Contents

• Basics for Beautiful Quilts
• Choosing Colors
• Quilt Piecing
• Applique Made Easy
• Seminole Borders
• That Perfect Stitch
• Quick Quilting
• Quilt Binding & the Mitered Corner
• Quick Quilted Reversible Placemats
• Quilted Pillows
• Displaying Your Beautiful Quilts

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