GRANDMA CAME FOR CHRISTMAS (hand quilted)
GRANDMA CAME FOR CHRISTMAS – The last time grandma and I went fabric shopping together, she told me that I didn’t have to buy scraps (I was buying 1/4 yd. pieces of Christmas fabric) because she had plenty and would be glad to share.
I pieced the center 16 Log Cabin blocks in 1988 while living in West Germany. The red center block is 2.5″ and the logs are 1.5″ in width when cut. I used green and red scraps with muslin. I put them away because I wasn’t sure what to actually make with them.
At some point, I added two borders around the center blocks, with the red border being 3″ cut and the cream muslin border being 4.5″ cut.
On one of my trips back home, Grandma and I went fabric shopping – many of those 1/4 yard pieces got put into the piano key border which is 10″ wide (cut). The final outside border was from Grandma’s fabric collection and is 6.5″ cut.
I would piece on it, then put it away for several years (1988 – 1997). Grandma never saw the completed top or quilt since she died in 1996. I hand quilted this in 1997. The binding is also hand finished.
Finished size is 80″ x 80″.
In 1998 this quilt got a blue ribbon at the county fair. Here are the comments from the judges:
Grandma was a huge part of my life growing up. She encouraged me to quilt and be anything I wanted. She insisted on good grades in school and finishing high school because she only was able to complete up through 10th grade. I miss her still. Her wisdom and compassion are something that are missing in our current world.
“Grandma Came for Christmas” is brought out every year at Christmas to be displayed, cuddled in, and talked about. It is a great way to remember a super important person in my life.
Quilters, your quilts can have a story or be in memory of some important person in your life. Quilts can have funny or sad stories. Don’t forget to pass the stories on with the quilts.
Another log cabin quilt I made:
https://indianaquilter40.blogspot.com/2019/08/purple-without-apology-log-cabin.html
More Christmas quilts I made:
https://indianaquilter40.com/a-road-trip-and-beautiful-quilts
2 thoughts on “GRANDMA CAME FOR CHRISTMAS (hand quilted)”
This quilt has special memories for you. I love quilts that have “heart” as my grammie would say.
I have never made a Christmas quilt, but this quilt has inspired me to make one for myself.
Thank you.
You are so right Janis, this quilt does have special memories for me. My grandma and I were really close. I was privileged to have her in my life until I was in my 30’s. She inspired me in so many areas of my life.
Have a wonderful time making a Christmas quilt for yourself.