| There's nothing quite like the feel of an old | | | | patchwork quilt she had been working on and |
| patchwork quilt that was lovingly crafted by | | | | asked my sister and I if we'd be interested |
| hand and worn in gently by countless | | | | in taking it home and finishing it. We were |
| generations. Anyone can go to the store and | | | | overwhelmed, but thrilled at the prospect of |
| buy a quilt, but not many people ever take | | | | completing her work of art. She then went on |
| the time to learn the ancient art of quilt | | | | to tell us where all the different scraps of |
| making.A quilt is not just a bed covering. A | | | | fabric had originated."This piece is a scrap |
| quilt symbolizes comfort, warmth, and | | | | from one of my maternity dresses," she told |
| security, and a quilt made by hand is | | | | me and my sister. A maternity dress that she |
| cherished even more because of the work that | | | | had worn more than 50 years before. She had |
| went into making it.I personally have only | | | | saved scraps from many different pieces of |
| begun attempting to learn this time-consuming | | | | clothing she had worn over the years. Each |
| art. Hand quilting is not for everyone, | | | | piece had a meaning for her, and she had |
| because it requires a lot of patience and a | | | | saved them knowing she would someday make a |
| fine attention to detail. One of my first | | | | quilt out of them. She was, piece by piece, |
| quilting efforts was a small doll quilt I | | | | sewing together memories from her life. She |
| made for my daughter when she was about 5 | | | | was tired of quilting, though, and she would |
| years old. It wasn't too bad for my first | | | | never make another. My sister and I took the |
| try. My daughter wasn't very impressed, | | | | quilt home and started adding pieces of our |
| however, and I was absolutely thrilled when | | | | own fabrics to the quilt. We quickly tired of |
| years later our cat adopted the quilt as his | | | | the activity, however, and the quilt ended up |
| favorite napping companion. I decided I'd | | | | in a bag in the closet (where it still sits |
| rather see the cat enjoy the quilt then have | | | | today).Every once in awhile I pull the quilt |
| it end up in a box somewhere to be totally | | | | out and look at it, thinking I really ought |
| forgotten (he's now having to share the quilt | | | | to finish it. I know that in time I will, and |
| with our new kitten!).I envy people who have | | | | it will represent at least four generations |
| the patience it requires to quilt. I am | | | | of our family's history. I wish we could |
| determined to one day make my first full-size | | | | learn to live our lives in a way where every |
| quilt. I first became interested in quilting | | | | day we are striving to consciously make |
| when I was fairly young. I had a grandmother | | | | family memories that will stay with us |
| who liked to quilt, and I will never forget a | | | | forever. Whether she knew it or not, that is |
| conversation I had with her one day that will | | | | what my grandmother was doing, and I wish to |
| stay with me forever.My grandmother made many | | | | take that idea and consciously put it into |
| quilts in her day. I was never fortunate | | | | place in my daily life, as much effort as it |
| enough to receive one of them (she was my | | | | sometimes seems. I know tomorrow I will be |
| grandpa's second wife), but I was lucky | | | | glad I did.Originally published at Suite 101. |
| enough to see some of her handiwork displayed | | | | Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom |
| in her home. One time when I was about 13 or | | | | of four. |
| 14 years old my grandmother pulled out a | | | | |