Quilting and Patchwork

Cousin Virgilia & Quilting Memories

by Mary Emma Allen on August 5th, 2005

My mother had a favorite memory about quilting that she recalled until Alzheimer’s captured her mind. When she was six-years old, she received a letter from Cousin Virgilia, her father’s cousin.

It’s amazing to me that Mother kept this letter and treasured it in her latter years. As she held it and read it to me, she’d recall other stories about Cousin Virgilia and early quilting days.

I’ve also quoted from this letter in my book, The Magic of Patchwork: “My Mama said when I was six-years old I had pieced blocks enough for a quilt, and I can remember sitting at her side sewing.”

Mother said she sat beside her mother, grandmother, and older sister with sewing tasks when she was that same age. They made quilts, sewed clothes, and, of course, did endless patching for the family.

This is part of my Trails End Quilting heritage, for that’s where my mother grew up and the quilting skills and lore passed along to me originated…on their farm at the “end of the trail” in New York State.

©2005

(If you have questions about quilting and patchwork or want to share your memories, e-mail me at: me.allen@juno.com )

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POSTED IN: Quilting / Patchwork Memories