Quilting and Patchwork

Memory Quilts from Old Clothing

by Mary Emma Allen on August 6th, 2005

Creating quilts, hangings, and other patchwork items using old clothing or leftover scraps from one’s sewing forms the basis for “memory quilts.” These evolved from the pioneer women who couldn’t run to the store for new fabrics and often couldn’t afford them if a store was nearby.

Today it’s fun to use the old clothing that’s still in good condition to make quilts of various types. You can look at these coverlets and remember the occasions and people who wore the items now utilized as pieces or patches.

I still look at patches in the quilt I made with my grandmother, when I was 8-years old. Some of the fabrics are from printed feed sacks, others from old (yet good) clothing, and still more from scraps of Grandma’s sewing projects.

I see a piece that was Auntie’s house dress, another from my first sewing project (an apron for which Grandma gave me feed sack fabric), and others that remind me of doll clothes we sewed with Grandma.

These patches bring back memories, as various fabrics can for you, too.

©2005

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

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POSTED IN: Memories