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Make Your Own Heirloom Quilts

By Lela Perkins


Heirloom quilts were once made for warmth, and were considered something of a coming of age. Those getting married were common recipients of quilts, as were men when they reached 21, to signify independence and manhood. Others were given for friendship, the birth of a child, or to signify some special event in the life of the recipient.

Giving gifts at these special moments hasn't changed much over the years, but the art of heirloom quilts has. Today such gifts are made with beauty, family and art in mind. Such keepsakes become family heirlooms, with special designs, and signatures of the quilt artist. This makes the guilt even more special when passed down from one generation to the next, with signatures of loved ones forever embedded in the material.

For those that would like to give this type of gift, but may have never given a quilt before, the first thing to think about is the purpose for giving it. This will help to determine how it should be made. Is it being given for an event, such as birthday, anniversary, birth of child, graduation, retirement, or some other event? Or, is it being made for Christmas, housewarming, friendship, or some other reason?

The purpose for making the gift is then central to designing the project. It will also help in determining colors, and special items that might be used. For instance if it is for the birth of a child or wedding anniversary, the recipients own baby clothes could be used to make the quilt, or parts from their wedding dress. Poetry can be used and memories to create truly special and unique heirloom quilts.

One type of quilt that has gained a lot of popularity is the journal style. This style uses poetry, a word, or a feeling to make up a journal. Words can be stitched, written or inked on individual blocks. Gifts using old photographs with word art are also popular.

Another idea is an event or life quilt, in which designs for quilt making incorporate events of a person's life. These are good for birthdays, retirements, or even housewarming. For a life quilt elements of photo, journal and birthday quilts would be incorporated into the same gift.

This might include memories important to the person, such as a city where they grew up, music from their youth, or a college graduation. It might also include the birth of a child, something they once wrote from a yearbook or scrap book, photos of them, children, family or friends. It might incorporate the year of marriage, special moments, promotions on their job, or gold rings of retirement.

Patchwork pieces can be made from almost anything, and can also be made from significant material, such as wedding dresses, a mother's hat, special pin, or favorite t-shirt. There are endless possibilities, and no matter which one is chosen, heirloom quilts will offer years of pleasure. They will also present a keepsake that can be handed down for generations.




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