There is nothing like a quilt that was made with love. There is nothing like a quilt that has been handed down by many generations. There is nothing quite like an antique quilt that has been given to you or you have purchased at an antique store or auction. A quilt has many meanings. They are a symbol of cherished memories, of warmth and of comfort.
Many people have had a grandmother whose work you have seen displayed. Sometimes these quilts represent many generations. Our grandmothers often used fabrics from dresses she made for her daughters or granddaughters. Isn’t it fun to listen to stories of where the scraps of fabric came from? Often they got their patterns from newspapers. These hand pieced quilts will be cherished forever.
What is a Keepsake Quilt? It is a quilt that is made with love for someone to keep as a memento. Sometimes they will have a specific theme or design made with the person you want to give it to in mind. Sometimes the quilt will be a wedding gift to be treasured for a life time. Many times it is a baby quilt that the new mother will save for that child to use when they become a parent.
A wonderful keepsake quilt is a photo quilt. They are quilts whose blocks are made up of individual photos printed on fabric. You can have your photographs printed on fabric at a copy center such as Kinko’s or you can even print them on your printer at home. An easy way to print them at home is to cut your fabric to 8 ½ by 11 inches and iron it on freezer paper that is cut to the same size. Put it in your printer and print the same way you would a document.
When you are giving a keepsake quilt to someone, they often will not want to use it. It can be put on display by hanging it on a wall or quilt shelf with a dowel for hanging. You would then want to make a sleeve on the back that matches the backing fabric so it can be easily hung on the dowel. You might want to consider entering the quilt in a local fair.
Quilting has become a popular hobby. With the many patterns and fabric choices available you will be able to make any style of a quilt you want. Let your imagination go wild. Quilts make wonderful gifts. They are also a wonderful way to decorate your home.
You can never have too many quilts. Quilt making has provided enjoyment and relaxation for many centuries. Some patterns can be a bit of a challenge but you are sure to rise to the challenge. So, which is better, quilting for keepsakes, or for use? It really doesn’t matter. Quilts can keep you warm on the inside as well as on the outside.
Why not have a variety of keepsakes and those you use. Quilts can be used on your beds and can be used as tablecloths. They can be used to keep you warm at football games and can be used as a picnic cloth to spread out on the ground. They can be given as gifts or kept for your own warmth and enjoyment. You can make a signature quilt and give it to someone as an anniversary gift with family and friends participating in the making of the quilt and signing the quilt making it very sentimental.
As you can see, quilts can be functional as well as decorative. Display your quilt in a glass case or display it on your bed. Whichever you decide will be the right decision.