This Memory Quilt is Beautiful!

Quilter’s Name: Barb B.

Type of Quilt: Memory Quilt

Name of Pattern: Churn n’ Dash Shoofly Quilt

Featured Date: 04-24-24

“For The Love of a Friend”

My Love of sewing began when I was in the 7^th grade making simple skirts & vests. My Mom & Grandmother both always sewed but neither quilted. I was always looking for a project and kept myself busy making gifts and enjoying the creativity. When children came along I made clothes for them.

After the passing of my late husband my need to keep sewing continued. One of my dear friends was a quilter and encouraged me to get started. The first thing that I made was a quilted footstool to match my granddaughter’s bedroom.  The cutting and piecing fascinated me.

It wasn’t until I met my husband that I began to quilt. We lived in West Virginia for 6 months and that is where the addiction began. My husband drove me to every quilt shop within a day’s drive. He was always patient and never rushed me as he always kept a book or two in the car to pass his time.

My first project was a wall hanging that turned out so darn crooked. I just folded it up and put it away, but my best friend made sure that I quilted this crooked wall hanging and also made sure that I hung it up so I would always know how far I had come in the quilting world. My true addiction began when I discovered Missouri Star Quilt Co. online. The videos gave me everything that I needed to start producing great quilts and projects.

My husband and I relocated to a different state and during the packing process we came across a box of dresses that were worn by his late wife. He suggested to donated them, but I said; “just pack them up and I’ll make something with them.” When Susan was dying from cancer her best friend was critically ill in the hospital and was unable to make the long trip to see her best friend before she passed. I decided that I would make a quilt and surprise Linda for Christmas with a quilt made from her best friend’s dresses.

What a fun process taking the dresses apart and trying to figure out what pattern to make. “I must watch a tutorial”. Oh! Then my first Block Magazine arrived and there was the video all laid out just for me. I was able to make 10” squares from the dresses and then added solid white layer cake squares to make the Churn n’ Dash Shoofly pattern.

This was a loving process that I enjoyed every step of the way. My husband has learned what is pleasing to his eye and enjoyed giving his input too as this was a very special quilt to him as well. I had custom quilting done with a light gray thread, as that would make this quilt stand out. When it was all done my husband became emotional as it turned out so beautiful. I made a special label with both Susan and Linda’s pictures on it.

Moral of the story: Don’t throw old things away; you can remake them into a beautiful gift for another person to treasure and to make them smile.

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