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mercredi 7 août 2013

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.

Today, these keepsakes are no longer to given to men as a sign of passage, or for keeping warm. Today they are given as works of art to add to the beauty and decor of a home, and are often inherited by family members in future generations. They become special family items as the quilt is often signed by the maker. For this reason they become treasured pieces of history in families.

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?

Selecting colors will depend on the event, or holiday as well. Colors associated with certain holidays can be chosen, such as gold or silver if for an anniversary, and red or green, along with angels, noel, or other festive icons. If for a birthday or retirement, pick company colors, or the person's favorite colors. Special pictures, such as from the date they were hired, or group pictures could be used. Other ways of making the gift special are including elements into the patchwork that the person likes, for instance poetry, a favorite song or on old photograph.

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.

Life quilts also make a special gift. This type incorporates events across a person's life on the pattern of a guilt. Photographs placed at certain intervals of the quilt make for a nice touch. Use elements of birthday style, journal style and life style into the same masterpiece.

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.

Think of creative ways to make the quilt. Use t-shirt pieces, graduation clothes, their mother's old hat or decorative glove pieces that hold significance in the person's life. Heirloom quilts make perfect gifts and valued keepsakes, so make sure no matter what style you use to make it, that it holds treasures few other items ever could. Planning ahead, using creativity and ingenuity will help make this gift a beautiful and heartfelt keepsake.




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