Keepsake Quilting – Tips and Ideas
In the true essence of quilting, every quilt can be considered a keepsake quilt. If someone you know, or even if that quilter was you, put time and love into the quilt, it becomes a keepsake. However, if keepsake means more to you, such as a quilt that is made up of scraps of fabric, each of which holds a personal memory or special meaning, then your approach to keepsake quilting will be a little different. Either way, look into what all is involved with creating a keepsake quilt, and then undertake to create one that best expresses you and your intentions.
Keepsake Quilting – Memories of Days Gone By
Keepsake quilting is not something that is taken lightly in the quilting world. In fact, it is one of the most popular quilts among consumers looking to buy one. Many a mother or daughter created their keepsake quilt with the intention of passing it down to succeeding generations. In past years, keepsake quilting was done by using old pieces of clothing or cloth that had no other use. In those days, no one wasted anything. Every family had a rag bag. If it was made of fabric, it eventually found its way into a quilt. Keepsake quilting today does not have to be made of all-new fabric. There are creative ways for giving your projects take that genuine vintage look. All it takes is a little creativity on your part.
Choosing the Right Old Pieces
Not everyone has old fabric just lying around the house to use in keepsake quilting. In fact, you may not even want to cut up some items that hold sentimental value. So how will you achieve the vintage look you want? The first idea is to pay a visit to your local vintage clothing shop. Here you can find truly great fabric pieces. It won’t matter if the garments have holes or stains. You will be cutting your fabric pieces around them. This will provide you with clothing that has an aged look and feel to them. This is a great idea also because you can find a wide variety of colors and designs for your quilt. Most pieces will run about $1.00 and up. Don’t think of these as other people’s clothing. Instead, think of all the great stories each of these articles of clothing could tell about the ones who wore them. What a great concept for your keepsake quilting project. In this way, you will be preserving a piece of someone else’s history. And just think of the stories you can tell about your adventure in finding the fabric. In this way, you are creating a new bit of history for your keepsake quilting project.
If you have a supply of old clothing lying around your house that may not be worth wearing, consider cutting these in pieces for your keepsake quilting project. Your children’s cast off clothing would make an amazing quilt. You may want to use it as a gift for them to take with them when they leave home. That quilt will give them a little piece of home to snuggle up against. Also, taking a few of those special pieces for your own keepsake quilting project will work to keep your children close even if they are not with you physically. Think of the reminiscing that you will do with each piece of fabric. This makes for a great conversation when you are telling your friends about that particular piece of fabric!
From the Old to the New
The idea behind keepsake quilting is to create a quilt that will stand the test of time. A quilt that will be passed down to generations. It will leave a little piece of history behind and yet can be rewarding in and of itself. Any old fabric can become a new piece that you will transform. Not only are you preserving the past, but you are creating something that can be used to tell everyone, including your grandchildren and great-grandchildren, about your past and your family history. Future generations will be amazed at all the stories that come from you and your keepsake quilting.