Homemade Family Heirloom

Recently, we came across an item that is special to our family. It is a baby quilt I made for our oldest son before he was born. It has been well loved and is not in great shape anymore... it needs more delicate handling than it did when I first made it.


  I had already lost one child through miscarriage, so when problems started with my second pregnancy, the doctor put me on bedrest, for a time. I was still grieving the loss of my first baby and was determined to protect this precious one as much as possible, so I obeyed the doctor.

I have never been a person to sit (or lay) around and do nothing though, so it didn't take long for the enforced rest to get really old. I found a pattern in a book and decided to make a baby quilt.....

  This project required:

embroidery
applique
cutting and sewing pieces
lots of hand sewing
machine sewing
hand quilting
etc.

I used fabric I already had since money was tight and I couldn't get to a store with being on bed rest.

I had never done any applique before, so that was a new thing for me.  I did that and the embroidery by hand and could do it laying in bed, although sometimes I was allowed to sit up for short periods of time also.

It sure felt good to be doing something... and to be making something beautiful for my baby.... anticipating his/her arrival rather than fearing what could happen.

I loved the ribbon idea... with the two fabrics showing the front and backsides of the ribbon.

Some of the damage is apparent here... the embroidery floss is tattered and worn away.

 The colors are very faded from what the original was.....  the backside was originally a soft (baby) yellow.

My oldest slept with this quilt for many years.... I made it with colors that would be appropriate for a boy or a girl since at the time I didn't know which we would have. 

I learned as I went on this quilt... my exposure to embroidery wasn't very large, so I did the best I knew how to... and my husband and I enjoyed how it turned out.

Here you can see where the fabric is rotting in a few areas.  The quilt still feels soft and usable... but it sure isn't something to use carelessly.


 

I had made a set for the bassinet - there was a small quilt with it. I also made a matching set for the crib and there was a quilt with that also... so our son didn't use this quilt for the first year or so.... and I was keeping it "nice".  

  One day I realized that keeping it "nice" meant that my son wasn't using it at all and would have no attachment to it... it would be special to me, but not to him.... so we started using it with him and it became very special. We travelled a lot by the time he was 3 years old for surgeries for our second son, so it was very nice to have a familiar special quilt for him to keep with him. He used it in hotels, hospitals, Ronald McDonald House, home, doctor's offices....and more.

Now, it is showing some age... after all that son is now an adult.... and I realize how very precious the "damage" is.... This is not just a beautiful quilt in pristine condition that was untouchable... this was well-loved. It reminds me of the Velveteen Rabbit story ... where love made the special things "real". Well, this became extra special... and when we came across this in the attic, it brought back so many sweet memories. :)

How glad I am that he was allowed to love it.... that I didn't just "save" it. Now, we are saving it for him to show his family someday.... and I am really enjoying having it for right now.  It was a huge amount of work... it took many hours to complete and my inclination was to protect it all those years ago.... but the loving it received only made it more special.... and precious. Now, it is an heirloom worth passing down in the family

I'm glad you joined me today... and I hope you have a wonderful week. :) 

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