Yesterday, we looked at the design elements of this antique quilt and puzzled over its story: why would anyone cut a quilt that was so lovingly hand-stitched into two pieces? The answer will likely remain a mystery, but it does give us the opportunity to stretch our imaginations. I (Teri) hope that you pondered this after reading yesterday's post, Vintage Flower Baskets, and have some thoughts about what this quilt's story might be.
The stories that Kara and I imagined were quite different. Which seems more likely to you? Or do you have a story that is more plausible?
Kara's version is reminiscent of the wisdom of King Solomon, who judged a case of two women who fought over a child. Her story features two sisters who constantly argued over who would get the quilt their mother had made. Their bickering was endless, and while their mother was pleased that they both liked the quilt so much, she threatened that if their fighting did not cease, she would cut the quilt in half, so they would each have part of it. The quarreling continued, and their mother kept her word.
My rendition is uncharacteristically schmaltzy. I also include two sisters in my cast of characters, but I envision a grandmother who promised her granddaughters that she would make them each a quilt. Before she could make the second, however, she became ill and died. The sisters, who had a close relationship, shared the quilt, and both were comforted by the memories of their grandmother that it provided. Time passed, and one of the sisters got married and found out that her husband's job was going to move them to a far away land. The sisters were saddened to be separated, but as a pledge to remember each other until they would meet again, they split the quilt in half and bound the rough edges. One half of the quilt traveled to Germany, and the other stayed in the US.
As I write this, Kara is spending her last night in Maryland, before she and her husband leave for their stint in Germany. As you read this, they are getting acclimated to their new home away from homeland. The plan was to send one half of this quilt to Germany with Kara and keep the other half with me. Because we are also in the midst of a move, it got put in storage. By the time I searched and found it, we only had time to get a photo with it. After their week of packing and shipping, there was no way I was giving it to them for their luggage—that weight limit is stressful. I suppose I will have to ship it across the Atlantic, so that my story can come true. Obviously, the quilt pieces were reunited, as I bought them as a unit, so you can infer the endings of our stories.
Now it's your turn!
Why do YOU think this quilt was cut in half? Why would someone do that?! And how were the two halves reunited? We would love to hear your thoughts. Neither of us addressed the difference in the staining on one half, which could be an interesting element in your tale.
To share your story, leave a comment below. If you are reading this in email, click HERE to go to the blog and leave your story in the comments.
As an incentive to share your story, we are offering a chance to win four (4) cards of beautiful Sampler Threads by The Gentle Art to everyone who leaves a comment with a story about why someone might cut a quilt in half. Use your imagination and have fun! We can't wait to hear your versions!
All comments must be received by midnight on Sunday, June 11, 2017, to be entered into the drawing for the threads. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced next week. Good luck!
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| Bon voyage, Kara! Can't wait to hear your tales of the quilt's adventures in Deutschland. I miss you already!! |
I had an elderly neighbor who had a lovely quilt she won in a raffle. It was for a queen sized bed but she only had a twin. She brought it to me and asked me to downsize it for a twin bed. I didn't have the heart to cut such a lovely quilt so I offered her the bedspread I had in trade. She looked at me and said, "you can't cut it either, can you?' No, I couldn't. She accepted the trade and I gave the quilt to the sister who often drove 600 miles and back so I could go visit my family for a few weeks. She had a queen bed and loved the quilt. Maybe what happened was the quilt went to someone who had a smaller bed and it dragged on the floor but by cutting it in half, it was the right size for her bed. Having two of them, there was always a clean one to put on the bed.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention how it was put back together. The person who'd had the quilt cut passed them on to a daughter who put them back together to fit on her bed nicely.
DeleteWhat a wonderful story, Kathrine!—both the real one and your hypothesis about this one. I really love the endings of both: in one, no one could bring herself to cut the quilt, and in the other, the two halves were sewn back together. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteWow I really loved both of your stories much much more.
ReplyDeleteI will stick with the one I posted on Google+, with a little embelliment.
I think that this beautiful quilt was made by a loving grandmother,
When she passed it was left to her loving granddaughter
This granddaughter was so close to her loving grandmother's that the quilt meant the world to her.
When she got married in 1946 she wanted it as her wedding quilt.
Now back then husband and wife did not share a bed, so she made it into 2 so her husband could feel the grandmother's love too
Thanks, Madge! I love the thought of sharing the love!! So glad you found the blog and shared your story.
DeleteYesterday what immediately came to mind was twins - they shared a room with twin beds and the quilt was deliberately planned to be cut in half so the two quilts would be identical. But upon looking closely that's very unlikely because the designs are now lopsided.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm thinking someone inherited this quilt from grandma or an aunt and two sisters decided to cut it so they could each have a twin-sized quilt.
It's a lovely design, so elegant.
Good possibilities, Marie! Someone in one of our lectures mentioned twins. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI have read that mothers sometimes cut the quilt for sons (future daughters-in-law) who went off to war. The half-size quilts worked on a cot pretty well. Although this quilt certainly appears more 'wedding-ish' -- perhaps the mother was ill and didn't think she might live long enough to make two quilts for her daughters, and hence, made one large quilt, cut, and bound it so that each daughter may have some of her own handiwork.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that a quilt might have been cut to make it cot-sized for war. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
DeleteI believe this way made by a young woman, maybe right before the civil war, and she made it for her wedding night. But, right before she was married her sweet heart went to fight in the war. She cut the quilt in half, like it cut her heart in half to see him go. But she knew that some day when he returned home, she would be able to sew it back together again, like her heart would be whole again. But he didn't make it, his buddies returned the quilt half to her after the war, and because her heart never mended, she never mended the quilt together again either.
ReplyDeleteWow, Mona, this story gave me chills! Such a tender tale; thanks so much for sharing it with us!!
DeleteLike the story in the Bible of the king having to decide the outcome of the baby, claimed by two different mothers. If two daughters were fighting over her quilt, she may have cut it in half to settle the argument.
ReplyDeleteI'd say that is a story with great possibility, Elaine! Though I would probably be the sister who would just let the other have the whole quilt.
DeleteI have a friendship quilt, blocks made by members of my husband's family. Many blocks are dated 1932. Several of the blocks are decorated with embroidered baskets of flowers very similar to these baskets. These blocks were made for my husband's grandmother who died in 1966. They were found in her house after her son died in 1996. My husband's aunt set the blocks together and quilted the quilt by hand. I treasure this quilt greatly as all the names are of family,and all have passed away now.
ReplyDeleteThat IS a treasure, Mary! Think of all the members of your family whose hands touched that quilt! Thanks so much for sharing this story with us.
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