Thanks for stopping by for our weekly Quirky Question—where the question’s just for fun, your answer’s always welcome, and you could win an eBook for free!
(Right: “Aunt Amy’s Sampler Quilt,” circa 1898, from Quilts from Aunt Amy)
We create for many reasons—to express our ideas, to share our talents with others, to challenge ourselves … and because it’s a lot of fun, of course! But one thing our creations do, intentionally or not, is leave a story about who we are for future generations to read. Just like paintings, sculptures, and music can do for their individual makers, quilts can impart the legacy of our lives. Which brings us to this week’s question:
What possession—fabric, fiber, or otherwise—are you especially sentimental about, and why do you keep it?
Post your answer in the comments before noon (PST) on Monday, November 19, for your chance to win. The winning comment will be posted on Wednesday, November 21, along with the next question.
Last week’s question was, “What’s one story about you that your family and friends tell again and again?” Here’s the hilarious winning response:
“Once when going through a dinner buffet line at a restaurant, next to the Jello was this big, beautiful bowl of what I thought was banana pudding or some sort of pineapple dessert. I took a nice big spoonful on my plate. Part way through the meal, just I was getting ready to put a spoonful in my mouth, my husband said, ‘You’re not going to eat that, are you?’ I replied, ‘Yes!’ After placing the bite in my mouth I realized it was whipped butter. This happened over 26 years ago and we still laugh over that story. He tells it every time he gets the chance.”
Last week’s winning comment was written by Bonnie. Congratulations, Bonnie! Look for an email about how to get your free eBook.
"From the heart" items from people I love and who love me are my most prized possessions. Quilts: the queen sized Mariner’s Compass my mother made (hand pieced and quilted); the quilt my grandmother gave me where she hand quilted a quilt top hand pieced by my great grandmother; and the quilt my great aunt made and selected just for me. Then, there is the seam ripper with the lathe turned wooden handle that my late father gave to me. And, my first Bible given to me by my parents.
—MarciaW on November 14, 2012A possession that I am especially sentimental about is an orange Tee shirt, mens size Large, slightly used. I bought one for my son and his best friend (shirts were close to identical) when they were shopping with me one afternoon. After my son died in a car accident and I was packing up clothing, I just could not let go of that shirt. So, it lives in a container in my sewing room. I don’t take it out and look at it often, but I like knowing its there.
—Mary on November 14, 2012My first sewing machine which was the White machine in a cabinet that Dad bought for Mom when they got married and she NEVER used. My bedroom was upstairs and I remember my Mom yelling up to me, "Turn that thing off and go to bed!" She’s 93 now and she still remembers thinking the machine was going to drop through the ceiling it was going so fast. There is a nail holding the pressure bar down, something I stuck in there in desperation when I was 12. Still works like a charm. I have other machines now but still keep that beautiful old White that got me started on this wonderful 47 year long journey.
—Luanne Corts on November 14, 2012My most prized possessions are the "colliers de pâtes" (necklace made with pasta) my children made at school for Mother’s day… It was a very popular craft some 20 years ago and I have a whole box of those, some painted, some stringed on hemp or some a single "farfalle" on a nylon thread (not the easyest ! Try to make a hole in the center of a farfalle!!), but I treasure every one of them !
—Louise on November 14, 2012PS : Thank you for this nice idea of the quirky question. It’s fun !
—Louise on November 14, 2012I have some fabric that was given to me by my grandmother from Sweden. It is only about 22 x 30″ and I’ve had it 40 years. I can’t bear to put it into a quilt but I frequently take it out of my stash, hold it and look at it. It always brings my dear grandmother right back into my life.
—Cheryl on November 14, 2012I have a lot of things that are sentimenal to me that I keep. Like a handmade quilt my grandmother made from my clothes while in grade school. A pencil holder made from clay with hand drawn dinosaurs all around it. My son was going to be a palentologist at the time in 6th grade. I will always remember the wonderful times we spent together for years learning about dinosaurs. Now at 27 he still loves them.
—Lori Smanski on November 14, 2012Possessions aren’t a biggie for me, but if I had to choose what inanimate things to save in a fire (only after making sure the people were safe of course), it would be my collection of Wizard of Oz books. For those who dont’ know, there is more than one book, and I not only have my original books I read as a child in the 50′s, but have amassed a collection of first editions of all of the stories (well, the Wizard is a second edition ’cause I can’t afford the first of that one). I still love the creativity and imagination fostered by those books, and I like to think that helps me in my creativity as a quilter. If you haven’t read any of them, check them out. They are much more imaginative than the MGM version of the first book. Oz is REAL!!!
—Jackie on November 14, 2012I have a piece of ivory silk with an inset of 28 cross stitch fabric and just could never do anything with it. It’s pretty all by itself
—Carole Tutko on November 14, 2012My most prized possession is a huge oak trunk that my husband made me. My MIL though passed now, gave me about 12 quilt tops that she made for me. When I got them I didn’t have any "safe" place to place them. So DH made me the most beautiful oak trunk in which to put them. Its a camel back trunk. Now my tops and finished quilts are very safe. Oh and its cedar lined.
—Eileene on November 14, 2012I have my very first applique quilt that was appraised at a high value that I dearly love. It is the only real quilting item I have but I do have items handed down that came across the country on the Chisholm Trail that mean a great deal to me because of their part in history and a leather post card with a postal stamp of 1906 that has survived all these years.
—Connie on November 14, 2012my most prized possession is my little black portable Singer sewing machine. It is 64 yrs. old and does the most beautiful machine quilting; better then my computerized machine.It does just about anything I ask it to do with its one little straight foot, hem jeans,piece quilts, make wedding dressesand machine quilt big quilts. It is a true friend,never lets me down and if we have a problem its easy to fix. she’s my baby!
—leslie west on November 14, 2012I keep my first engagement ring for sentimental reasons. I was three years old when I received it. Gary, my much older boyfriend – probably six or seven at the time, lived next door. His brother was getting married and there was so much excitement Gary decided he would like to get married, too. Of course, I was his choice for a bride.
It just so happens, Gary’s mother always took off her wedding and engagement rings when she washed dishes. Gary found his mother’s engagement ring there by the kitchen sink and decided it was appropriate for his own engagement.
On the driveway in front of our house, Gary asked me to marry him and gave me his mother’s engagement ring to seal the agreement.
Not long afterwards, Gary’s mother discovered her engagement ring was missing. After an extensive search, it was found next door on my chubby three year-old hand.
Gary’s mother, who also adored me as a future mother-in-law would, took Gary to buy me a "more suitable" engagement ring (toy)and Gary again asked me to marry him on our front driveway.
Several years ago, I had my "engagement" ring put on a charm necklace. It must have at least a carat of glass and the "white gold" is still bright. The memories are even brighter!
—Nancy Penry on November 14, 2012My favorite item is a quilt that my mother and I made together.. I saw a program on the watercolor quilts and sent the book to my Mom with a request for the heart quilt. Mom was worried as she never made one like this and the project was shelved. Mom was diganosed with Colon Cancer and I moved in with her for two months while she went through her chemo treatments. We got out the book and together we made the quilt. It was the first and only quilt we made together.. The second quilt was to be hers and She had chosen a basket watercolor quilt and I sewed the top and together we pinned and she started to hand quilt her quilt, but it was never finished as she passed away. My heart quilt with our Live, Love, Laugh motto will always remain a reminder of what family can do, one day it will be passed down to son or grand daughters.. as it was made with love and lots of laughter..
—Bonnie on November 14, 2012I have the little wooden box my grandfather (a carpenter) made and the afghan my grandmother crocheted and the crossstitched "Cincinnati Skyline" from my mother and the letter from my father but my most prized possessions are my memories of them and everyone else near and dear to me.
—Kathy on November 14, 2012In 1987 I made my first and second quilts. One for my daughter and one for my son. Simple quilts, with mixed fabrics (didn’t know about all cotten then) They have both lugged those quilts around with them everywhere they go. Overnights, vacations, college and first homes. A year ago my son died at the age of 25. I know that quilt was very special to him, even thougth I made him better ones later on. I now have that quilt and it will always be a treasure to me, even though it is battered and a little torn.
—Debb on November 14, 2012I treasure a beautiful but simple blue and white Lemoyne Star quilt that my grandmother made, around the time of her marriage in 1920.
—KrisTX on November 14, 2012It is also shown in a photo of my grandmother and my Mom, when she was just 2 years old. I have the photo on the wall in our guestroom and the quilt, still in excellent condition, is on the bed. Both are my sentimental, and very real, connection to my past.
Mu grandmothers pink cameo and her very well used thimble.
—Denise on November 14, 2012Memories are my most precious possessions. My kids made ornaments in school one year. (We won’t say how long ago…) The ornaments might not be the most beautiful, but the memories are!
—Lynne on November 14, 2012My grandmother’s treadle sewing machine. She bought it new in 1920. It’s the machine she taught me to sew on. I will pass it on to my granddaughter.
—CarleneT on November 14, 2012My Grandmother Harris loved to quilt. Her last hand pieced quilt consisted of multiple colored diamonds with a white backgound and was given to me, when I was born. One year and 19 days later, she died of a cerebral hemorrage and never regained consciousness. This quilt was my pride and joy, that kept me warm in the winter, "nursed" me when I was sick or troubled, and wrapped me in "family love" as I grew older. It began to wear out in the middle and I gently added fabric in the worn spots and stitched around the worn sides to hold the patches in place. Sadly, this quilt was one of the things the Rose Hill, MS former friend stole. Needless to say, it broke my heart.
God, my family, and friends, above all, are the #1 prized possessions of mine.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on November 14, 2012I am especially sentimental about hand crocheted laces that my grandmother made. My mother gave them to me long after my grandmother passed. These bits of work from my grandmother’s hand connect me to her and remind me of happy times we shared when she taught me to crochet and sew when I was eight years old.
—Darlene Fontaine on November 14, 2012My mother’s wedding band. Her engagement and wedding rings were almost worn through from wearing them ALL the time. The jeweler suggested taking the diamonds from both and resetting into a wedding band. She never took that off either.
I felt guilty asking the funeral director to take her band off so I could keep it. It was such a part of my mother that I didn’t want it buried with her. I had it resized and now wear it most of the time. It’s a part of my mother I can keep with me.
—Joanne Scott on November 14, 2012When you mentioned prized possessions, my mind immediately thought of my Granma’s buttons. As a child I vividly remember sitting on the floor of my Granma’s sewing room, playing with a huge (to me) box of buttons. I would put them in size order, color order and anything else I could think off. When she died I split the buttons with my mother, I still have them in my sewing room, in a beautiful glass canister. Even at 47 yrs. old I still pour them out occasionally and look at them and remember my Granma sewing and the hum of the machine. Maybe that’s why I like sewing, the hum of the machine is very soothing.
—Toni Anne on November 14, 2012My Nana knit the most glorious sweaters. Her specialty was a bulky fisherman knit -and she inserted cables and bobbles and patterns and twists – frequently without a pattern (she had memorized them) – and often "with her eyes closed". Her needles were warped from where she tucked them under her arms. When she passed away, many of her children and grandchildren wore their "Nana Sweaters" to the funeral. And when my mother passed away last year – her four daughters divided up her "Nana Sweaters" – getting that special bit of Nana AND that special bit of Mom. So my NanaMom sweater – well patched and frayed in spots – is very special… and worn whenever I need a hug -even if it is in August!
—Regina on November 14, 2012I have a number of things my Dad made as he was a master carpenter. There are some wall hangings and small boxes but the big thing he made was an 8-harness Jack-type floor loom based on a Gilmore loom that he made patterns from for the wood pieces. He even hand cut the metal ratcheted wheel brake. He and a friend made four of these. I also have an afghan that my Mom crocheted. Now my husband has made several items out of wood also that I cherish. As you can see, I love anything someone in the family has made.
—Karen L. on November 14, 2012I have some really old flour sack material and I just can’t bring myself to cut into it. It came from my grandmothers stash. She made quilt squares out of some of the fabric, and the left over squares I have used on sweatshirts and wall hangings for family members. This way everyone gets a memory of "Grandma". Maybe someday I will use the left over fabric to make more memories as her great-great and great-great-great grandchildren come along.
—MaryB on November 14, 2012The teddy bear my husband gave me 23 yrs ago while we were dating. We were in our teens and I had never had one so he gave it to me for my birthday. I sleep with it every night and when I travel it goes with me.
—Robin on November 14, 2012my most prized possession is a piece of white lace from my Grandmother’s wedding gown that is more than 100 years old.
—Connie on November 14, 2012I have an old sock doll and a homemade Humpty Dumpty from my childhood. Neither look their best anymore, but I still love them.
—Susan K on November 14, 2012My grandmothers and mothers jewelry that was passed down to me. Even though some are just what they call costume jewelry each piece is very precious to me. It brings back memories of them both. And all of my mothers craft books. She was activity leader in several senior citizen groups and had to come up with new ideas all the time.
—Betty on November 14, 2012My Aunt in her late 90′s became "forgetful" and confused. Her caretaker managed to get her to sign over most of her posessions to her.
—elr on November 14, 2012After she passed away at 102, we asked to go through her belongs for picturess, wedding, birth and other certificates, we were derected to a rented storage building. No documents or pictures only a lot of junk or broken stuff. There was this on box of old sewing type items and my sister had me go through it. There with old floss and thread was a small cross stitched needel case. Just a 3X2 inchs, on fine lined with a beautiful pattern stitched on the front. Now it is my "special" needel case and I think about all the wonderful items my Aunt had stitched every time I go for a needel..
I lost my wedding dress and Hat (yes I was a 70′s gal!) in a 500 year flood but I have my mother’s vail from 1946. Some day I will use pieces of it in a victorian crazy quilt. Since I made my own dress I do have a few scraps of that fabric to add to my crazy quilt too.
—kathy on November 14, 2012When I was a little girl my grandfather was a Methodist preacher serving in many small West Texas towns. He kept index cards of his sermons in a small wooden box. Time passed and when my daughter was a young girl she found his special box and decorated it into a recipe box for my Christmas present one year, including illustrating all of the category divider cards with her elementary art. She is now a mother with little ones of her own, but that well worn recipe box remains my favorite gift ever.
—Elaine White on November 14, 2012My most prized posession is a wool quilt my grandmother Anastacia made @70 years ago, from my grandfather’s wool suits. It’s hand sewn and tied with faded red yarn, with a double cotton batting and a flannel backing. My grandmother was the daughter of Irish immigrants, the wool quilt is the type the Irish mill workers in northern Ireland made from suiting samples they took home from the job. Their wives made the wool squares and rectangles into quilts, and the men and sold them from their bicycles. My grandmother made a dozen of these wool suiting quilts, as far as I know I have the only remaining wool quilt. It was discovered many years after her death, stored under a stairway in the house my grandfather lived in after Anastacia died. The wool quilts were a necessity in the bitterly cold Nebraska winters, most homes were lucky to have heat on the first floor, with the upstairs bedrooms unheated and little or no insulation in the houses.
—Mary Val on November 14, 2012I keep it because it was made by Mom-Mom. I have some treasures in my cedar chest, crocheted items much out of fashion. There are pillowcases with lacey edgings and towels with baskets that held washcloths with edgings, all crocheted in the worse 50′s colors imaginable. But she made them and I love them. I also have Pop-Pop’s coffee bowl, but that’s another story.
—Patricia Hersl on November 14, 2012My mothers sewing machine – we spent so many hours together with this machine – it is my most precious poession.
—Sharon buford on November 14, 2012Anything that is connected to my Great-Great-Grandmother Priscilla Southard. She was a teenager during the Civil War and ran the farm for elderly parents. She married her first husband in 1866 and the first born was my Great-Grandmother Ida whom I knew. Priscilla died when my father was 6 years old. I have pictures of her, her parents and both of her husband that were taken in the 1800′s. I also have a beaded, crocheted collar that Priscilla Made in 1860, and several quilts that she made during her lifetime. All these things have over the years made me really feel her presence and love. It doesn’t hurt that she was so connected to one of the defining moments of U.S. history and I was a History major in College.
—Mary E. Sayler on November 14, 2012My 1953 Singer Featherweight is what I am most sentimental about. It belonged to my great aunt, Edy. As a child I can remember playing on the kitchen floor with my Mrs. Beasley doll while Aunt Edy was stitching up new outfits for the both of us. I still have Mrs, Beasley, several of her outfits (although mine are long gone) and the pattern Aunt Edy altered for Mrs. Beasley’s wardrobe. When Aunt Edy passed away in 1981, I was given the Featherweight. It was my first sewing machine and just opening it up reminds me of all those years ago in Aunt Edy’s kitchen.
—Jaci E on November 14, 2012I guess I would have to say my sewing machines that came from my Aunt before she passed away. The one is nothing really special it’s a Singer Futura but when I went to have it worked on and they told 300.00 dollars I got it fixed because of sentimental value and I know the machine is not worth it in money wise but sentimentally it is. The other one is an Elna.
—Debbie on November 14, 2012When my oldest daughter was born, one of my younger twin brothers sent her a fabric doll sitting on a swing to hang from the ceiling. The doll hung in the corner by the crib after the birth of my other 2 daughters too. I hadn’t seen him for 5 years because he was in the Airforce. 2 weeks before he was to come and visit us and see my daughters for the first time, he fell off a cliff in Utah and died. I will always keep that doll. I think of him every time I look at it.
—Denise Cabral on November 14, 2012I feel especially sentimental whenever I see pennies. My granny had very little money, but she always saved pennies for me. Whenever I visited her in her city row house, we’d take walks, keeping our eyes on the ground , looking for those pennies. She saved them all in a mayonnaise jar; and when it was full, she presented it to me. My parents bought me my first (used) bicycle at an auction with that $14 worth of pennies. Those copper coins represented lots of love and persistence from my wonderful granny.
—Melody on November 14, 2012My most prized possession is a beautiful wooden quilt rack made by my father’s hands. He was a self-taught carpenter who took great pride in his work and always told his children that anything worth doing is worthy of our best abilities. As the oldest of five daughters and the only quilter in the family, my heart burst with joy when I received this wonderful gift many Christmases ago. He and I shared a creative bond. He is no longer with me, except in spirit, but I remember that look of pride on his face every time I rearrange my quilts on his beautiful creation – my prized possession.
—Joan R on November 14, 2012I have 12 cross stitched cabin quilt squares from the 1970′s that I keep because my mother stitched them. I fully intend to incorporate them into a quilt someday. In fact, I started quilting just so I could learn how so I could make something beautiful and memorable with these. She originally made them for her first grandchild but never got around to actually making a quilt with them. I have been gathering bits of fabric hither and yawn and think I maybe able to start it this summer. Finally, I will quilt something for myself and not as a gift for someone else!
—Lisa on November 14, 2012Many years ago I received a quilt from my grandmother, who had made the quilt. I love that quilt. It was so perfect to sleep under or wrap up in when it was chilly. The quilt is now in shreds from so much use and love but I still keep the quilt because it means so much to me.
—Kathy K on November 14, 2012Many years ago my mom got talked into taking a quilting class. This was before all the must-haves we take for granted in our quilting today. She had been my source of clothing for many years so she was an excellent seamstress, just not into "crafty". She pieced enough 8-pointed star squares for a full sized quilt top, although I didn’t find the last row til after I had attached the borders she left cut. I found this project in her sewing room she left to me when she closed her house. I figured out why she didn’t finish the project, it would not lay flat. Lots of hand-quilting and it finally was flat. It graces one of the beds in the room used by my granchildren. A perfect memory from my mom.
—Joyce Finch on November 14, 2012Many years ago during my sophmore year of high school our homecoming dance was a special occasion. It was very special to me since I had never been to one before. My mother told me I needed a very special dress to wear to the dance. Since money was a little tight my mother decided to sew my dress. She was a very good seamstress and had taught me everything she knew about sewing,which I will always be grateful for.
—Wendi M on November 14, 2012The night of the big dance arrived. I was completely stunning in my full length deep blue velvet gown. It has an empire waist with the bodice of lace. I truly believe I was asked to dance more than usual because of that dress. Many times throughout the years I have taken it out and thought,"why am I keeping this?" But it is a dress I am glad I chose to hang on to. I have three granddaughters growing up…um..just maybe they might want to try it on.
My prized possession is a doll quilt made by my mother. I has appliques of Little Red Riding hood. Mother did not "enjoy" sewing a lot, but was taught and did sew some. Since I was the youngest of 4 she did not have a lot of sewing time.
—Lila Hendricks on November 14, 2012I have a rather delapidated pincushion that my mother made for me in 1984. (I wrote the date on the bottom when she gave it to me.) It wasn’t even that professional looking as she was all about utiltarian, not beauty. I use it all the time and would not dream of parting with it. She has been gone from this earth many years now.
—Caroline Benson on November 14, 2012I have a quilt I took apart that my grandmother or aunt made and gave to my dad, who gave it to me, I am trying to repair it with like colors, just can’t seem to part with it, because it is very old
—Mae Markham on November 14, 2012I am sentimental about many things. My children say I keep EVERYTHING. I do cherish the scrappy Maple Leaf Quilt made and handquilted by my mother. I was robbed and lost a different quilt that my mother had made for me and my first husband. I also lost a quilt that was handmade by that husband’s grandmother – real family heirlooms. This is the only quilt that my mother made and she is deceased now, so I really cherish the quilt.
—Susan on November 14, 2012After have lost many personal items from a robbery many years ago, I learned to not get attached to material items. However, last May, my youngest son disappeared, walked out the door while I was in my quilting room, without saying a word. My husband’s work keeps him away from home a good majority of the year so needless to say I was a mess. My husband was in New Mexico at the time and. He dropped everything and came to pick me up, in WA,along with our dog and took him with us. At the time we loaded up the car, he asked if there was anything I wanted to take and not thinking about anything, due to numbness in my heart, I responded by saying nothing. He told me you need to at least take your sewing machine and some of your quilting tools to help keep your mind occupied. We since, have found our son, but my husband and I still have not been back to our home. Here we a in November and the one thing that has helped keep my sanity is my quilting. Thank goodness my husband insisted on taking my machine. Inexpensive little brother machine, but it has become pretty valuable in what it has helped maintain.
—Della Bova on November 14, 2012While I have many, many things that I keep for sentimental reasons, the one thing that I hold most dear is a medium-sized stuffed bear with a jeweled heart on his tummy. It was given to me by my late husband during one of our earliest Valentine’s Day celebrations, and I could never, ever part with it. Over the years it has been a tremendous source of strength and comfort, and my children have already been instructed to bury that little bear with me when the time comes, that’s how much it means to me.
—Elizabeth_T on November 14, 2012My new sewing machine. I have always hand pieced. They are not a possession as such but my family, they love and support but then they do funny things "just because", like buy me said new sewing machine….so I can make them new quilts faster LOL
—Leanne M on November 14, 2012A crazy quilt made by my great-grandma in 1887 with beautiful stitches. I also have her Bible. I think everyone knows why I keep these. I could never part with them!
—Maryjo on November 14, 2012My most cherished possession is actually one I just received for my birthday this year. It is a metal frame with the words "Coming Soon" engraved in it and a picture of a pregnancy test strip that says positive. My dear daughter and son-in-law have been trying to have children for 8 years and had just given up and begun adoption proceedures when a miracle happened. Just in time for my birthday. What a fabulous birthday present!
—Mary Lou Burges on November 14, 2012When I was in 4th grade my teacher offered to teach anyone who wanted to knit. My mother crocheted but didn’t knit so I wanted to learn. She bought me a skein of yarn and needles and I would spend the evenings in front of the big radio(you can tell my age) and knit away listening to the Lone Ranger and other sagas. As the year progressed I used several more skeins of wool and finally my mother said "That’s big enough! No more yarn." I took it in to my teacher who looked at this dirty mess of dropped stitches and other mistakes and shook her head. She bravely said "Well I think it is big enough too so I’ll take it home and finish it for you." She took it, and I later realized, tore it out and redid it over the weekend and brought the shawl back to me finished. I gave it to my mother who liked it over her shoulders of a cool winter evening. I still have it and laugh and think fondly of Mrs. Donahue every time I see it.
—Ellie on November 14, 2012One of my possessions I am sentimental about is my bright orange plastic sewing box. I was in 7th grade when my folks allowed me to attend a sewing class at the mall. My mom and dad bought me the sewing box and required notions for the class. I still have most of those notions also. At 53 yrs old, I just keep using it and I hope to pass it on to my daughter when I am tired of it. It isn’t anything fancy but I treasure it.
—Paula Coleman on November 14, 2012My prized pieces from my family are (1) my grandfather’s full sized service quilt with hand carded wool batting from the late 20′s (2) Linen cut work table cloth from my grandmother (3) My great-great aunt’s grandmother’s flower garden quilt that I slept under as a child.
—Joni on November 14, 2012I have some material with matching lace that I bought over 20 years age. I did not know what I was going to do with it at the time. I just liked it and it was bought at a store that was going out of business so I got a good deal. Well 6 years ago I used the materials for my wedding dress to my second husband. The material is coral in color and our wedding was a Hawaiian setting. It was just perfect for my dress. I guess I was supposed to have it because I saved it for just the right time.
—Mary Anne Simmons on November 14, 2012One of my treasured possessions is a pair of faded 1940′s utility quilts. My father’s parents died years before I was born and my father passed away when I was six. So when my sister called me and said, "Are you going to be upset if I get rid of these quilts that grandma made?" I, of course, said a resounding yes! So the quilts arrived at my house in a box. They’ve seen hard use and they were utility log cabin quilts to begin with but to me they are treasures beyond price because they contain a little piece of connection to my father and his mother. They may be a little ragged in places, but when I need comfort, their heft and weight and the bright pastel prints bring a sense of peace.
—Beth Strand on November 14, 2012My mother died from cancer. I took care of her for the last 6 months of her life since I was the only sibling retired.Every morning I would give her a bath and powder her up with her favorite bath powder. I would dress her and put her favorite white sweater on her. After she passed away I took her white sweater and cut the sleeves off and made three drawstring bags out it them.I lined each bag with fabric from one of her blouses. Inside each bag I put a picture of mom, a locket of her hair, one of her earrings,a stub from the last musical we took her to, a charm of the Eiffel tower from our European trip, a tiny snowman (her favorite collection, a "love to shop" pin, and a sachet made from her favorite bath powder. The bag was tied with a ribbon that had printed on it "I Remember Mama". I gave one to each of my sisters and kept one for myself. Now we can always have our Mother near. That little drawstring bag never leaves my sewing room.
—Rosemary Krupski on November 14, 2012I keep my moher’s Singer Featherwight sewing machine. I remember going with my father and my sister to purchase this Christmas gift for my mother when I was about twelve. The next year my mother taught me how to sew on this machine. I brought it home with me when my father passed away. It is worth much more than he paid for it, but I will never sell it.
—Mary Ellen on November 14, 2012Among my ‘fiber/quilt’ prized possessions are several quilts. One, a pink/white Irish Chain that came from Kansas when my grandparents migrated west in the late 1800′s. When my mother and I found it, it was in pretty sad shape with rust stains, plus others that couldn’t be identified. We decided it was of no use as it was, so with fear and trepidation we, (plug your ears)washed it in the machine with detergent and bleach. Well it came out looking just like new! No fiber damage, no fading, just a beautiful, handpieced, handquilted work of art! I treasure this quilt knowing it was made by loving hands, made the long arduous journey west, keeping them warm on the journey. It now has a place of honor on my wall rack.
—Cindy R. on November 14, 2012My prized "fabric" is two quilt tops I was given by a total stranger! I had been in Hobby Lobby, talking with the clerk about a quilt I was trying to make. When an elderly lady walked up to me, and told me she had some old quilt tops that no one in her family wanted and would I like them. I nearly fall out on the floor! No one in my family quilted and so there were no quilts that were passed down to anyone. The next week, I met the lady back at the Hobby Lobby parking lot and she gave me a trash bag fill of tops!!! One of them, was spider web top that had pieced with newsprint. I was able to date the top from a notice about a movie starring Rock Hudson and Vivian De Carlo. Also as I was looking for more news print info, I also found a needle and thread still in the fabric just waiting to be used again
—Chris on November 14, 2012Now my grandchildren will have quilts and a story about how Nonnie got her quilts!
I’m still in Love with very beautiful China from the early 60s, made from the German Factory Rosenthal. Now its really stylish and I’m alias reminded of the small Budget my mother had when she bought it over years, Piece by piece
—Brigitte Baierl on November 14, 2012I have a handmade fabric doll that I have had since before I can remember. It is unique in that it turns inside out. It’s what was referred to as a "Mammy Doll" in the 1940s. When the one side is out it looks like Aunt Jemima and when the other side is out it is a White Mammy. She has fallen out of a pear tree, gotten wet in the creek and gone on many trips all over America (and once to Canada) and was always within reach until I was 12 years old and since then she has resided on my dresser. She does have a patch or two but it doesn’t mean I love her less! Unfortunately I do not know who made her for me.
—Kathleen Gabhart on November 14, 2012My most prized possesion is a quilt that I made for my son’s graduation. My son called me "ma" not mom, so that is how I signed his quilt. We lost my son in an auto accident in March of 2002. When I am feeling blue and thinking of Jay, I curl up with his quilt and let the memories flood me for a while.
—Wanda Ross on November 14, 2012I have a receiving blanket that my mother used for me, I used for both of ny children and my daughter used for my grandson (who is now 7); it is well loved and no longer perfect but I still have it!
Char S.
—Charlotte Scott on November 14, 2012I have a few things I would have to say are my most priced possessions. One is a garnet ring my mother gave me. My father was stationed in Germany from 1949 – 1952 & I was born there. A German lady that my mother became friends with gave her a large garnet ring after my mother told her how pretty it was. I have always loved it & serveral years ago my mother gave it to me. I also have a yoyo quilt that my great grandmother made. It was in 3 sections that needed sewn together, so I finished it.
—Kay McCaffery on November 14, 2012One of my most prized possessions is the quilt my mom gave me a long time ago. It is, or shall I say was, a queen size quilt, but through the years it has become a throw for a queen bed, after cutting away the well worn edges, rebinding, and zig zagging the rips and tears. It is still soft and warm and makes me so happy I still have it. Eventually it will become a twin and hopefully with great care, it will become a crib quilt for one of my grandchildren.
—Barbara OC on November 14, 2012A quilt my great grandma made, although tattered, I keep it because there remains a thread of my family.
—Gigi Lee on November 14, 2012I am especially sentimental about the quilt that is on the bed in our guest room. When I was a little girl my mother would get out this big dress box and open it when my little sister was asleep and my big brother was at school. It was just time for us. She had lots of little squares of fabric stuck on pins that were pointing straight up and she told me it was a quilt she had been working on. She would take a little square and sew it to another colored little square and then I could try to do the same thing. When all the squares were sewn together she said she would have it quilted someday. The years went by and I don’t remember what ever happened to the box of squares, but my guess is she got very busy and we moved often so it probably got lost or tossed out, but I always knew my mom wanted to finish a quilt. Almost 50 years later I learned to quilt and my mother came to stay with us over the summer. That summer we picked out fabric and she helped me cut and mark the little pieces for a "Bride’s Bouquet" block quilt. She had so much fun helping me get it ready to sew. The next year we were in the process of moving to another state and while our house was being built we lived in a motel for a few months. I took the quilt with me and sewed on it every day and gave my mom details of my progress. That summer she came to visit us again and she helped me add the sashing strips and cornerstones. By the time she was returning to her home the quilt top was ready to be quilted. I spent the whole winter quilting by hand and had it finished in time to be put on her bed in the guest room of our new home. She always loved that quilt, because of the pastel colors that she had helped pick out. She especially liked the way the Bride’s Bouquet had pink for the flowers. That was her favorite color and she had cut and marked each one for hand sewing. The next year we were transferred again to another state and my mom became ill with cancer. She never got to visit our home again, but I have always kept that quilt on the bed in the guest room and think of her so often when I am quilting and the fun we had making that quilt together.
—Pamela Zajicek on November 14, 2012I made my first quilt almost 30 years ago as a gift for my mother. She absolutely loved it! When she passed away it came back to me. Someday it will go to my daughters or maybe my granddaughters. Every stitch was made with love. I can still remember the fun I had making it and the tears in my mothers eyes when she opened it. It was truly a gift of love!
—Diane on November 14, 2012A vase in many pieces…As a child growing up on a small Midwest family farm, our family went to town shopping on very rare occasions. One day Dad needed machinery repair parts from the "big" town nearby that had a variety store. Mom and I went along for the ride. She had ten cents (one DIME) for each of us to spend! We each bought a miniature flower vase. Mine was a product of the ‘modern’ era, Mom’s was a beautiful, graceful shape painted with a pink rose. They were stamped in ink with the ten cent price on the bottom. Her vase is now in many pieces, despite several super glue attempts to reconstruct it, but it is still beautiful because of the comforting memory it invokes of simpler, precious times.
—Nancy Olsen on November 14, 2012Anything that belonged to or was given to me by a relative that has passed away. My great-aunt’s 1940′s Montgomery Wards sewing machine and cabinet, my grandparents’ china, a wooden owl from my other grandma, a Budweiser can glass Christmas ornament that I had given my dad and now have for my tree.
And of course, things made by my kids. A drawing from my daughter that says "My mom is golden!" and a sewing machine made of legos from my son are two extra special ones.
—Tammy from quilt-pictures.com on November 14, 2012I have a quilt my friend made for me. I keep it because it was made especially for me and I used it recovering for some serious surgery.
—Jeannette Halseth on November 14, 2012My most prized possession is a quilt that was started by my great-grandmother probably in the 1930′s. She had hand-stitched blocks for the double wedding ring pattern but hadn’t finished the quilt. The blocks were stuck in a box for many years and after she died my mom was given the box. What a treasure. There were enough blocks for THREE full-size quilts. She finished all three. Then in 1997, when our whole city was evacuated for a flood, we were given instructions to take enough clothes for three days. My mom, sister and myself each secretly took our quilts with us. What a laugh we had a couple days later when we were visiting to find that we had all smuggled our quilts with us. Luckily I took mine as my house flooded and it would have been ruined.
—Ginny Sobolik on November 14, 2012I was adopted as an older child and remember coming to my "forever family". My most prized possessions are those beautiful items: a topaz ring that my grandfather gave to my grandmother and is my inheritance from them both, a painting that my grandmother painted just for me, my copy of the geneology book that my grandfather wrote with the entry "Child of Don and Virginia: Mary b.1967 adopted 1972″ These things prove to me that I am indeed a part of a very long history of my family. I belong forever.
—Mary Randall on November 14, 2012Other than family related mementos my most prized possession is my custom made sewing machine table that was built by my friend and buddy, Jimbo.
—Valerie A. Clark on November 14, 2012I purchased a yard of material in Hong Kong during a visit to China. I used some of it to cover a step stool with only scraps remaining. I can’t get the courage to throw out the scaps because I’ m sure I will never have the opportunity to get back to buy this or similar silk fabric.
—Marilyn on November 14, 2012I inherited a quilt from my mother’s side of the family, dated in the 1850′s. Unfortunately I washed it! The quilt top did not shrink, but the batting did since it was wool. I had no idea! Live and learn.
—Debbie on November 14, 2012Debbie
My most prized possession is the quilt my Mother made back in the late 40′s. She diligently saved her flour sacks, made a pattern from newspaper and made a beautiful appliqued butterfly quilt using her new Singer. Or, it could also be my Father’s 22 rifle. That’s the one he taught me to shoot with. Or, it could be my husband because he never says anything about how much fabric I have or asks why do I need more. Or, my children and grandchildren. But, none of these folks are possessions, they just belong to me!
—Mary S. on November 14, 2012I collect and keep things that usually remind me of my Mom and grandmothers. When I look at the keepsakes that I have, in memory of those people, I feel, in a small way, that I am helping to keep their memories alive in myself and my family.
—Jan on November 14, 2012I had to think a minute. One thing that comes to mind is a gift from my grandfather. I’m sure he gave me other things, but this is one thing specifically from him. My family went to visit one Easter. I think I was about 10-11, and he had bought my brother and I each a wind-up chick in an eggshell. One of those metal wind-up toys made before everything came in plastic. I think my brother tore his up in short order, but I still have mine (tucked away somewhere) and it still works. I always think of him when I find it.
I have some other things: a darning egg from my mother-in-law, a very old macrame bag and jet necklace from my great or great-great grandmother, a pewter sugar and creamer set my grandparents received as a wedding gift, and what I think is a hand carved stilleto of ivory.
—Claudia on November 14, 2012I am sentimental about items that belonged to my grandparents and great-grandparents…quilts, a large yellow ware bowl, cameras, photos, an old fiddle from my great great uncle, among other items. When I lost my father a little over a year ago, I took a wooden sign from his garage that read "Fred’s Workshop." It now hangs in my sewing room.
—Stephanie Taylor on November 14, 2012I have a "Grandmother’s Flower Garden" quilt top that my maternal grandmother hand-pieced before 1950. She died that year, when I was 3 years old. After I retired, I decided that this top shouldn’t go another generation without being quilted. So, I went to my local quilt shop and found some help & advice about hand quilting. I’m still working on it, and my stitches aren’t as small as hers, but Grandma’s quilt top led me to quilting, which I have now embraced whole-heartedly. I’ll finish her quilt top soon & will treasure it forever, because I feel like she is looking over my shoulder watching with pride as her granddaughter becomes a quilter.
—Ruth Skinner on November 14, 2012I love my rulers. I couldn’t do nearly as much as I’ve done through the years without them. Not only in quilting, but in designing my own patterns and doing pattern adjustments to fit clothing on some "odd shaped" people. I really wonder how I managed to get anything done before I got my collection of rulers.
—Marilyn on November 14, 2012My most prized possessions are my three children, son-in-law, grandchild on the way, and my Lone Star quilt I received in the mail from an unknow individual. It only took 30 years later to find out it was made by a Native American friend of my husband’s mother who passed away a few years ago. I am saddened that I never had the chance to thank her for the hand quilted quilt. We used it many years before I finally put it away in a place of honor when I realized what a treasure we own. Friends, remember to sign and date your quilt, and if you are sending it as a gift put your return address on it so you can be thanked properly!
—Tina Fugate on November 14, 2012There are no better possessions than family photos. We are not talking about the ones on a disc, but the real ones developed over time with the dates on the back so you can really figure out how old everyone is, what happened that year or perhaps even what time of year it was! The best way to show your children and grandchildren why they are tall, or short, or blonde or dark haired or why they have dimple on their left cheek only. And let’s not even begin what the fashions were and how we all thought we were soooo cool and with it and now we have to laugh ourselves silly when we sit down and open those albums. They are the ONLY thing I made sure my parents left to me alone. They make my history.
—Adeline on November 14, 2012My prized possession is a "sand paper board" my Dad made for me in 1973 when I first started quilting. I was 18 years old at the time. A few months after my Mom passed away one of the ladies I worked with invited me to come to her home for a meeting of her sewing group. Since I sewed clothes for many years I thought it was a good idea. At this group they were quilters and they taught me how to hand piece blocks and sew them together into quilt tops and then taught me how to quilt. They told me I needed a sand paper board to trace the templates onto the fabric so I went home and told my Dad and the next morning there it was on the dining room table – my Dad hadn’t been down to his wood shop since my Mom had passed and so this was very special to me, that he would go down to the shop and make me a sand paper board. I will cherish it forever!
—Colleen Taylor on November 14, 2012Other than my Singer Featherweight my prized possessions are my memories of my children when they were small and seemingly innocent of the world around them. It was watching them discover, doubt, and finally accept that life is not always a bowl of ice cream. And of course my current pride is of my three cats – a Momma and two of her offspring – that lay about the house secure enough in their environment to sleep on the floor in the middle of the room.
—Richard Rosenfeld on November 14, 2012My favorite things are my childrens’ baby cups. I hang them on the Christmas tree. Also their baby spoons go on the tree. I have recently added some Campbell soup cups and spoons.
I just never know what I will find at thrift stores and ebay.
Kathleen Campbell
—Kathleen Campbell on November 14, 2012In 2000 I travelled to the US from Australia to meet some online friends. We had a wonderful time getting to know one another! One of the things I bought was a yard of Quilt For A Cure fabric that had a simple pink ribbon ‘Q’ on a cream back ground. At the time, I just thought it was pretty and wanted to support the cause. Over the years that fabric has found it’s way into several quilts I’ve made.
—Kayt on November 14, 2012At the end of last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and this year was all about Fight Like A Girl (another range of fabric and a motto I have held close to my heart).
I’m not able to say that I’m cancer free, I have to wait 5 years without incident for that, but I’m confident that I will say it.
The other day, while looking through a box of fabric I had forgotten about, I found a large piece of that Quilt For A Cure fabric and I realised it was now incredibly significant to me.
It will continue to find its way into as many quilts as I can manage before it runs out. Luckily I bought a similar fabric with a pink ribbon and a little heart print.
Now, stop what you’re doing and check your breasts!!!
My grandmother made a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt when my mother was a preschooler. She made my mother a doll quilt in the same pattern with left overs. The materials are from family clothes that had worn to thin in area to be used or from aprons or from feed sacks. The prints are from the 1920s with a lovely green between the blocks. The little quilt reminds me of both of them and a heritage of working with fabric.
—Herma on November 14, 2012I have been a quilter for 8 years. Yet something that I just learned a few months ago . . .
we laugh about that many times. always when we go into a new fabric shop there is always one friend that will say, "wonder where the petite section is."
I love working with Batiks but I always called the fabric petites. always wondering why they called the fabric that name because that ment small— but no one ever caught it when I asked where their petite section was.
One day while looking through a quilting magazine I noticed some every pretty petites that were called batiks. I will NEVER make that mistake again
your story reminded me about when we were traveling in the south like 30 years ago and stopped at winery . . . decided to eat there and it was a little dark in-side. we went through the line and I took a nice helping of mashed potatoes . . . taking a bite WOW! it was horseradish. Now that was HOT!
—Barb Manders on November 14, 2012I have an applique Butterfly quilt top made by my Grandmother. I keep telling myself that I’m going to re-quilt it, but I just can’t bear to make any changes to it.
—Melanie on November 14, 2012I have the scissors my blacksmith great great grandfather made for his daughter my great grandmother. The five quilts that represent 5 generations of quilters. The red, yellow and white trip aroung the oceans quilt from the early 20th century hangs over the loft railing. Then there is the small piece of bright yellow fabric with red hearts and flowers on it from the 80′s that I have saved for just the right thing. Now I have two granddaughters to quilt for. They will both have a patch of this wonderful fabric in their quilts.
—Laurel on November 14, 2012In her later years, my grandmother threw out some pieces of flour sack material. I found them in the old chicken coop, took them home and hand washed them. That was over twenty years ago and I just can’t give myself permission to cut into them. I suppose my granddaughter will inherit them someday. And I’ll bet she will save them too.
—Judy on November 14, 2012Last year my elderly Aunt (the only sibling left from my Dad’s side of the family), gave me 36 dresden plate blocks, hand pieced by my Grandmother. My Grandmother has been gone for 34 years now and my Aunt had carefully packed them away. I cried, I was so touched that she gave these blocks to me. They are all hand pieced and are made from feedsack fabric. They still look brand new. I have yet to put them together and quilt them, I am so amazed that they are still in one piece and that out of all of the Grandaughters, and there are alot of us, my Aunt gave them to me. She said "I know that you will know what to do with them and will cherise them more than anyone else." Still brings tears to my eyes.
—Lesa Spegal on November 14, 2012Oh, this question is so timely! I’m organizing my sewing/quilting room and trying to part with scraps of fabric, rickrack, sequins, etc. I find value in just about everything even though it will probably never be useful again. Could this be because I was raised by parents who were living through The Great Depression? I’ve never been deprived, but I’m frugal.
The quirky question made me think what would I keep if I could keep only one treasure? What would I rather take to the grave than part with? I believe it’s the dress my mom made for me in 7th grade (1955) that I value most. The fabric is still strong, and the colors are pure. The dress, my mother’s own design, had a fitted bodice, three-quarter length sleeves, and tightly gathered skirt. When I look at this dress, I can’t believe it ever fit me! It’s a reminder how much my parents cared about me. Even though we lived in a two-room house, I went to school in very classy clothes that weren’t available anywhere. It wasn’s until I was an adult that I realized how fortunate I was not to be wearing store bought clothes.
—VickiGene on November 14, 2012The photo’s of my children as they were growing up. These photo’s represent a very happy time in my life.
—Grace on November 14, 2012Growing up, mom always told me how my dad and aunt lovingly decorated my baby chest of drawers with little ducky decals. Dad died when I was 15, and we moved from Chicago to Pittsburgh. Of course the chest went with us; mom parked it in the basement. When I got married and moved to a new home, I took the chest but it stayed in our garage. 35 years later, we moved to a new home, & of course, took the chest. The other day, I finally pulled the chest out to clean it up and actually USE it in a spare room. It smelled awful because of the many floods it had been through. I looked at it carefully & realized that it was probably hand-made with "left-over" wood. The boards in the back are unfinished & are different sizes; in the drawer bottoms, some boards are horizontally placed while others are vertical. I don’t know who made it & I don’t have any aunts or uncles to ask. But I’ve sanded & polished it until it smells better, and you better believe, I won’t part with it!
—Lynn on November 14, 2012One of my most treasured possessions is a denim quilt made for me by my MIL. She was the mother of 5 boys and had always wanted a girl. I was a very young wife with a not so nice mother. We adopted each other. Even after the marriage broke up she was still my ‘mom’. That quilt is about 40 years old. It was pretty worn out when I took it apart, re-stitched a lot of it and had it re-quilted with a different backing and binding. I still sleep with that quilt.
—maggie on November 14, 2012maggie
A pan. It must be 60 years old, at least. My mom used it for everything from lasagna to turkey and I still use it for most baking, roasting and everything comes out perfectly. Will never use another pan. Love ya, mom. Miss you!
—Barbara on November 14, 2012I am a runner and I save all my race bib numbers. They remind me of where I have been and how far I have come!
—Kimberly on November 14, 2012I have a piece of velvet that my aunt’s wedding dress was made of back in the 30s. She has passed away but would have been 100 in 2013. That piece of velvet is what made me decide that I also would wear a velvet gown for my wedding!!
—LJ on November 14, 2012My favorite possession is the first quilt I ever made. I made it for my mother-in-law for her 91st birthday. She loved the 4th of July and music. The front has July 4th, a marching band and stars. The back has a wide selection of musical instruments. She has since passed away and the quilt stays with me on the couch. Whenever I use it, it reminds me of the wonderful mother-in-law I was lucky to have.
—Chris J on November 14, 2012I never met my grandfathers; they passed before i was born. In 1986 my mother gave me one of her dad’s Blackthorn shillelaghs that came with him when he came to America from Ireland in 1901. My father gave me his father’s hand drills and tools. But my most sentimental is the little star wall-hanging I finished for my dad’s wall in the care home, just last month. He was so happy to have [yet another] piece of handwork from me. He asked that when he could no longer see, the piece be placed in his hands so he could still feel me there. My dad passed on 11/3/12.
—Ginger on November 14, 2012I have a "Memory Box" that hangs in my living room…it has my Grandmother’s braid from her first haircut, her cold cream jar, Grandpa’s shaving mug and brush…and various other items, and photos that are of my Grandmother & Grandfather…I treasure every single thing in there…and am so glad, they are safely sealed in there to last forever. My Grandfather passed away shortly after I had my first daughter…my Grandmother passed away, well into her nineties, in 1999….I was forty five. She was the inspiration for my sewing, and quilting, and the person I admired most…and now she is an angel, watching down over me, especially when I do my hand quilting using her quilting needles.
—Lorry Kirschner on November 14, 2012One possession I have kept is an old, quilt believed to have been made by my grandmother. It is all log cabin blocks made of fabric from dresses and shirts. The blocks are in terrible shape, but it was hand quilted with love I am sure. I never got to meet my grandmother, so this is a little piece of her that I will always treasure.
—Linda Guza on November 14, 2012My favorite piece of material is the remains of a 8″ eyelet lace roll. My father was a manager in a textile factory in NYC during 1950′s. The staff were allowed to take home the damaged materials. My mom being a sewer used it to make curtains and pieced the lace together to make me a party dress. I never knew how poor we were or how hard she worked to get that 8″ lace to look like a piece of material. I hated all the home made clothes. Now I can only think of how blessed I was to have those things. I want to make a small wall hanging with the final piece of lace so when I show my girls the picture of me in that lace dress they will know where it came from.
—Shell2u on November 14, 2012My most prized possession are my US size 8 knitting needles that my aunt gave me in 1963 as a Christmas gift. She also taught me to knit with them. They are still the best metal needles I have ever owned, and in fact, I just used them last week again. Brings back a lot of good memories.
—Lucille Reilly on November 14, 2012I have my mother’s wedding ring that was given to me by my father when she passed away in 1979. I was only 19 then. I had it re-sized (smaller) and wear it on my pinkie finger every day. I also have one of her cookbooks that has her handwritten recipes that were family favourites. My remaining family are living treasures for me.
—Marion on November 14, 2012My Swedish grandmother made a utility quilt from my Dad’s wool slacks. It was intended as a car blanket in the days when cars did not have heaters. We used it for picnics, it warmed us after swimming in the ocean, and it was used as a mattress when we slept out. I still have it, and it is my muse from a wonderful grandmother who always spoke kindly of people, and always kept her hands busy.
—Gail G on November 14, 2012I find my most priseed possession fiber possession was a gift given to me almost 30 years ago from my grandmother after returning from a trip to China. I can still remember her handing me the two most beautiful pieces of fine silk one a beautiful red and rhe other a pristine white jacard. I have saved the silk over the years looking for the perfect use of this silk the first time I used a small portion of this silk was to create a kimono for a porcline doll that I had made for my daughter when she was seven. She is now 25 and still charishes the doll and kimono. As for the rest of this silk, once I find the perfect black silk to complement my pieces I plann to create a beautiful butterfly quilt in memory of my grandmother my most cherished memories are of the time I spent with her before she passed away nineteen years ago..
—Tamella Davies on November 14, 2012I have a quilt my Great Grandmother made each one of us girls (six of us). Each one was made with her loving hands over 50 years ago. I can see pieces of clothing each one of us wore(at least the older girls). When I look at this quilt, I can almost see my Great Grandmother sitting in her big overstuffed chair stitching on it. This memory has given me my love for quilting!
—Christine Craig on November 14, 2012I have several prized possessions including a stuffed tiger that was given to me before I was even born. My mother was pregnant with me. I also have the stuffed bear that I was given when I was pregnant with my son. But my two most prized possessions are a pair of pierced earrings from my husband (they substitute as my wedding ring, since I work in healthcare and I don’t wear a ring at work) and a necklace from my mother that she gave me recently. I wear both of them all of the time.
—Caryn Saakguchi on November 14, 2012Several things come to mind, actually. First, my mother’s doll from when she was a little girl, with real hair on her porcelain head. She preserved a quilt my grandmother’s "spinster" aunt made in the 1880′s, hand pieced and quilted in the true crazy quilt tradition, with beautiful embroidery around every piece, in brocades and velvets, mostly, with a few pieces of wool which are pretty badly disintegrated. Also, my mother’s uncle, Vince Dillon, lived with a tribe of Indians (native Americans), also in the late 1880′s, and they gave him some beautifully embroidered and beaded clothing and jewelry for her – he also took a picture of her wearing them. I treasure these things because they link me to my ancestors and family history.
—Sue Chapman on November 14, 2012One of my special keepsakes is an ornament we were given 27 years ago in Cancun, Mexico, when the shop keeper found out we were on our honeymoon. He so sweetly offered us a tiny sombrero with serape, which was our first Christmas ornament as a married couple. We have continued to collect ornaments everywhere we’ve traveled and decorating our tree is always a trip down memory lane. The kids kind of gag on it, but we have such fun remembering all the beautiful places we’ve been together.
—Jane Cisneros on November 14, 2012When I was growing up, we always stored clothes summer winter in cardboard barrels. One day my Dad went on a cleaning binge and started throwing things out. I managed to save a lot of cotton clothing. I then in turn cut the clothes up and made a grandmothers fan quilt all by myself. I still have that hand made quilt in my bedroom.
Other prized possesians include my singer 201 given to me by my local quilt shop owner.
I have 2 jewelry boxes from my Mom, along with her set of "good dishes". That is a set of fire king peach luster dishes. I use them on holidays.
—Sue Winnie on November 14, 2012I dearly love embroidery floss. I started doing hand embroidery very young in Grade School. In High School, I asked my Grandmother if I could embroidery pillow cases for her. So I bought 2 sets (different motif pre-stamped and made one from each set, and did a crochet edge on them. She had a twin size bed, and I figured she didn’t need 2 of the same design. On our next trip to S.Dakota from Kansas City, Mo. – I took my precious gifts to her. She was so tickled, and made the comment,
—Linda Rotert on November 15, 2012"But I use 2 pillows, one on top of the other – could you make the other two so I have a PAIR for my bed ?" As soon as we got home, I started right in and mailed them to her. After she died, my Mom and her siblings cleaned out her house – and ran across the pillow cases, with a note, "Give these to Linda". Need I say anymore? That was in 1981 – I still have the pillowcases! I have 5 Grandchildren, so don’t know how I will pass them on.
My favorite posesion is a little golden horse "herradura" that my grandmother gave me with my 18 years and from then I´m always using it ,now I have 59.
—els on November 15, 2012Another thing what I never will sell is the first star I made ,when I started with patchwork, has a lot of defects but I done it, however my husband thought I never could do it, but I did it
For me it’s the doll quilts and doll clothes made for me by my Grandmother and Aunt
—Carol Deiber on November 15, 2012My Mother gave me the crocheted bedspread that she made so many years ago. It is crocheted in thread not yarn so is fine and lace like. Every other block has an Irish rose in pink and it is beautiful. One of the reasons it is so special is Mom made sure I got the spread after she was diagnosed with alzheimers. A real treasure to me!
—Diane Antle on November 15, 2012One thing that I cherish so much is the quilt blocks I pick up at antique shops or yard sales. I think of all the time the person has put into making these blocks by hand and for some reason could not finish them. Because I am a quilter I know the time and hours it took to chose the fabric and cut it and sew it. (Even by machine, so it took longer to cut with scissors and sew by hand) So I buy them and frame some of them and make pin cushions out of some blocks and I even have made a small quilt with some of the cherished blocks.
—Irene Rose on November 15, 2012I have a rectangular tin, probably a cigar tin box. I never really noticed what was on it. It was always just the button box. When my mom passed, my son and I poured over the buttons strewn on the bed in the sewing room. There were recognizable buttons from garments I had worn. Some of the buttons are celluloid, some fabric, some wood or leather. Buttons were still on the card they were purchased on with price tags attached. Buttons are interesting: some basic black buttons just do their job very unobtrusively while other crystal or elaborate metal military style buttons are very showy. Function over form.
You could tell which buttons were inherited from my grandmother because they were all strung together with string or thread. This is a practice I now use to keep like buttons together.
Whenever I need a button for a project, I just go to the button box and connect with my grandmother and mother.
—Cherry on November 15, 2012when I first read the quirky question, I expected the answers to be all about sewing tools, fabric, etc. some of these replies are truly inspirational! when I was a teenager, I had to leave home in a hurry, leaving everything behind except the clothes on my back and what I could carry – and I couldn’t carry much! I had to start all over from scratch. Things I lost included my grandmother’s engagement ring. In spite of my situation, I managed to graduate from high school. I still have my graduation gifts: a pair of white gloves, a silver bracelet, and a monogrammed set of sewing scissors. If I had to choose between them, I’d take the scissors – they are still excellent scissors, having been sharpened many times over the years!
—Thea McCurry on November 15, 2012MY large fold down cutting table. My husband make it for me just like the ones you buy but I have a personal touch for the rest of my life, I love it
—Kathy on November 15, 2012Hands down it has to be the Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt that my grandmother made. She did all of her own piecing by hand and a cousin down the road would machine quilt them on her Singer. She would sit for hours each night hand stitching hexagons together. I can still pick out pieces in the quilt that came from my own outgrown clothing.
—Sheila Craft on November 15, 2012My most prized sewing possession is a featherweight my husband purchased for me for a Christmas present two years ago. Even though I have many sewing machines, I always wonder how many items, quilts, clothes etc that this dear old machine produced over the years.
Although it is old, it still works faithfully every day I use it.They don’t make the new ones like the oldies. Probably why it is valued so by us "older" sewers.
—Diana on November 15, 2012For Mary with the orange tee shirt. I can only imagine how special that shirt is to you. Have you thought about having it framed in a shadow box with your son’s picture?
—Mary Ann on November 15, 2012An album our daughter made for us for Christmas a few years ago. I had boxes and boxes of pictures and she asked my permission to go through them and take some for a project she was working on. She’s a great scrapbooker and I knew she would put them to good use. On Christmas day, that year, I opened a big box and there it was! On the inside cover she wrote us a letter that still makes me cry to this day. It was and still is the best present I ever received. Thank you Lisa!
—Mary Ann on November 15, 2012My Pfaff 130 was a wedding present to my mother in the early 1950s. My Mom died in 1992. My Mom used her machine to sew clothes for herself and me and my sister, and taught us to sew. By high school, I sewed most of my own clothes. This machine is my most prized possession. I use it now for quilting, and rarely sew clothing. This 60 lb, 60 year old machine is my day-to-day sewing machine. Because I sit at this machine for a few minutes almost every day, I can continue my connection with my Mom and think about all the things she taught me, not just sewing, but independence, frugality, and the value of sharing skills with others.
—Elaine Murakami on November 15, 2012A pincushion is my most prized possession.
When I was six, I wanted to sew. My mom said I was too little. But, my grandma gave me some shoestring cards that I "stitched" around the photo using the holes that were punched until I wore out the cardboard cards. When I was seven, I asked again and my mom said I was too little. But, my grandma gave me some yarn and pieces of left over needlepoint canvas which I stitched and ripped out and restitched until the yarn was in shreds. When I was eight, I wanted to sew; mom said, not yet. But, my grandma let me sit on her lap and "steer" paper through the machine and later real fabric when I could sew a consistent line. When I was nine, I asked again about sewing and my mom said YES!!! But, my grandma would be my teacher–she gave me a brass colored thimble and taught me how to wear it and why it was important to use a thimble.
The first project I made was a triangle wool pincushion which was a scrap from a coat my mom had sewn for my dad. I sewed a piece of elastic on two corners so that I could wear it on my wrist. That was over 46 years ago and I still have the thimble AND the pincushion although the elastic was removed 30 years ago. I use it every time I sew and I think of the wonderful sewing sessions we had together. It’s amazing that the pincushion isn’t worn out! So that pincushion is my most prized possession.
—Terry K on November 15, 2012Having packed up and moved three times within the last two years, I can attest to living without stuff. And I gotta say that my prized possessions are my sewing machines. I know they make sewing machines every minute, and they can be replaced, but I missed MY machines while stuff was in transit. They are extensions of me.
—Jean on November 15, 2012My most prized possession is my grandmothers Singer treadle sewing machine. I am 65 and I played on it when I was a small child and watched my grandmother mend and sew clothing and quilts. She passed away in 1974 and I always have fond memories having her precious sewing machine in my home.
—Donna on November 15, 2012I have a secretary-style desk that my uncle made for me when I was just about 7 years old. That’s one piece of furniture I’ll never let go!
—quiltzyx/sue on November 15, 2012I have an old pair of button-hole scissors that belonged to my maternal grandmother. They are a little discolored and the one blade has a broken point but I would not trade them for the most expensive pair you could offer me. I found them in her sewing basket after she had passed away. Everyone laughs when I pull them out to use them.
—Libby Erb on November 15, 2012Once, when I was in my early teens, I went for a walk with my Dad along a gravel road. Among the glittering, multi-colored quartz gravel, he spotted a small, smooth, rusty-brown stone. As he picked it up and handed it to me, he said, "Is’nt that a beautiful stone, so simple and elegant." Everytime I look at that stone, I am reminded of my Dad and that simple lesson of what true beauty really is.
—Elizabeth P. on November 15, 2012My most prized possession is a quilt made my my mother and I. I started the quilt in high school (1960′s)cutting and hand piecing the "flowers". I left for college and my mother realized that I would never finish this project so she offered that if I cut the hexagons she would piece the quilt. The quilt was made from scraps of my clothes (from a baby on up to 18) and from clothes I had made for her and flour sacks. After my marriage in 1973 I returned home for a 2 week visit prior to my husband being stationed in Hawaii (a long way from Tennessee) and we basted the quilt top on the living room floor of my cousin and hand quilted it each starting at opposite ends. This meant we were together a lot those two weeks but we finished and she bound the scalloped edge. I hand carried this quilt on the plane back to California. This was the last time I spent much time with my mother and she passed away in 1981 while I was still in Hawaii. The memories that the fabrics and each stitch evoke are priceless.
—Linda Barth on November 15, 2012My most prized possession is a stuffed monkey that squeeked and had a long tail. His name is Cheko He is very thread bare and doesn’t squeek anymore, but he was from my grandmother when I was 2 years old. I slept with it all the time and it went where ever I did. Her now sits at the head of my bed. I now have grandchildren of my own. I tell them about Cheko and my grandmother. Nothing is the world would make me part with him.
—Darcia P on November 15, 2012Large doll made from paper that has been painted for arms and legs with moveable joints an a soft body. She is about 28 inches and has a porcelain face. I received the doll from a great aunt when I was nine along with a wooden box containing extra cloths. There is a doll cradle from my husbands grand mother that was made for she and her sister when they were young girls that she sent for my children when my first child was born along with a letter detailing how she received the cradle. These are things that cause my children and grandchildren to feel connected to a larger family and be comfortable by that connection to a world past and into the future.
—maryjean norman on November 15, 2012although I am an avid quilter and have a huge stash my prized possession is a Toastmaster toaster that is 74 years old. I’m told when my grandfather was eating his toast in the morning I was always climbing his leg to get some so he bought my mother a toaster so I could have toast at home too. I am 75. I also have my own Toastmaster that was a wedding present 54 years ago. Wouldn’t part with either one! They don’t make them like they used to
—Helen Cheney on November 15, 2012Not long before my Mother passed away she stayed with me for several months. Since she’d always made her garmets, she decided to make a couple of robes to wear around the house. The scraps from those projects are still in my stash and I cannot bear to get rid of them. I’ve used bits of them in small projects but I still have a few small pieces — and I will not get rid of them!
—D. Montoya on November 15, 2012I treasure a 16×20′ sampler which my mother embroidered in 1984. She made one for me in blue and white and one for my sister-in-law in green and gold. I admire the sampler for its design and color, the time it must have taken Mother to make them and have them framed, and mostly because she made out of love. On the sampler, her stitches were precise and aligned except for only one stitch (barely noticeable), which I find endearing. The in-law didn’t like her sampler and quickly gave it away, but my beloved sampler has been hanging above my headboard for 28 years.
—Trixie Autry on November 15, 2012My Granny’s two spooler sewing machine. It used 2 spools rather than a bobbin.
—Jan Lund on November 15, 2012I have an 18-inch plaster Santa that my Son and Daughter-in-law gave me years ago. They carried it on a train to give to me because they knew I like Santas. I leave it in my living room all year round because it’s too heavy to pick up and store. It is one of my prized possessions because of the love that came with it.
—Jo Stires on November 16, 2012My great grandmother came from Norway when she was a small child and I have her small trunk she carried over but when I recieved it there was 2 small books in it that she kept in it later. One was her norwegian bible and the other a small journal for the minutes of her womens sewing and quilting group. It has what they were doing, who was there, and different patterns they used. I still miss her alot even though she has been gone over 30 years but just looking at the journal with her handwriting and what they talked about and how different the times were. I take it out every so often just to feel close to her because she taught me to bake, cook, crochet doilies, and sew by hand. I do all of the above still but I found I love the hand piecing and quilting to be so relaxing and being easy with being in a wheelchair now.
—Jody on November 16, 2012Although all of my quilting items are my prized possession I would have to say if I had a choice between two items would be the original photo of my father when he was only 3 mos old. I am a daddys girl and this photo of my dad as a baby is way beyond a possession for me. The photo is 83 years old still in the original frame (my grandmother had it professionally framed so its gorgeous!) with not a nick or scratch on it. Also this particular photo is the only photo my family has of my father as a child, the rest were lost in moves and survived a house fire. I’m very big on having LOTS of photos of me, my husband and our two kids so first I’d grab daddys photo then I’d go down the hall trying to save as many photos of my family/children as I could. Although everyone knows not to even lay a finger on my quilting items (unless they are helping and yes my 29 yr son likes to come help me sew sometimes lol) I know that if something happened like a house fire that all of my quilting items/fabric can and would be replaced but a photo can not. Thanks for the fun questions!!
—Maria Carroll on November 16, 2012My most prized possession is the quilt my mom bought for me a long time ago. It is, actually was, a queen size quilt but through years of much use, patching tears and rips, zigzagging, rebinding, it has become a queen throw. It is still soft and comfy,cozy, and I’m so glad I still have it. Eventually it will become a twin size, and hopefully a crib quilt for my grandchildren.
—Barbara OC on November 16, 2012My most treasured has to be a patch comforter my mother & I made one winter while we were snowed in My Dad and siblings were stranded in town & we were all alone at home. we Lived in Wyoming, and was used to the snow but this was a white out for several days, Mom kept me buy with cutting blocks and handing her the blocks as she sewed them I got to press the & lay them out on floor & design it for her. I was youngest of 9 so was special to get to spend one on one time with her. It was been well used & I have had to patch it several times.When ever I don’t feel well & need to curl up with a worm blanket it comes out. It was especially comforting when I was recovering from Cancer surgery, I feel she has her arms wrapped around me even though she has been gone now for 20 years.
—Lorraine on November 16, 2012a nine-patch quilt from my grandmother! It’s made from pieces of her chicken feed sacks (muslin) and is tied, not quilted. She made it for me when I was 4 years old, and I handle it carefully now 66 years later, but it’s still the quilt I want if I’m sick, or need comfort. It feels like love.
—Kay Losh on November 16, 2012i have many older threads and buttons etc .i keep them because they sre now unprocurable and simply for the sheer beauty of them.thankyou for the oppotunity to take part.trish
—trish on November 16, 2012Prize position–my Dad’s roll top desk which was his sister’s. It will eventually go to our son, but I’m not ready yet. Also I have a button and the small piece of fabric that was part of my grandmother’s dress. Todays ‘Thirty’s’ fabric doesn’t look like it.
—Nancy of IN on November 16, 2012When I first read this I thought of all my sewing possessions passed on from my departed family. After I thought about this a while, I would say my most prized possession would be my cat, Harley. He is always with me when I am cutting material for my quilts. When I lay out my blocks,he plays in the blocks until they are scrabbled. Suddenly, I will have a new design. Creative/Fun/Playful are the reasons I love spending time my quilting partner, Harley.
—Vicki on November 16, 2012I have my doll that was given to me on my 3rd birthday. She is now 68 years old – the following year, I asked my mom to make some clothes for my doll. My Mom handed me some scraps of fabric and a threaded needle. She helped me cut out a shirt and some short pants and told me to sew them together – I did and made many more outfits after that (My mom was blind so didn’t do much hand sewing but she did sew with her old treadle and then a 1953 Singer. (I was too short to use the treadle but when she got the electric machine, she set the foot pedal on a box so I could reach it.) I’ve since made over 1,000 quilts, mostly donated for funD raisers for charity. I still do most of my piecing on my old 1971 Singer golden touch and sew (1st major purchase that I made on my own) or on my 1951 Singer Feather weight. I also have a 1915 treadle to use if the power goes out – yes I’m a little OCD – but its a good thing. Right now I’m down to 14 machines (mostly Singers) not counting my toy machines. I buy machines at garage/estate sales, fix them up then give them to someone who really needs a sewing machine.
—Connie Brandal on November 16, 2012So many sewn treasures, but one of my favorites are a pair of pillowcases appliqued and embroidered by my mother during the late 1950′s. She was quite a sewer, knitter, and embroidery stitcher. I loved this about her. I don’t recall if this was a pattern or something she made up, but I remember seeing these large red poinsettias appliqued, then embroidered on the white pillow cases, finished with yellow knots in their centers. The edges are shell crocheted in matching red and nearly sing Merry Christmas. They have never been used, but I take them out every year and enjoy them in a basket near my bed…with memories of mom dancing in my head.
—Leslee Shepler on November 16, 2012Love your books, patterns. Want the Halloween witch paper piecing pattrn.
Hi Katie, you can download the witch paper-piecing pattern for free by registering at our website. Just go to this address to register. Thanks for your comment!
—Katie Lee Park on November 17, 2012My most prized possessions are the sewing notions that i have inherited from my great grandmother, my grandmother, my mother, my mother in law and her mother. The scissors, buttons, and especially the knowledge they so graciously imparted to me. I miss them all and always think of them when using their sewing notions. Thank you for the chance to win. Happy quilting to one and all.
—Sharon Meyer on November 17, 2012I have doll quilts made by my grandmother, and other inherited quilts and Hardanger embroidery, all of which I treasure, but the sewing thing I like best is a simple round wooden pin box my father made for my mother, using his lathe. That pin box is part of my earliest memories of learning to sew. And it’s still in use!
—Dot on November 17, 2012My "most" prize possession is my daughter, who at the age of 13, happened to be sick. I didn’t want to leave her at home alone, so she went with me to Costco for groceries. On one of the isles, was a stack of stuffed animals and she picked out a 3 foot high white bunny rabbit saying it would help her get well quicker. OK, I’m a softie and I did buy it for her. Bunny graced her bed in her absence, she slept with it, whether in bed, in a chair, or on the couch. Bunny is now 25 years old and is still in one piece. I will admit, I had to wash Bunny while she was in school because Bunny literally turned gray and I did a tiny repair sewing job under his arm. Our daughter recently had surgery on her jaw, and wasn’t able to sleep with her husband, but Bunny accompanied her on the couch and she was happy. Others see Bunny as a stuffed rabbit, but for our daughter, Bunny represents comfort.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on November 17, 2012I have a quilt a friend made for me. I keep it because I cherish the hours she must have spent making it
—MaryRose on November 18, 2012My great grandmother made me a quilt for my dolls when I was about 9, who died when I was 12. I only used it for display, and wouldn’t let anyone play with it. At 58, I still have it and it’s in pristine condition. It’s great, as a quilter, to have something from a family member who quilted, too!
—Pam Smolek on November 18, 2012In terms of items that were made, I have some table runners that were made by maternal grandmother, who passed away a few months before I was born. In terms of fabric, I have some 30s-40s fabric that belonged to her as well. I try to use a little of it in each project I do.
—Lyn on November 18, 2012I have some small pieces of fur in my collection that used to be part of a hat (a fascinator?) but was dismantled at some time. I keep it because it reminds me of my aunt who is no longer with us
—Carmen on November 19, 2012