Every quilt has a story.  I grew up using handmade quilts from my grandma and other family members, and I have even made a few quilts of my own.  I remember the day I asked my Grandma to teach me to quilt. She laughed and reminded me that it takes all winter to create a quilt. Today, I’m sharing an interview I did with my 95-year-old Grandma a few years ago in her backyard. Plus I’ve got an online quilt show and the best place to enjoy vintage quilts without paying a fee.

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Let’s Talk Quilts with Grandma

In the early and mid 1900’s, handmade quilts were common.  You didn’t just run to the local big box store and buy a new blanket; instead, you spent all winter hand-sewing new quilts.  Though you can now buy beautiful quilts at the store, there’s just something so special about these family treasures that many of us have in our homes.

Last fall, we found the vintage pie safe and turned it into our quilt cabinet. I love the way it turned out at the top of our stairs.

Write the Stories

In 2004, I gave my Grandma a little quilt journal. I took pictures of each quilt or afghan I had access to, then I asked all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings to take a picture of anything Grandma had gifted them over the years. I love that I have some of the stories behind the quilts – some in her own handwriting and some that she passed on orally.

Online Quilt Show

If you love quilts, then you probably love quilt shows – walking through a gallery and studying the quilts, hearing the stories and being amazed at the workmanship. For the last couple of years, I have worked with quilters from all around the country to host an Online Quilt Show. Take a few minutes and click through the quilts below to read some amazing stories of beautiful quilts!

The Free Way to Enjoy Vintage Quilts

If you love vintage quilts and want to admire the craftsmanship and skill of an older generation, you can go to most any antique store and just take a walk up and down the rows. We’ve been to many antique stores in the past few years, and almost every one of them has had many vintage quilts on display for sale. The prices are often higher than I want to pay, but you can enjoy them without spending any money.

At one of our recent visits to an antique store in Knoxville, I saw this yo-yo quilt. I have never made a yo-yo and was fascinated. Just imagine how much time this quilt took!

Every quilt tells a story. Some are stitched from brand-new fabric, while others have been repaired, patched, and loved for generations. The quilts Grandma made remind me that the most valuable things in our homes aren’t always the newest—they’re the ones filled with memories. That’s one reason I still love rescuing old quilts and giving them new life today.