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Quilting: A Gift from Heaven – a Fishing Quilt from Great Grandma to her Great Grandson

August 30, 2015 by faithandfabric 12 Comments

A few months ago, our sweet neighbor Mimi passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was the neighborhood matriarch, always ready with a meal when a new baby arrived, gifts for the children on Easter and Christmas, and devoted to her bunnies. The last time we visited Mimi was when she was on hospice – a few days before she passed away. I’ll never forget seeing the ghost of the woman laying in the bed…not the eclectic, strong woman we had all come to know.

Mimi was a quilter – and a very accomplished one at that. When she passed, her family generously gifted me with some of her quilting supplies. Mixed into one of the boxes was a plastic bag full of fleece scraps. I set it aside, intending to iron it another day.

Another day came, and inside the bag were definitely fabric scraps – as well as a partially started quilt with those scraps. It turns out Mimi had already cut the squares and started piecing it together into a fishing quilt.

Fish-Quilt-Catholic

After Mimi passed away, her grandchildren moved into the house (they’re adults themselves). Her grandson and his wife are expecting their first baby – Mimi’s first great-grandson – in early August. I couldn’t think of a better gift to give this family than to finish this quilt and give it back to the family – a gift from Great Grandma from above.

 

Fish-Quilt-Card-2

As for the quilt – the fabric was definitely baby soft fleece, but the colors were a bit more adult man than baby boy. I wanted to add some light blue, so bought a few yards of a white and blue snuggle soft fleece to be used both as a border and backing. The light blue was a little too light to be used only as a border though (I didn’t like the way it looked alone as the trim) so I added another outer border using the same fishing fabric squares and extending the pattern through the border itself.

Go Fish! A soft fleece baby quilt that's just the right mix of baby and boy.

I also added an applique fish with bubbles to the inside of the quilt using that same fabric…it really pulled the light blue into the quilt and made for a younger, more playful tone.

Applique Fish Quilt

When it came to quilting it down, I really wanted to play off the fish theme. After messing around with a few sketches, I came up with this free motion quilting fish pattern – it took a bit of practice to get the curves and sizing right, but I’m so happy with the way it turned out – as well as the way the fishing theme is carried through the quilt in the stitches themselves.

Fish Free Motion Quilting

On the back, I added an embroidered heart with the words “Made with Love by Great Grandma Mimi & Jen Frost”.

Fish-Quilt-Embroidery-Gift-2

It was such an honor to work on this quilt “with” Mimi and to be able to give it back to her family…truly a gift from above. To be there to give it to her grandchilden…the gift was in the giving, and I cried right along with them. Hugs!

 

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Filed Under: Portfolio, sewing Tagged With: applique, free motion quilting, sewing

« Pattern: Free Motion Quilting Fish
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Comments

  1. Monique G. says

    August 30, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    What a wonderful thing for you to do. This quilt will be cherished for years.

    Reply
    • faithandfabric says

      August 30, 2015 at 3:13 pm

      Monique, thank you – it was such a joy to make this for them.

      Reply
  2. Amelia @ OneCatholicMama says

    August 31, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    What an adorable quilt! I’m sure the family will really appreciate it. What a unique gift, of finishing what the grandmother started.

    Reply
    • faithandfabric says

      August 31, 2015 at 7:42 pm

      Amelia, thank you! It was wonderful to finish this quilt – and feel like I was returning it to the family it was meant for 🙂

      Reply
  3. Cathy says

    September 1, 2015 at 9:03 am

    What a wonderful story and a fantastic way to honor what seems to have be a fantastic woman. I’m sure the family truly appreciated your efforts.

    Reply
  4. Sharon - IN says

    September 2, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    What a precious quilt and wonderful gift for your new neighbors.

    Reply
    • faithandfabric says

      September 2, 2015 at 8:03 pm

      Thanks, Sharon – it’s been pretty wonderful seeing the home stay with her family!

      Reply
  5. Leanne Parsons says

    September 4, 2015 at 3:43 am

    Wow! That is a sweet little quilt and the story that goes with it is amazing!

    Reply
    • faithandfabric says

      September 5, 2015 at 8:01 am

      Thanks, Leanne! The design was so simple, but the meaning behind it so much 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Free Motion Quilting Fish Pattern - Faith and Fabric says:
    August 30, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    […] for any trim, filler, or decorative design on an ocean or fishing themed quilt! I used them on a fish-themed memorial quilt, and the results were better than perfect; the stitching complemented the fabric so […]

    Reply
  2. Creative Community: A Little Bit Country - Faith and Fabric says:
    May 25, 2016 at 10:57 am

    […] had this fun fabric for a few months now, gifted to me by Mimi, and really wanted to make something for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day. I love how it […]

    Reply
  3. New Quilter Blog Hop - Faith and Fabric says:
    June 19, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    […] My quilting style is the way I share and express my faith through fabric. I’ve been sewing for many years, and started quiltin a bit by accident after inheriting several large tubs of fabric when my elderly neighbor, Mimi, passed away. One of my first quilts was one she started, and it was an honor to finish it as a gift to her great grandson. […]

    Reply

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Faith and Fabric Jen Frost

I'm Jen, and here you'll find projects of all kinds showing ways we can celebrate our faith, using gorgeous fabric whenever possible!

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