Janet asked me if I could finish her Grandma’s Dresden Plate quilt—a very special quilt that had been tucked away in her attic for more than 10 years.
Her Grandma had started the quilt but sadly never had the opportunity to finish it before passing away at the age of 98. As I worked on it, I could see that this was much more than just a quilt. So many memories were stitched into the fabric—pieces from dresses worn by her granddaughter, along with colourful fabrics and treasured scraps from her Grandma’s own fabric stash.
Some of the Dresden plates had been carefully hand-sewn and attached to a very thin linen background, making this a delicate and beautifully treasured quilt, made with love and memories.
I carefully attached the remaining Dresden plates to the blocks Grandma had already prepared. I also completed the two remaining blocks she never had the chance to finish. With a little trimming to bring all the blocks to a consistent size, I was able to put the quilt together and bring it to life.
At Janet’s request, I quilted it with large, gentle loops, keeping the quilting simple so the memories and fabrics remained the focus. I made a complementary binding and carefully finished the quilt.
It was an honour to complete something that Janet’s Grandma had started so many years ago. This quilt may have spent more than a decade in an attic, but now it can once again be enjoyed, cherished, and passed down as a beautiful reminder of a much-loved Grandma and the memories she stitched into every piece.
Janet’s words says it all. “Thank you so much for lovingly completing my Grandma’s Dresend Plate quilt for me. It will be enjoyed for generations to come. Hugs from Janet”
Janet also sent me a couple of beautiful pictures of her 92-year-old mom reminiscing over the finished quilt. As she looked at each Dresden plate, she recognized fabrics from clothing worn by the people she loves dearly. Each piece brought back a memory, making the quilt so much more than fabric and thread—it became a treasured collection of family memories, lovingly stitched together across generations.
