Heirloom quilts were once made for warmth, and were considered something of a coming of age. Those getting married were common recipients of quilts, as were men when they reached 21, to signify independence and manhood. Others were given for friendship, the birth of a child, or to signify some special event in the life of the recipient.
Giving gifts at these special moments hasn't changed much over the years, but the art of heirloom quilts has. Today such gifts are made with beauty, family and art in mind. Such keepsakes become family heirlooms, with special designs, and signatures of the quilt artist. This makes the guilt even more special when passed down from one generation to the next, with signatures of loved ones forever embedded in the material.
For those that have never made this type of quilt before there are several different ways to make them. One of the first considerations is the purpose of the gift, and the event or holiday. It should be designed pertinent to the event or holiday, including special things for that event alone. For instance, making such a gift for as a housewarming or birthday gift would include different things than making one for Christmas or the birth of a child.
The purpose for making the gift is then central to designing the project. It will also help in determining colors, and special items that might be used. For instance if it is for the birth of a child or wedding anniversary, the recipients own baby clothes could be used to make the quilt, or parts from their wedding dress. Poetry can be used and memories to create truly special and unique heirloom quilts.
One type of quilt that has gained a lot of popularity is the journal style. This style uses poetry, a word, or a feeling to make up a journal. Words can be stitched, written or inked on individual blocks. Gifts using old photographs with word art are also popular.
Another idea is an event or life quilt, in which designs for quilt making incorporate events of a person's life. These are good for birthdays, retirements, or even housewarming. For a life quilt elements of photo, journal and birthday quilts would be incorporated into the same gift.
This might include memories important to the person, such as a city where they grew up, music from their youth, or a college graduation. It might also include the birth of a child, something they once wrote from a yearbook or scrap book, photos of them, children, family or friends. It might incorporate the year of marriage, special moments, promotions on their job, or gold rings of retirement.
Think of creative ways to make the quilt. Use t-shirt pieces, graduation clothes, their mother's old hat or decorative glove pieces that hold significance in the person's life. Heirloom quilts make perfect gifts and valued keepsakes, so make sure no matter what style you use to make it, that it holds treasures few other items ever could. Planning ahead, using creativity and ingenuity will help make this gift a beautiful and heartfelt keepsake.
Giving gifts at these special moments hasn't changed much over the years, but the art of heirloom quilts has. Today such gifts are made with beauty, family and art in mind. Such keepsakes become family heirlooms, with special designs, and signatures of the quilt artist. This makes the guilt even more special when passed down from one generation to the next, with signatures of loved ones forever embedded in the material.
For those that have never made this type of quilt before there are several different ways to make them. One of the first considerations is the purpose of the gift, and the event or holiday. It should be designed pertinent to the event or holiday, including special things for that event alone. For instance, making such a gift for as a housewarming or birthday gift would include different things than making one for Christmas or the birth of a child.
The purpose for making the gift is then central to designing the project. It will also help in determining colors, and special items that might be used. For instance if it is for the birth of a child or wedding anniversary, the recipients own baby clothes could be used to make the quilt, or parts from their wedding dress. Poetry can be used and memories to create truly special and unique heirloom quilts.
One type of quilt that has gained a lot of popularity is the journal style. This style uses poetry, a word, or a feeling to make up a journal. Words can be stitched, written or inked on individual blocks. Gifts using old photographs with word art are also popular.
Another idea is an event or life quilt, in which designs for quilt making incorporate events of a person's life. These are good for birthdays, retirements, or even housewarming. For a life quilt elements of photo, journal and birthday quilts would be incorporated into the same gift.
This might include memories important to the person, such as a city where they grew up, music from their youth, or a college graduation. It might also include the birth of a child, something they once wrote from a yearbook or scrap book, photos of them, children, family or friends. It might incorporate the year of marriage, special moments, promotions on their job, or gold rings of retirement.
Think of creative ways to make the quilt. Use t-shirt pieces, graduation clothes, their mother's old hat or decorative glove pieces that hold significance in the person's life. Heirloom quilts make perfect gifts and valued keepsakes, so make sure no matter what style you use to make it, that it holds treasures few other items ever could. Planning ahead, using creativity and ingenuity will help make this gift a beautiful and heartfelt keepsake.
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