Life Lesson Taught By a Quilt
As a child my grandmother would make quilts for me and my siblings. I now know the materials can be very expensive and are not an easy task to put together. We usually received the quilts on Christmas, which is when every little kid is hoping for awesome surprises. To me this was like receiving socks. BORING. And we usually rushed to open the next one.
I remember two of the quilts she made for me. One was extremely simple and the other more time consuming. They were both used and abused and lost forever. I guess that is why I now keep stored away two quilts she helped with. The first is a mismatched mess that is a bit of an eyesore, but I remember being with my mom and grandmother and working together to complete it. We took turns pairing up squares, sewing them together, and ironing the pieces flat, then adding another square and going through the process again. My grandmother laughed every time I burned my fingers on the iron. Which I still do. I know it was a good memory for her, because she loved to bring it up and have a good laugh.
Fortunately I was taught something I like. She tried to teach me how to knit, but I never cared for doing it myself. I now find myself making quilts for friends and family when time allows it. I just finished a baby blanket for a friend who is due in a few weeks and it dawned on me why I like to make quilts. First, they are a comfort, and if it’s not too weird of a thought, they are like distant hugs when you go to bed at night. Second, they protect you from the elements. Third, they are useful. Fourth, a lot of time, care, and thought are put into them. It’s one big bundle of warm and fuzzy. I believe that is what they meant to my grandmother every time she made them and I finally figured that out. Too bad it took 25 years, but it was well worth it.