Once I finished out the school year at the end of May, I pulled out the project to begin again. Again, I made my way over to Porter's to get the backing and the stripping material. Peter was kind enough to help me out with the choosing of colors. So then slowly through the summer I cut the strips and sewed the top layer together. My Mom got a new sewing machine earlier in the spring and lent me her old one.
Now I had the top and bottom with the batting and all it needed was to be "quilted" together. We took the quilt down to Blackfoot in September and my Mom set up her frame and we stretched it out and began the fun of actual quilting. Grandma Clement came over and helped so much and Mom worked on it a ton after she'd get home from school. Here are a couple pictures of it in the last moments on the frame.
I remember my Grandmas Clement, Palmer and Great-Grandma Stokes having quilts up in their homes and playing underneath the stretched quilt. I also remember seeing Grandma Stokes with her thimbles and thought it was such a weird tool. Along with that thought, I remember Grandma Stokes had somehow lost her index finger from the middle knuckle up and so it was always interesting to watch her quilt without that finger.
Quilting was also something that my Grandma Clement always did a ton of. She gave all 26 grandchildren a quilt for their 8th birthday at their baptism. There are a couple that aren't 8 yet but she said that she already has them done. Same thing as for graduation from High School; she made us all a quilt for that too.
When my older sister was engaged I really wanted to make her a quilt as well. I remembered my Grandmothers always making quilts for couples and displaying them at the receptions. So I attempted my first quilt for a gift (glad that it was only my sister in case it didn't turn out). Then I got to help my Mom and sister finish up my wedding quilt in time too.
Quilting really is a lost art. I love it!
Once we got the quilt off my family started inquiring who the quilt was for. Well, Peter said we should keep it because he thought it was the most beautiful one. We decided however, earlier in the year that we would give it to Peter's Mom for Christmas this year. It was so fun to put all this work into it throughout the whole year knowing who it was for. I love my in-laws so much and have appreciated all they have done for us in our first years of marraige, but also the great example that they are to everyone. Especailly Peter's mother, Martha. She is so caring for others and I haven't ever seen her take a moment to think about herself. She is so selfless and I admire that so much in her.
So these next few pitures are the last moments leading up to giving her the gift. My Mom helped me out sooo much with everything on this project. Especially the binding. I love doing the pretty parts of the quilt, but the practical parts drag out forever because I don't have much motivation for them.
Now it was FINISHED!! We were so excited. We laid it out on the floor and admired the finished project. There were some strings that needed cut and the chalk lines needed wiped off but it was done. It felt so good.
Next came Christmas and we took the large present down to Logan and anticipated giving it to Martha. These are just a few pictures of her opening it during breakfast Saturday morning on Christmas Eve day. She loved it so much and told how she loves handmade items such as these. Immediately she took it into their newly remodled master bedroom and spread it out on the bed to see how it looked. It was beautiful!
