Nana's Quilt

When we emptied my parents' house last year, I found an old quilt that had been made by my Lithuanian Nana (my dad's mother) probably in the 1930s or 40s. I took it home and packed it away for a while. The quilt was enormous--thirty-six squares of appliqued Scottie dogs with a pale yellow border in between the squares. Each applique was made from a vintage fabric scrap--probably from an apron, dress, or curtains. The quilt was in terrible shape; the batting and backing were in shreds. Still, I thought I might use it someday.

My nana died when I was only six years old, but I remember her fondly. She would babysit us in her old-fashioned kitchen. She had a coal cooking stove and a pedal sewing machine and window boxes with red geraniums. I thought about how I would like to pass on the legacy of her quilt to future generations.

So I decided to make baby quilts using some
of Nana's appliqued squares and some
nine-patch squares of my own and piecing
them into small quilts. I had fun picking
out materials to go with the existing
squares and putting them together.
These baby quilts will go to Nana Maker's
great-great grandchildren. I think she
would have liked that.