We carefully cut into 6 inch squares some of the left over material from dresses my mother had made for my sister and me as we grew up. These were leftover, bits and pieces, good for nothing waste. Could there be a decent use for these unsightly odd looking snippets?
Yes, now there was a new purpose, and it was to use the scraps of yardage and potentially sew the squares together into a pretty combination for a quilt top. The throw away scraps had a renewed purpose. They would amount to something lovely and good for something after all !!
Once all the narrow pieces were sewed in place, then each strip was then sewed to the previous length until the whole was large enough for a quilt.
Mother would purchase a contrasting flannel yardage for the back of the quilt. Inside she would place an old blanket or a flannel sheet. The quilt was now ready to tie.
My dad had made mother a set of wooden frames to stretch the quilt, and we armed ourselves with a large needle threaded with crochet thread, and we were ready to begin.
At each corner of the small squares we pulled the needle through and tied a double knot. Also we placed a tie in the center of each square.
When we had completed as far as we could reach, we rolled the frame and secured it fast with clamps.
With us all working together, in no time at all the quilt was tied. Now it was ready to tuck the edges inside and use a blanket stitch (similar to a button hole stitch) around the entire quilt.
If the quilt ever got dirty, it was securely made so a gentle wash would not harm the back or the insides.
To these home made quilts, my mother would usually baste a long 12 inch deep piece of muslin across the top of the quilt. This protector could easily be removed and the muslin washed and put back after it was dried.
Quilt making is almost a lost art, but it would be something that would renew the families love of working together on a project. If you do not sew your own clothing, there are usually remnants sold at the yardage store for only a small amount of money. Think about this wonderful project that you and your children would enjoy helping to create.
I am reminded that in life, you may often feel like you are a piece of scrap left over and wasted, but I have good news. You are not a throw away! God is able to take your life and renew it into something beautiful and into a fantastic work of art.
First you must submit yourself into God’s hands. The needle God uses may hurt as He ties you all back together, but soon you will understand it was all for your good, and you will be pleased and satisfied with the end result.
This post has been entered in the “One Word at a Time Carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. At: http://peterpollock.com/2011/02/renewal-blog-carnival/ The word for this entry is Renewal. Do visit and enjoy what others have written using this word as their theme.
Yes, now there was a new purpose, and it was to use the scraps of yardage and potentially sew the squares together into a pretty combination for a quilt top. The throw away scraps had a renewed purpose. They would amount to something lovely and good for something after all !!
Once all the narrow pieces were sewed in place, then each strip was then sewed to the previous length until the whole was large enough for a quilt.
Mother would purchase a contrasting flannel yardage for the back of the quilt. Inside she would place an old blanket or a flannel sheet. The quilt was now ready to tie.
My dad had made mother a set of wooden frames to stretch the quilt, and we armed ourselves with a large needle threaded with crochet thread, and we were ready to begin.
At each corner of the small squares we pulled the needle through and tied a double knot. Also we placed a tie in the center of each square.
When we had completed as far as we could reach, we rolled the frame and secured it fast with clamps.
With us all working together, in no time at all the quilt was tied. Now it was ready to tuck the edges inside and use a blanket stitch (similar to a button hole stitch) around the entire quilt.
If the quilt ever got dirty, it was securely made so a gentle wash would not harm the back or the insides.
To these home made quilts, my mother would usually baste a long 12 inch deep piece of muslin across the top of the quilt. This protector could easily be removed and the muslin washed and put back after it was dried.
Quilt making is almost a lost art, but it would be something that would renew the families love of working together on a project. If you do not sew your own clothing, there are usually remnants sold at the yardage store for only a small amount of money. Think about this wonderful project that you and your children would enjoy helping to create.
I am reminded that in life, you may often feel like you are a piece of scrap left over and wasted, but I have good news. You are not a throw away! God is able to take your life and renew it into something beautiful and into a fantastic work of art.
First you must submit yourself into God’s hands. The needle God uses may hurt as He ties you all back together, but soon you will understand it was all for your good, and you will be pleased and satisfied with the end result.
This post has been entered in the “One Word at a Time Carnival hosted by Peter Pollock. At: http://peterpollock.com/2011/02/renewal-blog-carnival/ The word for this entry is Renewal. Do visit and enjoy what others have written using this word as their theme.
10 comments:
Hazel, this is a great example of renewal. “The throw away scraps had a renewed purpose.” God always has a purpose for our “scraps” too, even when we feel like WE are the scraps. Thanks for blessing us today.
The quilt is a great metaphor for renewal - how different pieces and different patterns, old and new, can be brought together to make something entirely new.
Awww! I love the idea of scrap quilting. Shucks, I wish I had the time for ANY quilting! But best of all is our God's method of using each of us in His masterpieces, which aren't complete if a single piece is missing. :D
I am always in awe of those who are able to take disparate pieces of scrap fabric and craft a work of art as beautiful as a quilt.
What a wonderful reminder that we are remade, that the sum of our parts becomes something beautiful, strong, and functional. God wants us to renew continually.
Not only is God able to make us into something beautiful, but when we are joined with others in the quilt, He makes us that much more beautiful and useful together. Great analogy, Hazel.
it truly is nice that the process has been something that brings a group together, as well as the the quilt being something that is useful as well as lovely.
You have inspired me to revisit a near-finished quilt. What a beautiful metaphor!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder that none of us is a throw-away! God has much better plans for each of us! God bless you!
What a great mental picture. Useless scraps turned into beauty by the master artist. I love the thought that God will use me as part of His design.
Lovely blog and great write...thanks for sharin with us, Hazel :)
Warmly
Marinela x
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