cattailsquilts

I knew my grandmother had sent these to me, but I never really looked at them. I've had them for at least 4 or 5 years. I've got 20 17" 8-point star blocks that are hand pieced and are on muslin bases, and 5 blocks that I assume were from a swap as they all have names on them. I've emailed my mom & uncles to see if they recognize any of the names.

Hubs is suggesting I make the star blocks into a quilt & give them to my mom for her birthday (she was born on my grandmother's birthday), but I am a little nervous about that. Would machine piecing the blocks ruin them? What would you use for sashing? And what about quilting them? I am not a hand sewer, so finishing this by hand is not going to happen.

There are also 2 'table' sets, placemats & table runner, meant to be appliqued & embroidered, but I know I won't ever do them.

[img]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_DXg3XPzYp3M/TL...s%20Blocks.jpg[/img]

[img]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_DXg3XPzYp3M/TL...%20Blocks1.jpg[/img]

sueisallaboutquilts

Those blocks are beautiful! Machine piecing and quilting them is better than doing nothing with them.
Go for it and give to Mom!! :D

lindyline

Lucky you. They are beautiful and so special.

littlehud

Those are just beautiful. They need to be finished in a quilt. I say go ahead and machine piece and quilt them.

quiltnmom

I agree with Susan Margaret. They can't just stay hidden away. Your mom would love it.

sueisallaboutquilts

Oh, I forgot about sashing. I don't think I would do any b/c I wouldn't want newer fabric mixed in.
I think they will look fine as is.

RkayD

I machine quilted a quilt that my grandma hand pieced. No problems.

mom-6

I added sashing to the blocks my mom and her sister had done for their hope chests in the 1930's. The blocks did wear out first, but it was still at least 20 years after I did the sashing in the 1960's and the quilt was well used.

quiltingnonie

IMHO, if I were to add any fabric to finish (borders, sashing) I would only use muslin. Fabulous blocks.

springtime

There is a lovely thread that Eddie did about quilting some antique quilts that were given to him.
You might look at that. They turned out very nice.
Blessings