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Quilters: A photo history of memories

August 7, 2016 by Scarlett Burroughs

ScarlettsMamawCollage_QuiltHistoryDepressionWhen a friend, Kimberly, shared a link to a photo collection showing women at the end of the Great Depression making quilts, I knew I had to share it here. But, this got me to thinking about why we quilt. The motivation behind it varies from person-to-person, but if I had to explain it succinctly, it’s a single sentence from the photo collection. Old Photo Archive says,

Quilting has always been used to pass on family stories and memories, but it also has a long tradition of being tied to acts of kindness and charity.

What I consider my most important quilt was technically simple, a modified Log Cabin. However, the value to the maker and to recipient, my brother, is incalculable as I fashioned each square to represent a childhood memory. Most were from summers spent with our grandparents on their farm. And yes, they lived through the Great Depression. I don’t normally get personal on this blog, but today I want to dedicate this post to the memory of my grandparents, but especially to my beloved grandmother, Mabel Rae, whom we called Mamaw.

She never identified herself as a quilter, though she did make several. She would have been in her twenties during the close of the Great Depression. My talented twin sister, Charlotte, made the collage, shown here. The quotes along the border are things my Mamaw used to say, a lot.

Now, lets take a look at those photos so you can make your own connections to quilters past and present.

Click the link below to view the post.

Quilting in the Last Years of the Great Depression (18 Photos), by Old Photo Archive

{Image credit: Uploaded by Quilting Editor}

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Have you read?

Woodland Whimsy Fabric Collection by Jennifer Pugh

There is something especially lovely about a winter fabric collection that feels seasonal without immediately shouting Christmas. Woodland Whimsy by Jennifer Pugh for Wilmington Prints is filled with forest animals, mushrooms, classic plaids, dots and softly textured coordinating prints.

The colours have a warm, storybook quality, making the collection perfect for quilts that can stay out long after the Christmas decorations have been packed away.

What Is Included in the Woodland Whimsy Bundle?

The Woodland Whimsy Fat Quarter Bundle includes:

  • 15 coordinating fat quarters
  • One 23-inch scenic fabric panel
  • 100% quilting cotton
  • Fabrics designed by Jennifer Pugh
  • Prints manufactured by Wilmington Prints

Each fat quarter measures approximately 18 x 21 inches.

I particularly like that the scenic panel is included with the bundle. Fabric panels are wonderful when you want an impressive focal point without spending several evenings piecing tiny blocks while wondering why you chose such a complicated pattern in the first place.

The panel could become the centre of a lap quilt, wall hanging or child’s quilt, with the coordinating fat quarters used to create simple patchwork borders.

What Could You Make With Woodland Whimsy Fabric?

This collection would work beautifully for:

  • A woodland animal lap quilt
  • A cosy winter wall hanging
  • A child’s storybook quilt
  • Patchwork cushions
  • Quilted reading mats
  • Fabric storage baskets
  • Winter table runners
  • Handmade gifts for nature lovers

You could also separate the smaller prints and use them in scrap-friendly projects. Our collection of eight fat-quarter-friendly quilt patterns offers plenty of ideas for putting coordinated fabric bundles to work.

For something smaller, the gentle woodland prints would be lovely in a seasonal mini quilt. This free mini snowflake quilt pattern could easily be adapted using the collection’s winter colours.

Is the Woodland Whimsy Bundle Worth Buying?

The bundle gives you a ready-made colour palette, a useful assortment of coordinating prints and a feature panel in one package. That takes much of the guesswork out of planning a quilt, particularly if choosing coordinating fabrics is the part that usually sends you wandering around the fabric shop for an hour.

The prints are playful enough for children but not so juvenile that they cannot be used for adult quilts and winter home décor. That versatility is probably the collection’s strongest feature.

The bundle was listed at US$62.98 when checked and is expected to ship in October 2026. Prices, availability and shipping dates may change, particularly with a new fabric release.

If you love woodland animals, gentle winter colours and fabric that feels as though it belongs in an illustrated storybook, this is a charming collection to add to your sewing list.

See the Woodland Whimsy Fat Quarter Bundle at Fat Quarter Shop.

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