Mom's strong yet subtle hints

[Amy R]

My sister is easy these past two holidays, she requested exactly what she wanted in a nice way. Last Christmas was a small Panthers inspired bag to take bar hopping/tail gating during game time and this year her chevron quilt.
My mom however is the total opposite. Wasn't getting anywhere with soft probing, so I mentioned I wanted to try to make dad a shirt. She said oh you can make us both a flannel shirt. (Oh yikes I'm not THAT experienced in clothing).
Then, she finds my grandmother's quilting magazine from 1942. Quilts book no. 190 at 10 cents. I said oh that's pretty cool! She makes it a huge point to tell me there's some pretty patterns but the one she really thinks is GORGEOUS is the star and crescent quilt. Repeats it twice lol.
Ok mom, I get the hint. I'll be needle turn appliquéing instead of piecing in her favorite color green (which she mentioned she's into now while we were looking at fabric and I asked her what colors she liked)
I also double checked with dad to see if she'd like a lap quilt, he said he think that'd be nice.
Silly Mom, just ask me! Save us both the time of dancing around it!!
Gotta love the kind of mom that self-sacrifices though and never asks for anything.

[irishrn]

I think that's just like a mom!! I always worry someone is gonna ask me for something outside of my skill set! Makes me a little crazy!
But I have learned a lot doing new things! I can get away with not doing the hand sewing since the hands don't work as well as when I was younger!! Good luck with your projects!

[Granny Fran]

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you...pun intended. Wish I could get even a hint from DD and SIL. I've come right out and asked them and they said .... well, don't want to be a bother. Yikes. Cannot get even a hint of colors. OH, well.

Love the idea of a quilt book from 1942. I have several of my grandmother's crochet books that say 10 and 15 cents. Love the older patterns. Have made several tablecloths and doilies from them. Don't have any old quilt books however.

Have fun making your gifts...it's been a long time since I made any shirts, but I am sure you will do just fine.

[Annette Ackley]

That was neat that your Mom had a Quilt book from 1942. Can't wait to see how your project turns out.

[Doloris]

is this the pattern? It is beautiful. Good luck with it.
Star and Crescent Quilt Pattern Instructions

[toggpine]

Amy, be glad she chose an applique pattern from that book!
I tried a pieced Storm At Sea from a vintage book, and the pieces were laid out on a grid, and you had to enlarge from there. It turned out to be a train wreck! Thankfully I only tried one block before I cut all my fabric! Good did come of it. I found a place for some marvelous templates!
Good luck on your Mom's quilt and I'm sure Dad's shirt will come out just fine!

[Amy R]

Yes Doloris that is it! It's actually supposed to be pieced with the white but I'm going to appliqué it. In the book it mentions in 1942 that this quilt pictured was 90 years old. I am determined to hand sew it all as I don't think ladies in 1800s had machines yet? This will also be a good Sunday Football quilt to work on so I can keep my hands busy sewing and the hubby happy that I'm not in my cave :P
I'm only making it 3x4 blocks for a lap warmer. It should still be a good size as the stars turn out pretty big.

[Claire Hallman]

The sewing machine was invented in 1790 so it might have been machine pieced but probably not. It is lovely and I am sure you Mom would be thrilled.