This double wedding ring was machine-pieced, hand-quilted by my Great-Grandma (Granny) for my Mom when she was in High School (c.1990).

Looking over the quilt, I see some fabric that looks like clothes and others, bedsheets. That’s what everybody used to do – repurpose materials. I think these light blue pieces that have, essentially, disintegrated were bedsheets.

My Granny was a master quilter. I don’t know when she started, but I remember wanting to hang out in her sewing room when I was a child. At least from the date this quilt was complete, I know Granny quilted my whole life and then some!

In repairing her quilt, I wanted my additions to blend in. At first I picked a fabric I thought fit the era of the other prints; however, it was so bright. I unsewed the applique and gave the remaining fabric a tea bath, which I feel fit better with the antique quilt.

Through all my mistakes, I ran out of this small print. Regardless, I think this red one also matched well. For the hole, I appliqued a heart on the front and back, patched the batting, and added a label with my Granny’s name.