Upcycling: From Old Quilts to New Ornaments 

I have one of my parents’  well-worn quilts. Although my mother bought it rather than sewed it, it holds memories of their home and their lives. I studied it carefully, wondering how best to honor both the quilt and them. I had two choices: let it end up in a landfill as it continued to fall apart, or salvage what I could and turn it into handmade Christmas ornaments for family and friends. I chose the latter.

There was some trial and error in the process —mistakes are part of sewing, after all. I also discovered that what I assumed was batting might not have been batting at all (asbestos? Just kidding). Imperfections became part of the story. After all, the quilt was quite worn. In the end, I created ornaments that held more meaning than I ever expected. 

What I love most is the label I created reminding each recipient of the ornaments’ origin. These small gifts brought tears to everyone’s eyes. They were deeply appreciated and now hang on Christmas trees, preserving a piece of our family’s history and  carrying our shared memories forward.