Soft Geese for Grandma

A year and a half ago, my dad's mom, my last living grandparent,  moved out of her home and into a small apartment attached to a nursing home.  We had been wanting her to move closer to family for a long time.  So while we were happy she was finally living closer to my parents, so they could look in on her from time to time, the move was very hard on her.  I wanted to provide a bit of comfort, if I could. 

piecing in progress

piecing in progress

I chose colors and floral prints I thought Grandma would like. I included quite a bit of double gauze in the quilt which made it extra soft.  I worked from a pattern called Bows and Braids by Jocelyn Ueng. The final quilt measures 58"x68". I had it quilted by Sarah Wilson of crinklelove.

completed quilt

completed quilt

back of the quilt

back of the quilt

My grandma was 89 and healthy when I started this quilt, and she was 90, hospitalized, and rapidly declining when I finished it. When she unwrapped it, with help, from her hospital bed, she said, "I don't think anyone has ever spent so much time on me before." This from a woman who had knitted and crocheted countless items for others through the years. I regret that we only had three more weeks with my grandma after that moment. I wish I had given her a quilt earlier, that she could have used and enjoyed longer. But I'm glad she had it for a time, for warmth and comfort in unfamiliar beds, and to know how much she was loved.

binding

binding

hand-stitched label on back of quilt

hand-stitched label on back of quilt

My grandma has been gone for almost a year. Her quilt now lives at my mom's house. I love seeing it when we go home to visit. 

my grandma's high school yearbook.  I love her quote. 

my grandma's high school yearbook.  I love her quote. 

Grandma in 1959

Grandma in 1959

My grandma with my dad

My grandma with my dad

me with grandma

me with grandma

the quilt displayed at her funeral

the quilt displayed at her funeral