My friend and fellow quilt guild member, Yolanda, has a long time friend, Sophia. This is the story of Sophia’s family quilt and Yolanda’s remake in the spirit of the original design. My part was quilting the remake.
Sophia writes “My great-grandmother, Serena Herndon (Richards), started this quilt in Oklahoma in the late 1920’s, but my grandmother, Elzira Scoggins (Herndon), finished the quilt top in Mt. Shasta and Oroville, California sometime during 1930s-1940s. My mother, Serena, born in 1945, quilted this blanket in Oroville around mid to late 50’s.” Be sure to click on the photograph to zoom in. Many of the fabrics are wildly colorful.
Sophia’s mother recently passed, and so she asked if Yolanda would cut up the quilt top to incorporate some of the original blocks into a new quilt because many of the fabrics were worn out from age and use. Yolanda encouraged Sophia to allow her repair the old quilt instead and also to make a new one that would capture the design of the original. Happily, Sophia agreed.
The inspiration for the quilt blocks came from the original quilt. Yolanda’s goal was to isolate the original block design and set it on point. However when she laid out the blocks to audition them before sewing sashing between them, she liked the look of a horizontal set best. By exercising creative license, Yolanda gave the new quilt its own identity. The angels in the central panel are representative of Sophia and her mother meeting again in heaven. The wording “To God be the glory, until we meet again” is her way of rejoicing for the coming reunion.

In the words of Hattie, another of Yolanda’s friends, this Granny Square block is so reminiscent of lessons learned from those who have gone before us. Yolanda’s remake of Sophia’s family quilt is a beautiful story of a shared love for this ageless art work. Isn’t it wonderful how the past can bring out the best in us?
That was a good idea to remake the quilt, although it was very pretty. The remake is lovely and colorful. I have two vintage quilts made by my grandmother in the 30’s. I treasure them. Thanks for showing your quilt.
So much love in this story. Thank you for sharing with all of us!
Lovely story and quilt. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing!
A lovely tale of two quilts:)
It’s so beautiful and you can see the love that was put in when making the quilt. I’m so proud of you Mimi.
It’s one thing to be able to quilt at all
It’s one more thing to be able to quilt something this memorable with so much love and history
It’s another, to be able to describe the process so eloquently that makes those of us who don’t know how to quilt feel like learning fast
Congratulations to all of you who participated in this story of history, love and blessings