The birth of a baby brings great joy as well as great change to any family. As time goes by and the child grows, memories of those first years are cherished: the first hair cut, favored toys, special outfits, and a beloved baby quilt. As we get older, seeing these things (whether through pictures or the actual item) brings back stories of childhood to pass on to the next generation so history is preserved. Being able to pass the actual items on to the next generation is even better. And when it comes to a baby quilt, it tells the story not only of the baby that used it, but also of the time in which it was made.
Through history here in the United States, a baby quilt has been made in anticipation of and to commemorate the birth of a baby. Nursery quilts are mentioned as far back as the end of the 17th century. At that time, quilts for a baby was made primarily for warmth and from layered scraps of old clothing and blankets. Even then, the quilts held memories from the fabrics used, and told a story with those scraps. With the large families of the time, these nursery quilts were used until worn out, and then discarded or torn apart for pieces to be reused in another quilt. We have few examples of quilts for a baby from those times because of their utilitarian use.
As time went on, nursery quilts changed as well. Baby quilts have progressed through whole cloth chintz, broderie perse, medallions, hexagons, appliques, pieced quilts, log cabins and patriotic quilts. Mothers-to-be would pass the time creating a quilt for the baby that captured their dreams and hopes. Whether the fabric was reused from favored clothing, or purchased new, the nursery quilt represented a mother's love and expectations of the future. We can tell a lot about the history of a quilt for a baby by its construction, but the real stories are told by the family that actually used the quilt and passed it along to new generations. Each stain and repair can tell a tale from times past and add to the richness of a family's memories. Nothing is more cherished than an item passed down through the years and the stories that go with it.
Today, most of us don't have the time to actually put together a quilt, but the gift of a baby quilt at a baby's birth is no less important. Simply by looking at the style of nursery quilt chosen, we can tell much about the person presenting it, or their hopes and dreams for the newborn. With the wide variety of quilts for a baby available, we can choose from many, many themes: fairy tales, sports, historic, animals, and patriotic to name a few. The story starts with that choice, and then life takes over, and the fuller story is written. Childhood is a time of innocence and joy, and those memories need to be cherished and passed along. We all want a way to transport ourselves back to those earlier times, and the best way to do it is with a loved item from that time. Make sure your children have the opportunity to recapture those memories and pass them on with a baby quilt.
Beth Moore is a quilter that turned her passion for baby quilts into a website - BabyQuiltComfort.com. Currently, the site offers a wide variety of baby quilts, crib sets, and baby gifts. In the future, hand made quilts will be featured on the site as well.