About six months ago I found a hole in my favourite quilt. My husband and I were hanging this big butterfly quilt on our bedroom wall. The quilt had lived several lives and now it was to be a wall hanging.
In the orange swirly border section was a thumb size hole that went right through all three layers. This is the first time I have had to deal with a major mend in a quilt. I felt daunted. How would I mend three layers?
I thought about matching it with exact fabric patches. I might just have some scraps somewhere. I considered finding some sewing guru to do it for me. The quilt was damaged now. It was spoiled. I didn’t really know how to fix it.
Months passed and every time I looked at the quilt I felt bad about that hole. The quilt was ruined I thought sadly to myself. Over six months the quilt mending job built up to be a bit of a problem.
Finally yesterday I took it down and inspected the damage. I considered what I could do. It was like looking at an old friend fallen in battle. After a few sad sighs I decided to give it my best shot. I found my coloured thread box and carefully matched the colours. Then I thought to myself – I can’t take this imperfection away I can only mend it with as much love as possible.
I took my time and I darned gentle stitches that I have seen my mother sew. Stitch by stitch I felt better. As I worked I thought about how my quilts are working quilts. There are carried around, snuggled under, picnicked on, laid over sleeping children or shivering pets. They have been children’s cubbies and hiding places. In all probability this hole started as the mark of some child’s jam covered finger. My family life had been here.
The mending slowly transformed from a loathsome fixing task to a gentle homage. I was honouring the site where some living had taken place. This was the place where the life of a perfect quilt ended and business of living just kept on going.
I smiled to myself as I surveyed the little ridges of the final mend. Not so much a fix but an outcrop of love. It is also a small milestone on my learning journey. In fixing this quilt hole I came to understand what really matters.
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