-1

Found out my grandma's old quilt is older than my house, by like 40 years

I was cleaning out my linen closet last weekend (a long overdue chore, honestly) and pulled out this quilt my grandma gave me way back when. It's always been in my family, but I never really looked at it close. I noticed a faded tag on the corner with her initials and the year 1938 stitched in. My house was built in 1978, so that thing is a solid 40 years older than the entire building I live in. I just sat there on the couch holding it, thinking about how many couches and beds and floors that blanket has covered. It's still my go-to for napping, even with all the little worn spots and a few thin patches. Has anyone else dug up an old blanket or pillow that turned out to be way older than you expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_richard24d ago

Man that thing dissolving on contact is wild but also kind of poetic you know? Like it held together just long enough for her to find it and appreciate it. I wonder if that dried orange blossom crumbled too or if she kept it separate. It's crazy how delicate some old textiles get, especially if they were stored right but still just decided to fall apart the second you touch them. My grandma had a doily that basically turned to dust when I picked it up wrong. Felt like I broke a family heirloom just by breathing near it.

murphy.abby24d ago

Hang on, did your friend know the dress was that fragile before she tried to clean it, or was it a total shock? I've got an old quilt from my grandma that's somehow still holding together fine, but now I'm scared to even wash it. Guess there's a difference between wool and old silk or whatever that wedding dress was made of. It's weird how some stuff just decides to call it quits the second you look at it wrong.

ninas6724d ago

My friend found her great aunt's wedding dress in a cedar chest a few years back. It was from like 1912 and still had this dried orange blossom tucked in the sleeve. She tried to have it cleaned and the whole thing basically dissolved on contact, which was kind of sad but also felt right somehow.