The quilt shown in these pictures took over 100 years to finish. The quilt top was hand-pieced in 1915, but was never turned into a finished quilt (meaning the batting and backing were never added and sewn/quilted together with the top).  

We know it originated in 1915 because the fabric was sewn onto a newspaper bearing that date, as you can see in one of the photos. The newspaper is pulled off after the quilt top is sewn, but in this case, small pieces of paper remained in the stitching.

The quilt top is in perfect condition. I am assuming that it was set aside and never used because it was never completed.

Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about the person who hand-pieced this top, because it ended up in a resale shop. The shop owner couldn’t sell it, so gave it to a quilter who eventually gave it to me. I longarmed and bound it and it is now a beautifully stunning quilt. I wish I could give it back to the family, but I have no idea who that might be.

Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t let your name and work be lost by leaving your quilts unfinished.