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Mother-in-laws unfinished bedspread/tablecloth

3075 Views 32 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  ARknitter
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My mother-in-law passed away in 1977. During the time she was here she "raised hogs". Yes, that is true. Of course, accidents happen and she fell and broke her hip and stayed with my family during the healing. She told me about this crocheted piece but she would not get it out so maybe we could have finished it. Over the years I often wondered what happened to it.

One night very late here came my nephew with a "lard" can and it contained this piece. This was late summer 2011. Yesterday, 8-21-12 I decided I would open this up and take a look. It didn't exactly smell like mothballs but it did have quite an order. I hung it out on the clothes line all day. I had to use almost a whole pkg. of clothes pins to hold it good. I am debating on whether to try and wash it in cold water. After airing it out all day I put in in a blanket bag with a couple of sheets of downy. There was a ball of crochet thread in the can. Clarks Boilfast Cotton Bedspread. The newspaper in bottome of can was dated 8-1-68. It is surprisingly in very good conditon but NO PATTERN. She had made some other motifs and left a small rolled ball of yarn attached to each one.

I am sharing this story for two reasons. Many of you, and me included, have unfishised items. I will, from now on put a pattern with my unfinished items. And would any of you knitters/crocheters know of this particular pattern. I know that would be a longshot. Also, in storing an WIP, keep it very clean and try as best you can to keep it odor free.

A pattern that would give me an idea of how to finish it off would be helpful as well. I am going to enclose some pics. I know this is a long piece but I

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WOW, how beautiful and so glad TerryKnits was able to find the pattern. Good luck to you on that wonderful keepsake.
Judy from VA
I think it wonderful that you have an outlet with this group of people who are so willing to help and to be supportive. I have just come into some of my own family keepsakes from my mother and grandmother. With some 60 odd children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren I am the only one who crochets.
LaRae said:
I think it wonderful that you have an outlet with this group of people who are so willing to help and to be supportive. I have just come into some of my own family keepsakes from my mother and grandmother. With some 60 odd children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren I am the only one who crochets.
You definitely have your time/energy cut out for you. am going to start tooking for thread and hope to work on it some this winter. Mowing lawn/canning/class reunion/knitting sweater for grandson has my time pretty well in use. Thanks for all the kind words and input. I talk about this site and what is going on all the time.
guen12, This is a beautiful piece of history. Maybe she was making a bedspread.Many lovely stitches and time in this. I would treasure this and use it in a special place along with MIL picture close by.If you deside to sell (I'm sure you want) I would like to be first on the list.
What a wonderful story. I too inherited an antique crocheted bedspread unfinished. I had a framer custom-make a frame for it and it hung for many years over my bed.
Bonidale said:
What a wonderful story. I too inherited an antique crocheted bedspread unfinished. I had a framer custom-make a frame for it and it hung for many years over my bed.
As a professional Framer I can appreciate the care you took of your bedspread. Framing completes unfinished pieces and adds to our joy by remembering the crafter of the piece. I have seen people in tears when the see their unfinished piece that they didn't know what to do with.

If you haven't yet, please write up the story of the bedspread and it's crocheter and pit it in an envelope attached to the paper on the back of the frame. What a wonderful family heirloom !
What a good idea. Thanks. People should know the age of the piece and its creator.
You should type up the story of how this was found and finished and keep it in the bag when finished. It will be something to be passed down through the generations!
That is beautiful! So glad TerryKnits found it for you! Be sure to post a pic of it completed.
Teresa....you're an ANGEL!
It's beautiful! I would just finish the edges and keep it as
it is, and the memories of her.
Beautiful piece love the orange centers but then I have always loved and orange kitchen/dining area.What a fantastic keepsake.

Terry what a gem you are. I know Guen will be so thankful for your effort. I hope that she got to the pattern in time.
I can't imagine doing all that work and not completing it. as was said in prior post this kind of thing takes years, I wonder if the paper dated 1968 was when she started it and she worked on it for 9 years. Wouldn't be surprised.

Your WIP suggestions really hit the make and I am putting all the patterns into mine asap. Thanks for the heads up.
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