Suzanne's Coffin Quilt

Several years ago, some friends and I ran a "challenge."  Each of the four of us choose a theme, or a color.  Then we made a 12" block for each other.  My theme was "blue" and Suzanne choose "coffin quilt" as her theme.  Sprouty choose "fish" and Faye "flowers." 

When we got our blocks, each of us added one of our own and finished our quilts.  Suzanne never got around to finishing hers, so a few years later I took up her blocks and made her the Coffin Quilt she wanted.

Here is a quote on the practice of "Coffin Quilts:" 

 The graveyard quilt is one type of mourning quilt. Mourning quilts were popular in the mid to late 1800s. Aside from the graveyard quilt, other mourning quilts don’t have a particular theme or design associated with the term. After the death of a loved one, quilters (at this point in time, predominantly women) would work on a quilt to help them grieve.

A quilter might choose to make a quilt using a deceased person’s favorite color or favorite pattern. Or, the woman might simply quilt any old quilt block pattern just to keep her mind occupied and to help her work through the grief process. Most of the quilting back then relied on groups of women, so that fellowship also offered help in the healing process.

Suzanne's quilt has:  An upper block with a cross.  The right arm of the layout is a block called grave stone.  The left arm has owl fabrics, another symbol very dear to Suzanne.  Steps to The Altar in the center, Crown of Thorns on the cross body and Coffin Star on the bottom.  The backgroud is filled with little tumbler blocks, symbolizing the shapes of headstones in the graveyard.  The pink lines are tiny skulls, and the border is Day Of The Dead dancers. 

Suzanne's birthday is Halloween, and she brings her quilt out every year in October.