The Healing Power of Quilting and a Forgotten War Effort - Day 5/50 Day Family History Blogging Challenge

Remembering the 400,000 Quilts Sent from Canada to War-Torn Britain & my Memories of Quilting

I recently learned about this story of quilting through Dear Myrtle's newsletter, which featured an interview with Joanna Dermenjian, a researcher who is uncovering the stories behind wartime quilts. I’m so grateful that this incredible historical story came across my path.

During World War II, Canadian quilters quietly made a powerful contribution to the war effort when they made 400,000 quilts and sent them to war torn Britain to be given to families who were in need. I see this as a remarkable act of compassion and dedication, yet this story remains largely unknown today.

As I listened to the interview, on the Just Get it Done Quilts You Tube Channel, something was immediately sparked deep inside me, especially when I heard this line:

"Quilting fills the maker’s bucket."

That phrase stayed with me all day. It stirred a wave of memories, reminding me of exactly why quilting came into my life when it did, and how much it once meant to me. Until today I had blacked out my quilting days.

Finding Quilting in the Midst of Grief

I didn’t set out to become a quilter. I had sewn clothes for myself since I was a teenager, and later for my children when they were small, but had never shown an interest in quilting. Eventually, as life became busy with work and raising a family, the sewing machine was packed away and forgotten.

Then, in 1995, my life changed forever, when my son, my middle child, died in a car accident, at age 18 years. Of course, I was devastated but I also felt lost.

My daughter was in Japan on exchange, and my eldest son was beginning his independent life, so my life had become very quiet and quite insular. I returned to work, in our family business, almost immediately after the funeral. Those days were a blur of people being kind, asking about my son, wanting to comfort me, but their concern drained me. Each day left me emotionally and physically exhausted.

The only moments I felt peace were in the early mornings, when walking my dogs, and in the late afternoon, as I went for long bike rides. Those were the times I could be alone with my thoughts and didn’t have to smile if I wasn’t feeling like smiling.

A New Store That Changed Everything

I remember the morning that I passed through town on my regular walking route, and noticed that a new quilting shop had opened. I knew nothing about quilting and had barely even heard of it as a skill. A handwritten sign in the window advertised beginner classes would be starting soon. I can’t explain why, but I felt an urge to sign up. I hadn’t sewn in years, I had never made a quilt, and yet something in me knew that this is what I needed to do.

Later that day, I called in to the store, signed up, purchased the required fabric, and a few days later, joined the class. I still remember the joy of cutting those tiny pieces and stitching them into something whole. The quiet concentration and the rhythm of the sewing, became my therapy.

Night after night, week after week, month after month, I quilted. It was the only thing that eased the weight of the grief that I was feeling. I lost myself in the fabric, the color and the repetition. For a while, even family history, the passion that had driven me for years, took a back seat.

Why I Eventually Let It Go

As my skills grew, so did my perfectionism. I began to stress about every seam and every misaligned corner. I compared my work to the flawless quilts in glossy magazines, and at quilt shows. I convinced myself that my quilts were not good enough. Looking back now, I see that I was quite hard on myself.

Eventually, that pressure wore me down. After 15 years, I packed the sewing machine away and stopped making quilts.

These are my three favourite quilts. After making many traditional quilts, I turned to adding applique and embroidery to my quilts. The one on the right is a nursery quilt.

Rediscovering the Story—and the Craft

Hearing Joanna Dermenjian talk about the quilts sent to Britain during WWII instantly pulled me back to those days of quilting. This extraordinary story tells of how thousands of Canadian women, many of whom had thought they had little to offer to the war effort, poured their time, energy, and love into making warm, comforting quilts for strangers abroad.

How had I never heard of this before?

A New Purpose for Old Quilt Tops

Hearing about those quilts also reminded me of the quilt tops I still have stashed away, unfinished, and unloved. Like so many quilters, I loved creating the tops but found less joy in the actual quilting. But now I wonder if those pieces could serve a purpose?

Maybe it’s time to bring those quilt tops out of the cupboard. I’m thinking about donating them, or finding a group that could finish them, and pass them along to hospitals, aged care homes, or anyone in need of comfort. They may not be absolutely perfect, but they were stitched with love and care.

And maybe that quote is still echoing in my mind because it's true:

Quilting really does fill the maker’s bucket.

Listen In and Share Your Story
If you’d like to learn more about the incredible story of Canada’s wartime quilts, I highly recommend listening to the interview with Joanna Dermenjian. Her insights into how women supported the war effort,one stitch at a time, are both moving and enlightening.

Were you a quilter?
Has quilting played a part in your life?

I’d love to hear your story. Feel free to share your memories in the comments. I’m sure that quilting has probably brought quiet strength, creativity, and comfort to many, as it did for me.

Joanna Dermenjian’s website: sutureandselvedge.com

More about the Red Cross Quilts: Canadian Wartime Quilts Come Home

YouTube: Let's Talk About War Time Quilting

Dear Myrtle's Substack

This post is Day 5/50 of my 50 Day Family History Blogging Challenge