A Lonely Square

October 24, 2025

I found this log cabin square while I was antique shopping and I fell in love with it. Everything was sewn by hand. Some things aren’t cut on the grain. The black pieces are ribbons. It’s not even a perfect square but sewn together, everything is harmonious. It is a thing of beauty.

A quilt is the perfect example of making order out of chaos. Scraps that are too small for anything else are arranged in creative ways, sewn to create large pieces of fabric and then quilted with layers to make something that will warm your body and your soul. That’s why a square like this is sad to see in a thrift shop or an antique store. And it’s not the first time. I’ve found piles of squares sitting in boxes. Sometimes there are enough finished squares to make an entire quilt. Despite being lovingly made, they are lost in a sea of discarded things hoping for a second life. I wonder what this one’s will be.