This darling applique quilt was made for my husband, Gordon, by his maternal grandmother, Anna Mae Kollie. She embroidered a G (for Gordon) on the sail and a small 53 (the year he was born) on the lower left anchor. Gordon’s mother gave me the quilt 26 years ago when my son, Elliott, was born. I never used it because it was pretty fragile from years of use, but I hung it on the wall in Elliott’s room. Now it’s on the wall in my sewing room.
When I opened the October, 2007 Quilter’s Newsletter, I was so excited to see the exact same quilt in an article about vintage crib and doll quilts. I thought it was a kit quilt and there were probably other Sailor Dog quilts out there, but it was surprising to see it in a magazine.
Anna Mae was an accomplished seamstress who also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. She made lovely infant and toddler sweaters for both of my children which I treasure. She was fond of The Workbasket magazine and used the patterns for many of her projects. I wonder if Sailor Dogs is a Workbasket pattern.
Sailor Dogs
Anna Mae Kollie, 1953
hand appliqued, hand quilted
34″ x 48″
How exciting to find the published Sailor Dogs Quilt in a Quilts magazine! The one Anna Mae Kollie made long ago appears to be in mint condition! What a wonderful keepsake!