No I haven't attempted it YET. But, it is on my agenda. I am still trying to figure out the logistics of it, however. I don't think there would be room on a quilt, and still have it asthetically pleasing to put all the names of all the children for each couple, but figure I'd do at least the direct ancestors all the way up the tree as far as I could prove. That would make some of the branches a little lopsided, as a few sides I can get back to the fifteenth century. LOL. But starting with myself, I could do five generations easily from my side.

I thought I'd try to do an actual "tree of life"and start two new branches off each branch for the parents, etc, up to the cut-off point. I'd like to make the wood part of the tree integral to the quilt and the leaves be the children in each generation and embroider the information, cut them out and sew them to the quilt. I mainly haven't figured out how to get the parental information on there, perhaps as apples or exotic birds, or on each branch itself.

I've not seen any patterns for a generational quilt, except one for a "mother of mothers" where it traces back only the matriarchal line.

I am currently working on a quilt that will contain 11 generations of my family, in the center of a single sized quilt. (I will be in the center circle, and a parent on each side, to indicate the paternal and maternal sides. I then plan to applique 2 buildings for both maternal and paternal sides of the family...things with familial signifigance. My plan, then is to applique a meandering brown vine (to symbolize a tree), with leaves, that will meander in some way....not sure how, or where, yet. After I finish the buildings and put on the names, I'll decide about the vine/limb. I have a great deal of family info, and searched my brain to come up with a way to include a lot of them...those I've seen done by others, didn't have much room...just a few family members included.. I wanted to put a LOT of them on.
This is the mill my family built in 1704

this is the Quaker meeting house my family helped start

The entire center of the quilt is the circle....each 'ring' is made up of 2 different fabrics, to differentiate the 2 sides of each generation. I plan, using a fabric pen, to write each name with it's date, on a small piece of white fabric, and then sew it into it's correct place on the generational rings.

That's lovely and quite original and will be a prized family heirloom. My family roots are Quaker as well on both my maternal and paternal line. My mother was brought up in a Quaker household and she used to attend meetings across the street from their home.

it takes some thought but you could never get all imfo needed on a quilt. but you could start with you and branch out by doing a block for each family. and go as many generations as you can. i don't know but a quilt store in utah just might have a pattern as there is a lot of intrest there with family history. look on line.

I've thought about this as well...but that's where it's stayed...just a thought!

Here's an idea. If I did this one, I'd hand write each person's name & whatever else around the blocks.
http://www.threshpublications.com/fampics.html

http://www.cmsu.edu/x88927.xml

A family tree doesn't actually include aunts and uncles....it is YOUR line...YOUR tree....your parents, grandparents, greatgrandparents, etc. (NO one could put all those uncles and aunts on a tree...it would be totally unmanagable by about 2 generations!) My quilt will have 10 generations of my direct line. Those 'trees' with the photos, etc, don't really hold much, so I guess it depends on whether you really want to create an actual record of your direct line, which I did, or something less complete and more folksy. Mine will contain dozens and dozens of names and dates, all in their correct generation .

Calliope, I sent you an email through GW.
Woodsy

Sandra, I love your ideas, what a lot of thought has gone into it. I also agree to include the entire family would be very cumbersome. It could be possible to include just a list of each family on the back if you wanted to include them all.

beverly

Woodsy, the email didn't come through. Several others on another forum also say emails are not linking from member pages. You can email me direct at eliakimpalmer.........do not spam.....@yahoo.com. Just take out the obvious. LOL.

Grammyp.....in my research I do collect brothers and sisters, but that's on paper. On an actual tree, it's just the direct line....and, honestly, in a couple generations you can be dealing with dozens and dozens of 'others'....it becomes hundreds of people pretty quickly, so everyone else but my direct ancestors will remain 'on paper' only, I'm afraid.
I have given this a GREAT deal of thought, and this format was the ONLY thing I could come up with that would allow me to use my direct line, for a good many generations. If anyone else has a better idea, I'd like to hear it.....I'd like to do one of these for my daughter, too, and it needn't be done in the same way. I only work on it periodically, mainly because I'm DREADING all those white pieces with penned names and dates! Originally I tried all sorts of ideas for the white....even to that tape you use to mark clothing, and was not pleased with any. Then, someone on the list suggested making a long tube, that would end up in the right width, to fit on one of the generational rings....then, just cut it to the right length. What a wonderful idea...solved the problem...but, I'm still dreading it. Luckily I still have 2 more buildings to do before I'm 'forced' to get to the names! If I 'play my cards' right, I could even do all the meandering tree limb/vine, and leaves before I do the names!

Geraldine -

THANK YOU for starting this string! I, too, am in the planning stages of making a family tree quilt. I found some old photos from the turn of the century which I had transferred to good-quality white cotton fabric. (A local quilt shop told me which professional printer/copier business in the area was the one who did their copying onto fabric!) Since some of the photos had trains in the background, I am planning on paper piecing a train on the bottom of the quilt. Since the photos were taken in Boston where they settled, I am planning on piecing a row of city buildings on the top. The actual photos and tree of that branch of the family will be in the center - - that's the part I haven't yet fully planned...which is why I am delighted you started this string!

Judy in Massachusetts

Gee, Judy...that sounds absolutely wonderful. Please post as you go along, will you. Will you piece the buildings or applique them? I've had good luck with using photos as the basis of what I applique....just have the photo copied at the office supply shop, to the size I want it to be, and then 'divide' the bldg up into pieces. I get 2 copies - one to use as the master and one to use as 'pattern' pieces and cut up. I plan to use my quilt rather than just show it, so my pieces are turned under rather than just stuck on with WonderUnder, or a like product. I simply use the pattern piece and cut out the fabric 1/8" bigger, as a turnunder. It's easy to do, and fun to watch your buldings 'grow' in layers.

Calliope...emailed you directly.