In Victorian times baby rings were popular as gifts promising wealth, happiness and good luck. Today no one would ever put a ring on their baby’s finger which would end up in the baby’s mouth and down the hatch.
I’ve already admitted that Connie and I didn’t miss many antique stores at the cities we traveled to – once again it was without GPS! Connie read the directions off her phone while I drove. A customer of ours that would see us at the Chicago shows had a necklace made of baby rings and I was sold. From that moment on when we shopped I searched for baby rings – there might be one or two and I never chose – I just bought them both. They were very hard to find but oh, how easy it was to bring my purchase home in my coin purse. What did Connie buy? Wonderful bowls, boxes, etc which sometimes sat on her lap on the plane ride home.
Sometimes they cost only $5-20 but a couple of them in my necklace were over $100. When I had over 100 rings I went to a jeweler who used only the solid gold rings – he cut them carefully and hooked them together for a necklace big enough to go over my head. I do have lots of money tied up in this necklace and I’m careful where I wear it – one tug or catch could break it. My own ring is included.
They were such a great antique to search for – even a few of them on short individual chains hanging from the main chain would be lovely. The ones I have left are only gold plated and I chose not to use them.
So have I inspired anyone to start searching for baby rings?
Reader photos
Remember all those chunks that didn’t measure 4-1/2”? Here they are – a matching table mat!
Quilting and binding tomorrow!
Does anyone watch The Masters?
I remember you posting an article years ago about the baby rings and having them made into a necklace. I loved the idea then and still do; I’m thinking you shared this through The GOAT Gazette back then. I have my grandmother’s baby ring, it is precious to me.
Mrs. goodneedle – yes, I probably wrote about the necklace in the GG – it was very fun searching for those tiny rings – who will get it when I die? I can’t remember your little dog’s name! How is he?
The baby ring necklace is precious! I wish I knew what happened to my sister’s baby ring. I believe it was my sisters. There was only one in my mom’s jewelry drawer. Maybe it was hers. I’ll have to keep my eye out for one now when out antiquing! You’ve started a new trend, Mary! I’m trying to decide what to do for a fabric challenge that the quilt group I belong to does every year. This year’s fabric is awful! At least to this vintage loving gal! Search Tribeca-C 3931 fabric – it’s a tie-dye with bright bright colors…oh, what a challenge! Jan in MA
The baby ring necklace is precious! I wish I knew what happened to my sister’s baby ring. I believe it was my sisters. There was only one in my mom’s jewelry drawer. Maybe it was hers. I’ll have to keep my eye out for one now when out antiquing! You’ve started a new trend, Mary! I’m trying to decide what to do for a fabric challenge that the quilt group I belong to does every year. This year’s fabric is awful! At least to this vintage look gal! Search Tribeca-C 3931 fabric – it’s a tie-dye with bright bright colors…oh, what a challenge! Jan in MA
Good day Jan in MA, Are you allowed to modify the Tribeca-C 3931fabric? Maybe dye it with tea / coffee /Ritz dye to tone down the colors to your liking. Just a thought. Janice,
Instead of the Master’s, I’m going to be watching my grandson’s robotics team compete in the state championship. It’s live on YouTube, so I can see it all from home.
Mary, I love the baby ring fascination you’ve had over the years, and what a lovely treasure is your necklace. I have one baby ring, it belonged to my grandmother’s cousin Alice, born in 1899. It is so tiny, maybe close to your quarter inch ring, very simple, a gold band with pretty etching and a circular face with a fancy A in the center. We are awaiting our first grandbaby and I’ve secretly pondered, “What if it’s a girl and they name it… Anne, Agnes, Alice, Alicia, Anna, Angela, Anita, Alyson…”? Our son said this morning, “baby’s well cooked, on its way to well done, it should be any hour/day/minute” so … praying for a healthy boy or girl, doesn’t matter. But if it’s a girl and her name is Alice, I’m off to the jeweler’s for a clean and polish!
Carol – oh, how fun!!! I so hope it’s a she with an A name!!!! Please let me know!
Carol – so excited to hear you’re going to be a grandma!!!! I bet you made a sweet baby quilt.
I made two! One is a quilt for daily use, one is a panel with the day/week/month/year and weight so you can take photos noting those details. I’ll try to send them to Mary, if I’m successful, you’ll see them!
Carol- got em and they are really fun!!!
Will do! We’re getting excited and anxious and all the other feelings! I’ll be happy with healthy, but I had two boys, wouldn’t a girl to cherish, and sew for, be wonderful?
I love your baby ring necklace! You shared it with our group when I was at Country Threads Quilt Camp years ago and I thought then, what a great treasure from your travels and such a neat thing to search for!
I do watch the Masters and so enjoy the scenery, the tradition and the golf! I would love to attend the Masters at some point.
Thanks for sharing such great stories on the blog!!
I wonder what your baby ring necklace is worth. Maybe you should have the jeweler weigh it, gold is going for over $4700. An ounce.
Love all the quilts shown daily and wish I was still able to create.
Brenda – Didn’t realize gold had gotten that high – can you imagine melting this necklace down for the gold??????
I bought antique baby rings for each of my babies to have as keepsakes. So sweet! All your rings are wonderful!
What is the title of the book in the photo of your quilt, please? It looks like “Classic Song…”, and it has a famous folk art applique quilt on the front. Thanks!
Thanks, Sally. That was a fat quarter purchase several years ago, which I finally augmented with material from my stash to complete it. Mary, I’ve learned a lot about baby rings. Very unique and pretty necklace which draws comments any time you wear it. What a nice way to honor so many lives.
I didn’t know there were baby rings. Very interesting and your necklace is so beautiful. I’m at a retreat for the weekend. We arrived yesterday afternoon. We were allowed to set up our things in the room the hotel gives us but no sewing till 9am today. Trying to finish this months DD. Just have the binding to sew on, it’s one of the things I brought to work on. Looking forward to the chatting and sewing.
TERESA – tell the other quilters about the blog and the Dirty Dozen – they might like to play, too!
I just love you baby ring necklace. Those little rings are beautiful. Many are so intricate. I have a couple of baby rings that my Mom had. I remember seeing them (but never wearing) when I was little and being so fascinated by the small size. I wish i had asked her who they belonged to. I’m on a mission now to put them on a chain. Why keep them hidden in a box? I agree with others when they say we learn so much from your blog. Love seeing all of the collections that you have.
Ginger – and I learn so much from my readers! It’s a win-win for all of us!!
Love the baby ring necklace – thank you for sharing the photos and info. I will look more carefully as I go through family things – there may be one in there, you never know.
The photos are great – it’s always fun to see what others have made. I am trying to decide if I should commit to making a patriotic quilt for a show this summer – my creative side says “go for it” and the scheduling part of my brain says “you’re an idiot”! LOL!
Gail – join the club! Haha!!
Well that was a fascinating read about baby rings. Never knew such a thing existed. Funny me I just thought my MIL had tiny fingers for the ring I have but it might have been her mothers. I can’t imagine finding them today.
I’m going to the local thrift store today. Want to look for some paper patterns and some linen stamped embroidery pieces. I like to do them but I usually add fabric rather than frame them. I’m inspired by your wall of samplers. I am enjoying being entertained by things I learn from you!
Kathy – whatever you might “learn” from me is likely nothing earth shattering – haha!! Collecting these darling rings was just another fascination about babies for me.
What a clever idea to make a necklace out of the baby rings. I remember at least one of cousin’s having a baby ring. They were quite a bit younger than me & I’m thinking this might have been early 50’s. My parents were farmers & couldn’t afford things like that, but I loved jewelry & was fascinated! You have a beautiful collection. Love your red, white, & blue quilt, Mary. Anyone could easily duplicate it by selecting what they might have on hand & cutting strips. I have a whole box of patriotic fabrics that I select from to make QOV quilts for special veterans. Thank you for the pattern, Mary!!
Alice – yes! Any of us could probably pull from our stash to make this quilt – it upsets me when quilters feel they have to copy so closely – where is their sense of creativity?
I’m going to find my baby ring and put it on a chain so I can wear it.
NJ – good for you! And people will notice and ask you about it, I guarantee it.
Mary, your necklace is priceless. That 1/4” diameter ring is unbelievable. Thank you for sharing!💜
Vicki – yes, you’re right, it is priceless. My insurance company won’t even insure it because it can’t be replaced.
I have one baby ring. In the 1940’s, my parents bought a house for back taxes. They found the ring in the back of a kitchen cabinet. It has a very tiny diamond in it. I used to wear it as a teenager. It only fit just below my baby finger fingernail. I’m glad I didn’t lose it.
Shirley – I’ll bet the previous owners simply lost it – did they realize it was a baby ring when they found it?
Yes, they knew it was a baby ring. I don’t think they ever put it on me as a baby. Eighty years later, I still have the ring.
I love Minick & Simpson fabrics! I made a red, white and blue Plus quilt using 5 charm packs of their paisley print. I love how your quilt turned out, Mary! I am watching The Master’s. I watched the Par 3 contest yesterday on masters.com. Today, I watched Round 1 on Prime. They were only going stream 2 hours, from 10 am to noon, but continued until 5 pm. It was great! Jan in Arizona, your quilts are wonderful!.
Sally – I enjoyed the kids at the Masters. I do have a layer cake by Minnick and Simpson that I should work with.
Oh Mary, your baby ring necklace is just precious! I had no idea some were so decorative. Yes, I am going to search for at least one to wear on a chain. I had a baby ring; I remember seeing it when I was 4 or 5 years old, but I have no idea what happened to it. Thanks for posting.
The baby ring necklace is absolutely wonderful. I wore my baby ring on a chain when I was younger. Now it is on my wall in a shadow box.
Wow. What a great idea to make a necklace from baby rings. My 1st daughter had a baby ring and I still have it. Doubt you could find enough rings today to even make a bracelet but…I’ll have to see what’s out there the next time I go thrifting. Nice quilts!
Cindy – how’s Hank? And is this a combining season is some areas of winter wheat? I’m not informed enough to know.
Hank is growing like a weed. He’s around 65 pounds now so basically a very big puppy! He’s sure brought us a lot of joy.
Wheat is nearly ready in Texas now-it’s going to be several weeks early compared to most years. So Steve is working overtime to get all of the equipment ready.