TODAY’S QUILTING
BY SARAH HOUGH; PHOTOS BY SHERRIE KRETH
QUILTING IS NO LONGER A PASTIME JUST FOR GRANNIES AND OLD MAID AUNTS. WHEN THE WORDS “QUILT” OR “QUILTING” ARE MENTIONED, TALES OF GRANDMOTHERS SPENDING LONG HOURS AT A QUILT FRAME ARE TOLD. LET’S FAST FORWARD TO TODAY’S QUILTERS.
International Space Station Expedition 36 Flight Engineer NASA Astronaut Karen Nyberg, a lifelong lover of sewing, completed a starthemed quilt block during her limited free time in space. Nyberg invited other quilters to create 9.5” x 9.5” square star-themed quilt blocks to help celebrate her mission and her passion for the quilting arts. Quilters responded to the “Astronomical Quilts! Star Block Challenge” by submitting 2,260 blocks which were fashioned into 28 panels. The panels were featured at the 2014 International Quilt Festival in Houston. The quilt will travel to different venues and eventually be donated to the Space Center Houston museum.
The “Quilting in America 2014”* survey indicates the U .S . quilting market is worth an amazing $3 .76 BILLION annually. The survey also shows there are 16 .4 million active quilters in the country. 10.3% of US households (12.62 million) are home to at least one active quilter. The total number of quilters in the U.S. is estimated at 16 .4 million.
Other recent statistics indicate the dedicated quilter is female, 64 years old, well educated, affluent ($101,080 household income), has been quilting for an average of 20.3 years and spends an average of $3,296 per year on quilting, on average has $12,861 of quilting tools and supplies, has $5,939 worth of fabric, and owns 3.1 sewing machines (30% own more than four machines).
A local group, St . Andrew Bay Quilters’ Guild, has over 150 members ranging in age from eleven up. As quilters throughout history have done, SABQG quilters express their creativity and generous nature by responding to needs from the community. In the past year, some of their donations were 60 blankets and 73 bibs for Head Start, 47 twin size quilts for Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home, 47 quilts for Warrior Beach Retreat, seven blankets for the Autistic School, eight wall hangings for Bethel Village, and 18 children’s quilts for St . Barnabas House. They are now working on 60 fidget quilts for the Sims Veterans’ Home Alzheimer Unit and 20 PTSD mats for veterans in counseling.
As a vehicle to showcase the art of quilting and to raise money for their activities, the Guild hosts an annual Quilt Show. Their 2015 show, “Quilts From the Heart,” will be held February 13 and 14 at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Panama City. A popular highlight of the show is an opportunity to participate in the drawing for a beautiful quilt – this year’s quilt is named “Blueberry Baskets.” Visitors are invited to enjoy the display of quilts, a silent auction, quilt boutique, sewing machine raffle and vendors.
All quilters are invited to join the Guild. Members enjoy twice-amonth guild meetings with an educational presentation and member show and tell. Throughout the year, the Guild presents classes taught by recognized professionals, special projects, demonstrations and community service events, periodic quilt retreats, and wonderful friendships!
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 5622 Julie Drive, Panama City, FL, Located on the corner of Julie Drive and Hwy 231 – four miles north of the Mall
Date: February 13 &14
Admission $7
Information 850-271-8913
REFERENCES:
http://go.nasa.gov/CraftyKaren
* From “Quilting In America 2014” Survey presented by F+W.A Content + eCommerce Company
[/box] [divider]QUILT IN A QUILT HIDDEN TREASURES
Quilters are always in the market for collectible old quilts . In looking through a stack of old quilts at an estate sale several years ago, Lynn Haven resident Sarah Hough came across a stack of tied plaid comforters. Knowing that in the past thrifty quilters would encase worn quilts in new fabric, which makes a quilt-in-a-quilt, and knowing that tales are told of treasures found in this manner, she probed some of the comforters and discovered one that felt as if there was another quilt inside.
The seller, Betty Demangue, reluctantly gave her permission to open five inches along the edge, just enough to allow her to see that there was a nine patch quilt inside the plaid fabric. Sarah purchased the quilt and, after removing it from its plaid cover, she got a surprise “I was thrilled to find a date, the maker, and who it was made for embroidered in the middle block: MADE IN THE YEAR OF 1934 BY MRS . WILLIAMS FOR HOWARD AND BE LEE. I contacted the seller who identified the quilter as her great aunt and the recipients as her parents.”
Of course, the seller wanted the quilt back as it is a part of her family heritage. “The quilt was a treasure to her and I was happy I had uncovered it and was able to return it to its proper owner.” Says Sarah Hough. “You just can’t tell a quilt by its cover. Quilts are a wonderful way to preserve your family history.”