I’m blessed to have some beautiful ladies in my life. My mother being front and center. They gather most Tuesdays to quilt. While they make some incredible quilts they share a friendship and bond with each stitch sewn.

It started with my Aunt Ginny gathering with Dottie, Betty, LeighAnn and Mae. My mother, Frances joined the group. These ladies met weekly to sew, lunch and the friendships was the highlight of a great day. This went on for several years and life changed, Aunt Ginny passed away. She was making cathedral window quilts for each of her children. One completed and the second one midstream when she passed. These ladies recruited some extra hands and finished her quilt. Bonnie Heiskell, Thelma Douglas and a friend Barbara and I helped make some squares. Mom coordinated the squares and rows. Once they had enough to complete her quilt they strategically placed Ginny’s work in the center rows and bordered the quilters on the ends. Ginny’s family would know which hand stitches were made with love by Ginny and the other in memory and honor of her.

The sewers have continued to gather and sew. Keeping the fellowship and traditions going. I started going by and visiting these beautiful ladies. I don’t sew. My skill set consist of a basic stitch to sew a button or repair a basic hem stitch, outside of that I’m clueless. One Tuesday Mom had a pattern idea printed, “The Arknsas Crossroads” and informed me that this is a quilt I should make. She also had a bag of scraps that most likely would work for this pattern. This has been a fun process learning and experiencing a traditional art that has been part of our heritage.

This quilting process works best with planning for the materials needed for the size and pattern your making. I’m fortunate that Mom had that all worked out. She challenged me to do it, but truth is, she gave me step by step instructions and had it all worked out for me, so my first attempt worked out. I’m excited to go pick out the backing for my topper and then get it quilted. The memories making it with these ladies has given me a priceless lesson. It also connects the paste to present.

The Tuesday quilters are incredibly talented. Look for their entries at the Union County Heritage Festival in October. See if you recognize some of their patterns in the list below.

Quilt Names made by one or more of these ladies:
Cathedral Window, Wedding Ring, Windmill, Pinwheels, Log cabin, Dutch Doll, Lighthouse, Bow tie, Christmas, Jamestown, Carpenter Wheel, Midnight Garden, Arkansas Crossroads.

Several have completed quilts that was started and or pieces by their mothers or aunts and then they completed them with backing and binders as needed. How special to have a family heirloom many made by hand with love.