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There's one aspect of quilting that I really enjoy. Quilting can be an isolated activity done at home to quilt the mind and relax... or it can be done with a group of people and bring people together as a community. This week I experienced the community aspect of quilting and enjoyed is almost as much as the quiet hours I spend with my machine.
Monday was "Basting Day" where I assemble my quilt sandwiches (quilt top, batting and backing) and use safety pins to attach the layers together. It's the final step before quilting the quilt. Next to free-motion quilting, basting is a favorite moment for me. I get time to closely admire my work so far. I get to "know" my quilt better. Where are its quirks? I find that "mistake" I missed until basting day and now I can't fix it. I think about the quilting designs would look the best. At this point the quilt is really coming together (literally) and I can see the finished quilt in my mind.
Back to Monday... I had two quilts to baste and was invited to bring them to the Sewing Lab of Colorado County. I usually assemble and baste quilts on the floor, I'm young and don't mind the floor that much, but I won't pass up the opportunity to use a table. To my surprise the lab members joined me as we basted the two quilts together. We chatted and learn from each other. I left, not only with two basted quilts ready for my machine but also with my soul filled with fellowship. I went through the rest of Monday with a pep in my step and a grin on my face.
Historical Roots of the Quilting Community
Quilt making in America has always had a community aspect to it. In The American Quilt by Roderick Kiracofe and Mary Elizabeth Johnson, the authors write,
"...unlike most other handicrafts, such as knitting or embroidery, several people can work together harmoniously on one quilt... the closeness of working together and the somewhat rote mechanics of sewing encouraged dialogue... and a "quilting" became one of the central activities for women in the 19th century."
It was through the American women's need for community that the quilting bee was born. Historically it was rarely called a "quilting bee", but rather just a "quilting". It was a place to share news and patterns, and maybe just a little bit of gossip.
There are other ways that quilting brings people together. Friendship quilts and album quilts are examples. The central idea around each is that a group of quilters each make a square and the squares are sewn together, quilted and given to a friend, usually on an occasion like a wedding, or going away gift. Many times quilters would get together and make a quilt for charity. This was very popular during the world wars to raise funds for the troops, or the quilts were send directly to the front lines.
Quilting Community Still Alive Today
Today, the quilting community is alive and thriving. You can find it at the local church sewing circles who may make quilts for Lutheran World Relief to the tune of 300,000 quilts every year and are given to people all around the world. Quilt guilds can be found all over the country and are a great place to see beautiful quilts and learn new techniques. I am blessed to live near the Sewing Lab of Colorado County, a unique hobby lab dedicated to helping people learn to sew, including quilting. They are only one of a few in the country. Not only do they provide a community for sewing enthusiasts, but they also offer lessons, help 4-H members with projects and serve the community's sewing needs.
There are lots of ways that quilting brings people together both past and present. It's one of the aspects of quilting that I enjoy so much. If you haven't experienced the quilting community yet, visit your local church sewing circle, find a local quilt guild or come visit us at the Sewing Lab of Colorado County.
More Resources
Lutheran World Relief: Volunteer to Quilt: https://lwr.org/quilts
Find a local quilt Guild: https://quiltguilds.com
Kiracofe, R. & Johnson, M. (1993). The American Quilt. New York, NY: Clarkson Potter Publishers
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