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FeedA community’s stitches
It’s this love of fabric that binds the quilting community together. “Quilters are there for each other,” says Peg Johnson, a prize-winning quilter from Rye, New Hampshire. In fact, the image of the old-fashioned quilting bee—women gathering together over years and generations, sharing the stories of their lives as they collaborate in the making of a quilt—is very much a reality.
The quiet quilting community has an elaborate support system of classes, workshops and even online quilting universities. Neighborhood quilting guilds—such as the Cocheco Quilters Guild in Dover, New Hampshire; the Hannah Dustin Quilters Guild in Hollis, New Hampshire; and the Merrimack Valley Quilter Guild in Plaistow, New Hampshire—meet monthly, publish newsletters and arrange pilgrimages to quilting museums and fabric stores such as Keepsake Quilting in Center Harbor, New Hampshire, which is considered the largest quilting store in America.
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| Polka Dodo by Susan Carlson, 40 inches by 43 inches. Fabric collage, machine quilted. Photo provided courtesy of Susan Carlson. |
“Quilting is a tool for fundraising and for giving back,” says nationally known quilter Susan Carlson of Harpswell, Maine.
Understanding the art
Whether you choose to sew your own quilt, or purchase one already made, it’s important to know some basics, as quilts have changed over the years.
The traditional hand-sewn, pieced quilt is still very popular, making detailed geometric patterns such as “bear claw,” “wedding rings” and “log cabin” familiar and recognizable. These quilts often have a predominant color and either a regular pattern or a centralized design.
During the Victorian days, the scrabbling “crazy quilt” memorialized a bit of life in fabric scraps and ribbons pieced together into colorful keepsakes. These traditional patterns have been handed down for years.
Modern quilters rearrange the patterns, using new innovations but staying true to intimate detail and interweaving designs. Jill points out that improvements in sewing machines have freed the quilter from time-consuming hand sewing and allow more creative designs. Quilters can even connect some sewing machines to computers and transfer drawn or scanned pictures into embroidered images on the fabric.
Many contemporary quilters manipulate and color their own fabrics. Susan is what the quilting world calls a “free styler.” Her fabulous appliquéd wall pieces are layered masterworks of color and patterns that result in sometimes whimsical, sometimes naturalistic animal scenes with red rhinos and undersea turtles.
“There is a continuous spectrum from traditional bed quilts to high-concept fiber art with no clear line dividing the quilt world from the fiber art world,” Susan says.
Finding your quilt
When on the hunt for your personal quilt, choose one with your favorite colors but also think about the weight (will you be using it in the winter or will it be a summer quilt?) and the size (will it be a crib quilt or fit a king-size bed?). Then think about the fabrics: do you want one that’s all cotton or flannel, or one with mixed materials?
If you tend toward a colonial style, the intricate-pattered vintage quilts complement your décor. If you’re looking for a more modern kids’ room quilt, perhaps an appliquéd animal quilt is just the thing. Or, you may not be looking for a blanket quilt at all, but instead a stunning wall piece to add color, texture and warmth to your home.
No matter which piece you choose, look for even, tight stitching, bright colors and quality fabrics. Peg suggests you look for a “wow” quilt. Her criteria for a prize winner: “Overall impact as well as perfect details. Plus a quilt label signed and dated by the quilt’s maker.”
Resources
Janet Carlson in North Hampton, N.H.; juanitanina@comcast.net
Susan Carlson in Harpswell, Maine; www.susancarlson.com
Peg Johnson in Rye N.H.; fibrearts@yahoo.com
Jill Patsfield of Merri Stitches in Portsmouth, N.H.; 603 431-9922; http://merristitches.com
Give it a try
If you’re interested in learning more about quilting or taking a class, check out these resources:
Keepsake Quilting
Route 25B
Center Harbor, N.H. 03226
800 865-9458
www.keepsakequilting.com
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| Diamond Crystals by Janet Carlson. Mixed Media and machine stitched, 46.75 inches x 25 inches. Photo provided courtesy of Janet Carlson. |
112 Penhallow Street
Portsmouth, N.H. 03801
603 436-6343
www.portsmouthfabric.com
Merri Stitches
72 Mirona Road
Portsmouth, N.H. 03085
603 431-9922
www.merristiches.com
Contact and membership information for area quilting guilds can be found at www.quiltguilds.com. Locally, you can reach some New Hampshire quilt guilds at the following addresses:
Cocheco Quilter’s Guild
PO Box 1154
Dover, N.H. 03820
Maccin@s-way.com
Hannah Dustin Quilters Guild
PO Box 302
Hollis, N.H. 03049
psquilt@aol.com
Merrimack Valley Quilters Guild
PO Box 1434
Haverhill, Mass. 01831
MVQ@yahoo com
Portsmouth Fabric Company
112 Penhallow Street
Portsmouth, N.H. 03801
603 436-6343
www.portsmouthfabric.com
Merri Stitches
72 Mirona Road
Portsmouth, N.H. 03085
603 431-9922
www.merristiches.com
Contact and membership information for area quilting guilds can be found at www.quiltguilds.com. Locally, you can reach some New Hampshire quilt guilds at the following addresses:
Cocheco Quilter’s Guild
PO Box 1154
Dover, N.H. 03820
Maccin@s-way.com
Hannah Dustin Quilters Guild
PO Box 302
Hollis, N.H. 03049
psquilt@aol.com
Merrimack Valley Quilters Guild
PO Box 1434
Haverhill, Mass. 01831
MVQ@yahoo com
Quilts Worth Seeing
Quilt shows are common throughout New England this time of year. Locally, you can see these warm works of art at:
• The New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts. Call 978 452-4207 or visit www.nequiltmuseum.org for more information.
• The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo. Scheduled from April 19 to 21 this year at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, the expo features many classes and stage presentations. For more information, visit www.sewingexpo.com.
• Susan Carlson publishes her schedule and class offering online through her Web site at www.susancarlson.com.
• Janet Carlson exhibits her quilts, sewn of paper monotype prints, at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Gallery in Portsmouth.
Dustan Knight is a professional painter and writer, with an MFA from Pratt Institute and an MA in art history from Boston University. She lives and works on the Seacoast.
