And Sew It Goes

Sewing, for me, was an act of defiance. My mother sewed and had an old Singer machine she used regularly. When I asked her to teach me, her answer was clear and firm: “No.” To this day, I’m not sure if that was because she didn’t think she’d do a good job, didn’t want me…

Image: Quilters, Tuacahn Amphitheater 1996  Back in the 80s (1980s, that is), I was lucky enough to see the musical Quilters. It told the stories of pioneer women through the quilts they made—each block a piece of their lives. The show was based on the book The Quilters: Women and Domestic Art by Patricia Cooper…

I do not claim to be a historian of quilts, though my interest and appreciation run decades long. I am a noticer of quilts throughout time. The first quilts that probably drew my attention were those sewn by the Amish. Truly, Amish quilts are made of simple geometry and rich solid colors, much like their…