By Regena Handy
Quilt: a bed cover with stitched designs that is made of two layers of cloth filled with wool, cotton, or soft feathers (Merriam-Webster online dictionary)
Though the official definition is very basic and ordinary, the making of quilts or quilting is an authentic art form. Whether the design is an intricate pattern or a scrap quilt, they often become priceless family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation.
However, the beginning of quilting dates back to ancient times when only the very rich could afford such items because of the hours involved in their creation. Due to the elaborate designs and details, they were often used as wall hangings or tapestries rather than coverlets.
For years, Woolwine area women have prepared and given a handmade quilt to the local fire department for use as a fund-raiser. Due to the number of hours required to make a quilt, doing so is often a community effort similar to a quilting bee. Since Colonial American days, quilting bees have been popular as both a social event and community labor, and were once considered an essential part of the lives of women and young girls.
Usually a completed pieced top is contributed by an individual to the Woolwine quilting group, which then proceeds to back and quilt it. No such quilt was available for the 2016 give-away.
Thus Bertha Conner, a well-known local quilter and member of the Woolwine quilting group, asked various people to donate one block or square of their choice.
Once these were received, Daisy Hylton and Juanita McCumbers embroidered the name of each donor in their particular square. The quilt squares were then stitched into a full top by Barbara Murray. Others involved in quilt preparation included Claudine Harman, Mildred Dodson, Carol Rupprecht, Crystal Wood, Margie Cockram, and Marjie Haden.
“This is a special quilt,” said Conner, referring to the many people and talents involved with each individual block. Others must have felt the same, as it was awarded a blue ribbon at the Patrick County Fair this past week.
Numerous fine quilters, now deceased, assisted with the WVFD quilts in the past. These included Ruth Pack, Lillian Belcher, Wavie Haden Stephens, Clemmie Martin, Gatha Harris, Era Hylton, Winnie Hylton, Merlie Griffith and others. Nellie Moran, also deceased, was once a driving force in pulling together and preparing quilts, and worked diligently to help raise funds for the fire department through this effort.
The quilt will be given away at the Woolwine October Festival to be held on Saturday, October 8 on the fire department grounds in Woolwine. Raffle tickets of $1 each are currently for sale. Proceeds from the quilt raffle benefit the fire department auxiliary.
