Yesterday was National Quilting Day here in the US. Friday and Saturday temps here were 89- 91 degrees–Friday being the first day of Spring!!! Wasps were swarming outdoors which means there must be a good-sized hive somewhere nearby. I am not about that. So when I read that Saturday was a named day for quilting, it was a no brainer for me to just sit tight next to the sewing machine.

Missouri State Museum’s Facebook group shared this lovely newspaper piece from their archives and had a little information on the past and present health of quilting in the United States. Hope you enjoy this share!

For centuries, people made quilts not only for warmth but as a creative outlet and to tell a story. Young women were taught handiwork and quilting as a utilitarian function. By the mid-1800s as people moved west and the railroads were built, the public had easier access to decorative fabric by the yard to purchase for making clothing. Worn or leftover fabric was fashioned into quilt blocks. Many times, women gathered with family and friends to collectively work to make a quilt for a new bride or a new baby. Oral tradition states that during the U.S. Civil War, quilts with specific block patterns were used as part of the underground railroad to help direct the enslaved to freedom. In the 1920s through the 1950s feed companies used decorative material for sacks. During the tough economic times rural women repurposed the sacks into quilts and other items. Today approximately 9-11 million Americans are actively quilting according to the Craft Industry Alliance.

The Missouri State Museum currently has 35 quilts in the permanent collection and staff is researching quilts and quilting for a future exhibit so stay tuned!

Image: Illustration depicting a quilting bee which was published October 6, 1907 in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat Magazine section. The article titled “Old Fashioned Quilting Bees Are Coming In Again” documents that quilting was having a revival or in modern terms was “trending” among the city’s society ladies. While the museum has an original color version of this newspaper in the collection, this copy is courtesy of newspapers.com.

As for me, I worked on the DWR (Double Wedding Ring) some more. I’m here to say, when I figure out the rhythm of getting one of these finished quickly, I’ll let you know. It just hasn’t happened yet. I have piles made and piles yet to go.

But in the “Slow Sewing” which I have a fondness for, I’ve made a lot of progress with that latest hexi runner. sharing some photos below.

Paper side on the left, Front side, including basting stitches, on the right. I might remind you that this is from a 5-inch fabric stack by Maywood Studio (see it here). I added the antique white solids as a little extra color and I’m glad I did. I’m eager to share the completed runner with you coming up. But first, I have to make a color choice for the border. I was up early this morning looking thru tubs and tubs of fabric. Still not completely sure, but I am down to a couple colorways.

Happy to have purchased two of these fabric stacks. I adore these deep rich colors! Planning to use the other one very soon. I won’t be using said extra one for a hexi project. However, I am sold on using the coordinated colors of these precut fabrics ie:stacks, charms or whatever each brand wants to call them. Topic for another day.)

Hope you’ll come back next Sunday for another Sunday Sampler to see what else is in the sewing room!