Quilting - What is the fascination?

I am super excited about a series that authors from Sweet Americana Sweethearts are putting out in January, 2017.  The premise of the series is Grandma Mary’s Wedding Quilts.  All of her grandchildren, with stories of their own, will receive a quilt with a different block for a wedding gift.  All sweet romances based in mid to late 1800s.

Now I can’t be the only woman around who is totally clueless about quilts!  Come on!  

I have never understood the hubbub about quilting, though many people I know find this pastime fascinating.  I know at first, pioneer women sewed together any scraps of material they could find to help keep their families warm.  (I made a Halloween costume for my son, years ago, and it didn’t last the whole night!  If in one of my previous lives I was a Pioneer woman – my family would have froze!  LOL)

Only in later years, when fabrics were being manufactured in America and were more affordable, did the more artistic type of quilting become more widespread.
In the 100 years between 1750 and 1850 thousands of quilts were pieced and patched, and many of them are preserved. Many of these quilts were so elaborate that years were spent making and quilting them. It is no wonder they are cherished as precious heirlooms and occupy honored places in homes and museums.

I asked a friend of mine who is HUGE into quilting – “Why?”  Below is her answer.

“I love the geometric designs and the way colors work together. I also love to touch the fabric, and actually get an adrenaline rush when I walk in a quilt shop and see all the wonderful fabrics, threads, and samples on the wall. Quilting allows me to stay busy, and never get bored. There's the piecing, the actual quilting, and then binding, which is usually done by hand. There are projects that people do completely by hand, such as applique, redwork, embroidery, hand quilting, etc. I think a lot of people don't like to just sit, and having handwork helps to keep them busy, and their minds occupied. The act of being able to give someone a quilt that you have spent many hours completing just for them, also makes quilters happy. You are giving a little part of yourself when you give someone a quilt that you have made.”

I guess that explains it!

My book, Chase’s Story, is number nine in the series and will be released January 18.  We follow Chase to the Arizona Territory outside the little town of Hackberry and since  things are still pretty secretive - keep watching for more to come!