Susan Says | Visit to the Gentry Quilt Fair

— Our quilt class had a delightful outing last Friday. We drove to Gentry and ate lunch at the La Huerta Mexican restaurant where we celebrated the birthday of one of our members, Maxine Paulson.

We went downtown just in time to watch the homecoming parade, then attended the quilt show and the book sale at the Gentry Public Library. We saw a variety of lovely quilts from king-size ones to small ones crafted for a child’s bed or for wall hangings. After taking a break for the summer, quilt class members are looking forward to meeting again the last Saturday of this month.

Country is a popular style in home decorating and Country Living Country Decorating says, “No single item more epitomizes country than the quilt. Humble in origin, practical in intent, it is a glorious reminder of craftsmanship, and of an unschooled talent and timeless eye for beauty.”

The earliest quilts were simple creations meant to keep one warm in the cooler months. Two pieces of cloth surrounded a center of wool or cotton batting and the layers were joined by running stitches. But quilt design soon grew in complexity and became a creative outlet for women seeking relief from the boredom of everyday chores.

Culling scraps of fabrics, mainly from worn clothing, quilt makers cut basic geometric shapes - squares, circles, triangles - which they combined in imaginative patterns. These expressions of creativity were then pieced together in blocks.Once the blocks were sewn together to form a quilt top, women of the community would gather to complete the quilt, stitching the layers over a frame. These festive “quilting bees” were social occasions, a time for sharing stories and gossip.

Though quilts are no longer reserved for the bed, they do look wonderful there, especially when two or more are folded back one over another to play off color and pattern. They can be stacked on open shelves to show off their cheerful colors. Odd pieces cut from damaged quilts can be sewn into pillows or used to upholster a seat. Mounting a single quilt block in a frame draws attention to its pattern and preserves the block indefinitely.

Quilts also make excellent gifts, treasured by family and friends and becoming heirlooms passed from one generation to the next. Quilt shows are sources of inspiration. Quilt makers examine other quilters’ workmanship. If corners meet precisely, points match, quilting stitches are short and borders lie flat, they admire the quilter’s skill.

Curators suggest wrapping stored quilts in cotton sheets or pillowcases. Cotton allows the quilt to breathe, preventing mildew while protecting from dust. Rolling is preferred or, if folded, refold frequently in a different way each time. Quilts should be aired every six months.

Susan Holland, who works for the Westside Eagle Observer, is a lifelong Benton County resident.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 10/13/2010