Today’s guest post was written by Ed Ammons.
This is my mother Thelma Belle Breedlove Ammons. Mommy was a quilter. She and my grandmother Cora made quilts together at Grammaw’s house, but this was a picture I took of her at home between 1973 and 1975. She died in October of 1975 of liver cancer at 50 years of age, so this was near the end of her life.
The quilt she is making here is of the utilitarian kind thus the plain top. She also sewed together quilt tops, out of little pieces of scrap cloth, into intricate designs.
Unfortunately, I took no pictures of them. I had forgotten this picture until I stumbled across it today.
I remember watching her using a string wrapped around a piece of chalk to draw a fan shape design on the quilt starting at each corner and spreading out toward the center. Every time she drew a quarter circle, she would take one loop off the chalk and draw another line. She would continue drawing these equally spaced lines until the whole quilt was covered with these fan shapes. These lines were where the hand stitching would be. There wasn’t a straight line of stitching on the whole quilt. She and Grammaw used other stitching patterns, but the fan shaped one interested me most.
As you can see Mommy has her right arm laying on the top of the quilt. She is pushing a needle and thread down through the top, the batting, and the back. Her left hand is under the quilt, adorned with thimbles, to catch the needle and push it back through where she will catch it again with her right hand. That is one stitch. Repeat that thousands of times more, always following those chalk mark lines, and you have a quilted a quilt. I insist that a quilt with just a plain top if quilted with that stitching design would be as interesting or more than a one with a patchwork top and plain stitching.
Mommy was one to faint at the sight of blood, even a drop. That’s one reason she wore thimbles on her fingers when she quilted. I have seen her with as many as five thimbles on her fingers at one time. Even with her fingers armored in such a fashion she was far more adept with her hands than the average woman. She had a set of thimbles assembled that would have covered all her fingers at once if necessary.
Mommy also “quilted?” using yarn pushed through the quilt and tied. Several pieces were pushed through the same hole and tied, producing what I call a “tuft”. The quilt was laid out in a grid that produced a square or a diamond pattern. The lines were stitched like in her fan pattern but where the lines intersected, she placed one of these “tufts”. I remember laying in bed playing with those tufts when I was a very small child.
I am a boy. A 73 year old boy. Boys didn’t learn about such things back in those days. I know little to nothing about quilting except what I learned from watching and helping my mother adjust her quilting frames from time to time. I never asked questions because I assumed there would be plenty of time for that.
When Mommy died, she left drawers full of quilt scraps and completed tops. She had plans for the future, but God took her when He was ready. I don’t know where her collection of materials, thimbles, needles, threads and quilting frame ended up. I do know where she ended up!
I hope you enjoyed Ed’s post as much as I do. Those utilitarian quilts are the ones I’ve always liked the most, maybe it’s because I’ve slept under them for much of my life.
Last night’s video: Supper – The BEST Ham Steak, Sweet Taters, Beans, Cornbread, Canned Coleslaw & Pumpkin Roll.
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Alot of forest made quilts back then. I remember mommy making them. We would huddle up with them at night to stay warm. I’m have made 2 chunky baby blankets. My husband’s niece and nephew both are having baby girls. A month apart. So I had to get on the ball and get them done. They are so easy to make. Do you know Tipper what or seen the chunky blanket is? The yarn is super soft.
Gigi-I don’t think I’ve seen a chunky blanket but it sounds great 🙂
I grew up sleeping under quilts in unheated bedrooms. On those very, very cold Winter nights in the teens, I would sometimes get a third quilt. It was nigh impossible to turn over under that pile.
I don’t know where Mama’s quilts came from. I don’t remember seeing her making one. She must have made them before I came along as she was married in ’22; I was born in ’42. but she had a stash of ‘squares’ each about 5″ on a side. I’m sure they were meant to become quilts, but wool blankets must have got cheap enough after WWII that they replaced some quilts. Ours were the utilitarian kind. I remember that one was just two large sheets of cloth with batting in the middle. Others had intricate patterns but the fabric was a mish mash of colors and prints.
Thanks for the reminders, Cousin Ed.
Like Ed my grandmother and great grandmother worked together to create dozens of beautiful quilts. Some of the pieced tops where not quilted when they pasted away. We had several local ladies finish them using hand stitching and have given them to family members for weddings and the birth of children. They are treasured pieces of art.
When my son was a little boy, he used to love for me to put covers on the bed with him in it. I would fluff it out over him high in the air, letting it fall down gently over him. We called it angel wings. Whenever I put a gift guilt over him that had tufts, he’d laugh and say one would go up into his nose at night whenever he breathed inward and tickle him. I miss those days. I have grands now older than he was then. However, Rodney still remembers “angel wings.”
I really enjoyed reading Ed’s memories of his Mommy. It made me think about my Mommy. She loved to quilt too. I never got into sewing myself, but I’ve always admired all the beautiful things people are able to make.
I sure do miss watching my Mommy sew. She was an artist with a needle and thread and took great pride in her work. She never worked much on a machine, but she did such beautiful stitch work with her hands. I never realized until later in life how much love went into every stitch she made. 🙂 ❤
What a sweet tribute to Ed’s mother. My grandmother and mother both quilted. I learned to thread needles for the ladies in my grandmother’s quilting bee. Her frames hung on strings from 4 hooks in the ceiling of her tall living room. It was my job to pick up dropped needles on the floor. From there I had the view of the bottom of the quilt and the beautiful quilting designs being sewn. I don’t remember any of them using a thimble on the fingers underneath the quilt. They used the fingers underneath to guide the needle on the top as it rocked and made a few stitches before the thread was pulled through the layers of the top, batting and lining. If it was wool or a thicker fabric it might be done one stitch at a time or a tied quilt with tufts of wool yarn or embroidery floss. Those usually three layers had to be quilted closely if the batting was homemade because it was added in small amounts and had to be secured to keep it from knotting or shifting during use and laundering. Some old cotton batting still has the seeds. Modern batting is made with a stronger surface in large sheets so that it doesn’t have to be quilted so closely. A quilt might be tied if it is an old quilt being recovered in a whole fabric or large pieces. My grandmother did not have the modern tools. She made patterns for pieces by cutting shapes from thin cardboard. She also used chalk to draw quilting designs. I have always admired whole-cloth quilts made of one large piece of fabric usually quilted in beautiful designs. My grandmother usually used clothing and other scraps for quilts. My mother used scraps and also bought particular fabrics. Daddy often teased mother about buying fabric, cutting it in pieces then sewing it back together. Some of my favorites are the simple ones. One was made from faded blue jean denim which showed where the pockets had been ripped off. I’ve made a few quilts, usually pretty simple, but have a detailed one I put away years ago and don’t know if I will ever finish. The good thing about quilting is that you can do simple or more elaborate techniques and designs by hand or machine. I hope those who mentioned stories of their quilts will document those stories or at least the maker and any information they know and attach it to the quilt. This can be done on a plain piece of washed muslin fabric, written with a good permanent fabric pen and carefully stitched to the back. I learned it is good to be careful and research how to clean a quilt and how to store it. If it’s on a wooden shelf or in a wooden box, acid from the wood will discolor the quilt over time. They should be re-folded often to keep the creases from wearing. It’s best to buffer with washed muslin or old sheet between the wood and quilt. It’s also good to take them out and air them once or twice a year or simply spread on a bed (without dogs, cats or people on it). Even if there is damage it can sometimes be carefully repaired or pieces cut for other uses. I’m no expert but have learned a bit over the years. I’m also one of those who wants to preserve the past. I was inspired by my grandmother and mother and treasure the few quilts I have that they made. I hope my family will treasure the ones I’ve made. Thanks again for posting Ed’s thoughts.
We have about 7-8” of snow and temps in the below teens last night. Fortunately I had electricity and the water eventually came back on this morning. It rose to about 22 today in southern middle Tn. Be safe everyone.
What a nice tribute to Mrs. Ammons, by her son. She was leaving her legacy with those quilts. Hope someone took good care of them. I have a few quilts my momma made. When I use them I think of her holding me in her arms when it’s wrapped around me. Thank you momma. Jennifer
I wish my family had been quilters! I’d love to have an heirloom quilt to pass down. My maternal grandmother crocheted and I have one of her afghans but unfortunately yarn just doesn’t hold up as well as fabric. My husband has a quilt his granny made for him when he was a baby…it has the yarn tufts Ed spoke of. Maybe I’ll take up quilting myself at some point but I kinda doubt I’d be any good at it. I don’t have that kind of patience, but I greatly admire those who do!
Lovely story, Tipper. Thank you for sharing it with us.
So sweet ❤️
Randy, Ed and everyone that shared their memories, thanks to all of you and Tipper, too. My grandmother was a quilter and she taught me also. I have several of her quilts and enjoy them beyond measure. I have quilted some, but plan to do way more after I retire soon….I hope. I hope Granny is doing good today. Love and prayers to Granny and the Little Mamas and all of you too!
In last night’s video, those beans looked a lot like Yellow Eye Peas to me. Have you ever eaten Yellow Eyes? They are my favorite of the dried beans.
Robin-I’m not sure if I’ve ever had them. Someone else said that’s what the beans looked like too 🙂
That is a great picture, one to treasure along with his wonderful memories! I love seeing pictures like this and learning more how quilters quilted by hand. I would love to have a quilting rack like that, but just don’t have any room for one in my sewing room. I just do mine on a table that is now all scratched up from the needle, but it works. Quilting has changed in many ways, but still the top making and layering process is the same. What has changed is how one sews or quilts the layers together. I do mostly t-shirt quilts in blocks depending on the design of the t-shirt. I have quilted them by just sewing by hand or if it’s small by machine stitching by simply outlining the blocks or I tie them down by hand, which Ed refers to as Tufts. Mine aren’t fancy, just basic because mine are made to be used. I’ve not had any of my quilts to fall apart so far and consider that as a good sign of my ability to quilt. I’ve made memory quilts using the clothing just as it appears when folded for three church friends from there mother’s clothing and according to the order with the amount of rows they wanted. Most of the shirts were t-shirts, but there were also a pajamas top and bottom, nightgowns, one had a fancy silk shirt and a dress in it, which I had cut them all in 15” blocks per their request. I figured it’s their quilt who am I to tell them what types of clothing fabrics to use in it. I just made it work. They all three turned out just fine. I’ve never done what they refer to as a patterned quilt, I call them fancy. Mine are simple. They have always been squares or blocks. I am preparing to make a fancy quilt where I have to use a pattern and quilt it all by hand using a fancy design, like the fan design Ed talked about his mother used. I don’t have a quilting machine so I’ll have to do it by hand. It will be interesting and I’m hoping this new experience will open up a new door for me in quilting. The thing I put into all my quilts is my love of sewing and lots and lots of prayer. I pray multiple prayers of God’s blessings for any one who will receive the quilt and their families. I pray over them in ever stage of making the quilt and I pray over it when it’s finished. I ask God to let them feel His Love in the quilt, because His love is what they need to feel, not mine. I’ve also prayed for God to help me when I made a mistake on a row and had to rip it out to redo the row. I figured I need God’s help to make the quilt right so it will last. God has been faithful in helping me complete each quilt to satisfaction. I also listen to the Bible being read from my Bible app or Bible podcast, however, sometimes I have listened to Tipper read the wonderful encouraging books about Appalachia as I cut them out. I am loving the People and their quilts book she is reading at this time and actually finished hand quilting my last quilt during one of the chapters. My quilts aren’t perfect and I tell any one I’ve made them for that fact, but that they are covered in love and prayers.
A very touching story and remembrance of your mom, Ed. As most who grew up in a holler, quilts were an important aspect of our lives. Although some were utilitarian, many were very usable pieces of art and examples of the skills and talents of the maker. I am privileged to still have several family quilts; and at 86, I still sleep under a quilt regardless of season. My little home town still has a “quilt shop” where makers gather, make, and sell quilts. It is easily discernible to folks passing through by the painted quilt squares that adorn the facade of the building.
I enjoyed this story very much. Thank you for sharing it.
What sweet memories Ed shared, and the picture is priceless! Quilts seem to always mean so much to us especially as we get older. I think about all the time spent working on them and all of the love and memories that each one represents especially when you can look at a quilt and remember some of the pieces of material that was lovingly sewn into it.
In reading all the comments so far a thing I notice is how the quilts are a focus for memories. They connect to people in many ways. There are memories of those who quilted. There are memories of people who had and used the cloth scraps. There are reminders of the places the quilting was done. There is recall of the circumstances surrounding each quilt as it was made. Likely there are even more. And I think also that for some people ‘handiwork’ that can be done without intense concentration is enjoyable for itself. That’s the way I am about walking; it frees my mind to roam except for watching my footing.
As a quilter myself the last line of this really touched me heart!!!!!!!! I hope my children will declare the same for me. Praise Jesus name.
Ed that was such a sweet memory you shared of watching your Mother quilting. I felt so sad that she passed so young and young or old it warms one’s heart to know where their loved one is and that they will see them again.
I received a text yesterday from our Sewing Servants leader that if we could make it to church today there are quite a few lap quilt tops ready to be what she calls sandwiched – meaning the batting being pinned in between the quilt top and the material being used for the back of the quilt. We use large safety pins attached in the middle of each block. After it is all secured, it is given to another lady who will use a quilting stitch on her machine to quilt it all and then sew the binding on the edges to finish it.
Many years ago, I wanted to make a special gift for my Aunts so I found a pattern for what they called a Quillow, a lap quilt that could be folded up into thirds, which made it’s own pillow when not used as a lap quilt. I used that technique Ed’s Mother used with threading yarn and pulling it through the middle of each block creating a kind of tuft, which locked the batting securely into place. Quite a bit of work but they turned out so nice.
Oh, I’m going to use that recipe to can some cole slaw next summer and I did appreciate you giving the page number as I had your book right by me so I quickly put a bookmark on that page:)
Ed’s story brought back such warm memories of my own mother who was an avid quilter. She made every stitch by hand and always said a quilt wasn’t a quilt unless it was handmade. She entered a few at the Georgia Mountain Fair and won a few blue ribbons. I didn’t wind up with any of her blue ribbon quilts, but my daughter has one of them. She keeps it on her guest bed and I get to sleep under it whenever I go visit her! I do have a very special heirloom quilt she made for me. She quilted the squares for it while watching TV in the evenings. She called it a lap quilt … it’s an antique white on white (cream) trimmed with old cluny lace, and on the inside of one of the top squares, she embroidered her name and date. She was as much an artist as she was a quilter. It is so beautiful, and needless to say, I treasure it beyond words.
What a wonderful story! Now there are specialty sewing machines that quilt the layers together in patterns without hand quilting. I sew but I don’t quilt.
Such sweet, heart-touching memories.
Two of my McPherson aunts quilted non stop. Patterned quilt tops, utilitarian quilt tops, it didn’t matter. They both lived to quilt. Their quilting frame hung in the kitchen, ready to be lowered at any time. I have two of their quilts, treasured treasures.
I have just received a text message from my rabbit hunting friend. I had texted him and told him he would need jumper cables to jump a rabbit this morning, 17 degrees and windchill about 10. He texted and said he was getting ready to turn his dogs out. I once would hunt like that, but no more. The brass monkey is singing tenor this morning! I even held on as long as I could before getting out from under the covers to go to the bathroom! I think I would bite him if I was one of his dogs for getting me out of my warm box!
I too remember those rabbit hunts on mornings when hoar frost was two inches high and the rabbits were holding tight. Some wouldn’t jump until man or dog almost stepped on them. I miss my hunting buddies and hot coffee made on a Coleman stove sitting on a dog box or a truck tailgate.
Gene, my father in law was a rabbit hunter and also coon hunted with his father in law, my wife’s granddaddy. He like to say one of his jump dogs (Rachel) carried a tool box on her back-if she couldn’t jump a rabbit, she would stop and make one. He would also tell of coon hunting on cold nights and sitting a burning Coleman lantern in the floorboard of their truck to help heat up the truck when they came back to their truck. This would have been in the 50’s. I collect and restore Coleman lanterns, very few after 1980. I now own this lantern, a 1950 Coleman 200 “Christmas Tree”-red bottom and green top.
I had the colors reversed on the lantern it should have been green bottom and red top. Coleman dated their lanterns, look on bottom of the fount/fuel tank, there should be a date -month on left and year on right.
I remember my mother and grandmothers quilting. I have one that my great grandmother pieced the top for and gave to my mother as a wedding gift or maybe earlier for her hope chest. It was never finished until my mother died at age 88 and my sister had it finished. My wife has done some quilting and her last one was about two years ago. She has been legally blind for several years but used a very bright light and strong magnifying glasses to do the work. I was called on many times to turn it around to the light so she could ‘see’ to work on another section. I remember sitting under the frame when I was very young and tying the threads for mom and grandma as they quilted the top.
I wish a picture had been taken of our grandma when she was making our quilts. I remember her piecing them together in her kitchen and she used fabric paint to outline the pansy flowers that were made out of various pieces of fabric. Sometimes my sister and I got to help with that process. Next she embroidered the edges of the leaves using the button hole stitch. Then she assembled the flowers to the fabric backing using her sewing machine and sowed all of the squares together again using her sewing machine. I don’t know where she got her quilting frame for sure, it seems she ended up buying one from someone, but I could be wrong. I remember her loading the frame up with our quilts and watching her do the hand quilting. My sister and I got to help with the quilting along the edges, but the main design she did. She was able to finish my sisters quilt, but about a 1/3 of the way through she had a friend finish the hand quilting on mine. Her hands just gave out from arthritis. But our quilts are something she made for us and they are beautiful!!! These quilts are about 50 years old now and I have mine stored away. I need to figure out a way to display with so that the sun doesn’t fade it and that the fabric is not damaged, but that I have not figured out yet. Grandma also made us dresses from time to time and she even made my oldest daughter a dress when she was born. Thank you for the trip down memory lane, it was a great journey!
I taught in a small rural town in Indiana that had an “antique barn” run by a farm couple who scouted the area for “junk” to sell to city people. They were kind to young teachers and often gave us bargains on furniture. The wife was not too keen of “frilly” embroidered things … such as dresser scarves and quilt tops. “That old thing,” she would laugh. Here. You can have it.” I ended up with four quilt tops that I kept for decades. Few people quilt anymore. One was just the squares which I eventually sewed together myself . . . and I’m a guy.
About the time I retired, I saw on-line where you could send quilt tops to be finished. I began with my favorite and in a month or so it was returned to me completely finished! I was so happy, I cried. Why? Well, I just think of those Indiana farm wives piecing together those quilts every night probably during winter when time was more available. The fabric was nothing fancy; much of it, flour or sugar sacks. Stitching was tiny and done all my hand, not machine. They created something beautiful.
No one can tell me that they were not smiling looking down from heaven on something they were not able to finish. I love these quilts because I got to complete something they started and by so doing I became a part of their story and, hopefully, their long life.
Some “squares” were “starters” and never got to the point of enough to make a quilt. I had them fashioned into pillows and they are absolutely stunning.
Fabric and thread is a lost art, mostly because it requires patience and time. I have no doubt their “quiet time” was real important to these hard-working women who went unrecognized for all they did.
I humbly honor their memory each time I unfold one of their beautiful quilts!
Think whatever you will of this, ever since reading today’s blog at 5 o’clock this morning about Ed’s Mother, I have been thinking about my own Mother. I have just looked out my window at my back deck and saw two bright red male red birds on the deck. Red birds were her and my Granddaddy’s favorite birds. One was on her grave soon after she was buried.
I really enjoyed Ed Ammons sharing a beautiful photograph of his dear mother taken way too soon with that “C” word. You can tell by her smile and twinkling eyes she enjoyed what she was doing very much! My friend Clifford (a feller) quilts and he’s married to my doctor friend in Montana. He’s got all the scraps, material, hoops, and nice sewing machine a man needs. (He has to be ready at Sandra’s beck and call to help her.) All I can say is ITS COLDER THAN A WELL DIGGER’S BACK SIDE here in Appacrappy Bluefield, WV at 2 degrees F. It’s a heatwave! But like Norman D I’m thankful to be warm and dry and have water and food. I fed the birds (because I love them so and worry for them) and still have to feed my stray kitties around the way and up the hill! Btw, my special needs cat has been found to be double dipping with me and the neighbors around the way! He hustled after me over there listening to me talk to them and helped himself at the feed bowl. They say he’s a right regular!!! May the Lord keep you all warm and fed this frigid day in His Holy name. Amen
What a great story! His mom lives on with the telling of this wonderful memory. I’ve always been drawn to quilting and tried my hand at it once when I made a blanket for each of my girls and one for me.
Love your guest posts. Thanks for sharing.
Tipper,
It’s minus 3 here this morning and I crawled out from under a quilt made way before I was born. It was made I think by my great grandma. It has spent many years in a cedar chest cause it was one of those pretty quilts. I am using it now and wonder about its history and who else might have been kept warm by the pretty colors all stitched together.
Good memories..
Stay warm
Carolyn Ritchey
Tipper, my Daddy was born in 1920, and when he was about 7 or 8 he was very sick & had to stay in the bed. He was raised by his grandparents. Well, to keep him occupied his grandmother was working on a quilt & she showed him how to do a blanket stitch and he helped her. It’s a crazy quilt, at least that’s what daddy called it. On the quilt there is a piece with a little anchor on it. That came off of a sailor suit my daddy had when he was very young. My great grandmother cut that out & used it in the quilt. I still have the quilt. It’s seen better days. I wish I knew someone who could put a batting & a backing on it. Thanks for sharing this article. I’ve always loved quilts too. Oh it’s 8 here.
I have always loved quilts and the talent of those that made them. I am so sorry for the loss of your mother.
On another note Tipper I hope you got the snow you have been hoping for yesterday. it snowed here, lightly, most of the day. probably only accumulated about an inch tho. it is still beautiful covering the ground no matter how deep.
This brought back so many memories. I, too, had a grandmother who quilted. Luckily we had her into her 80’s. I was the one who finished the quilts she had started when she died. I will always have so many wonderful memories of all the sewing projects she did. These memories allow us to keep our loved ones forever near us.
good morning friends today I got up with tears in my eyes, I know now what being grateful is, it’s 11° I still have water I’ still have heat I chose Jesus a while back, God has been with me all night watching over me, praise God, Hallelujah Hallelujah
Nice to hear about your Mom
Quilting is such an artistic talent-she sounds like someone I would have enjoyed meeting
We have some quilts made by my aunts, Ella Faye and Viola Byers..their aunts and mother, the Bryson girls, taught them. I have a photo oh the Bryson girls quilting..
What a sweet memory. Love these stories.
Ed, thank you for sharing this. It brought tears to my eyes thinking about a mommy leaving so soon. I think for me some of the saddest moments are the projects left undone. I have my mamaw’s last quilt blocks and pieces that were never finished. Maybe someday I will pick them up and if not maybe someone else will. I surely enjoyed your memory.
Tipper, I have a strip quilt, I call it my sick quilt, that Mamaw made and it has strips of material our momma had leftover from dresses she made my sister and me. I treasure it and use it when I feel bad. It’s a plain quilt that was on my papaw’s bed when he went home. Momma waited months to go back and all her siblings had taken what they wanted, but she found some very treasured pieces and I am blessed to have a few of them. It’s funny what one considers junk another considers treasure.
Have you had any snow yet? We had about an inch night for last and there giving 3 inches tomorrow night. I’m in hog heaven!
God bless all y’all!
Debbie-no snow yet 🙂
I very much enjoyed Mr. Ammons guest post—the last paragraph was a perfect ending. I’m so sorry that your mommy had to leave you so soon—she looks so young. My mama made a couple small quilts for my little brother and sisters’s twin beds. She used scraps and her sewing machine. I thought her quilts of many colors were beautiful. My grandma made a couple too, but hers were sewn by hand and tied with yarn. They were also beautiful. They were needed for warmth, so they were all used until threadbare. Unfortunately, they are gone except for in my memory. I have never quilted but I have this burning desire to do so. I have lots of baby clothes of my two children and I dream about making each one a scrap quilt with them. I will someday. I get busy cooking, crocheting for my grandchildren, playing with them, and just living day to day—and before I know it, time keeps flying on by—with no quilt made. Oh well—there’s always someday.
Wow…quilting, such an art. I have never heard of making a pattern with chalk, but you know I gotta try it. I also have never tied it, so to speak, with yard. I bet the color combo would be something. As far as your dinner video yesterday, the ham it next on the menu board. You do come up with such interesting meal planning and makes me want to throw my planning away and go with yours. Hope to find the cole slaw recipe and how to make that with my cabbage that is out in the garden. Praying for Granny and you guys…stay warm and I will pray for your snow also. God Bless
She used chalk, I think, because it was easy to clean after the quilting was done. It would brush right off.
I appreciate his story (history) of his Mommy’s quilting! It is such a treasure to read of the memories of families, friends and events that help form who we are. Thank you Tipper! God bless you and yours❤❤
I have a faint memory of my Grandmother and some neighborhood ladies quilting in the late 50’s. Her home had a wide hallway than ran from the front porch to the back porch and I think the frame was set up in this hallway. I never saw my Mother quilting. I don’t know what became of Grandmother’s quilt frame. Was cotton used for the “batting” (may not be correct word). I know the old time quilts were heavier than the quilts of today. I once work in a factory that made children’s sleepwear and a few other items. They had machines sewing the “batting” I mentioned onto sheets of cloth. The material they were using reminded me of home insulation.
Ed, I appreciate you writing about your memories of your Mother. It touched my heart this cold morning in upstate SC.