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I'm not a great seamstress, but I get by. I can stitch together a few things or hem a skirt or trousers. I made some homey curtains for the kitchen window a while back. The fabric is printed with farm tractors and roosters and I thought it would fit nicely in our rural homestead.
Yet I am humbled each time I visit my sister-in-law Carolyn's home. She is married to my husband's brother Danny. And she is very talented when it comes to sewing. Her specialty is quilts.
She creates intricate, colorful patterns and whips them together on some fancy quilting machines. The end results are stunning, award-winning. She has passed this talent onto her daughter, Abi, whose own creations are grand, as well.
My mother loved quilts and often made some simple coverings with old blankets and colorful sheets. She showed me how to put together such a creation using a knot-tying method. The finished products were simple, warm and practical but rarely called pretty. It was an early form of recycling.
Mom appreciated finer quilts and often came home from an auction with a new, old quilt. She taught us to appreciate such things.
Then when I married into the Ziegler family, I was introduced to the generation of some honest-to-goodness hand quilters. Several of the women of the family were known for producing some exquisite quilts that were not only practical, but works of art.
They exposed me to the world of quilt patterns. From the popular wedding ring design in the 1970s to the timeless blocks of various patterns that jumped off the fabric. I have been blessed to receive a few of these heirloom quilts. One of these treasured quilts adorns the bed in the spare room where guests enjoy its warmth and welcoming pattern.
The quilt features needlepoint flowers and vines in hues of aqua, pink, yellow and green. It's almost too pretty to put to use, but many visiting family members have found comfort beneath it.
Another quilt is a traditional circle and hexagon block pattern that would rival any of today's popular weighted blankets. It remains tucked away for the next generation to enjoy.
Years ago, a reader gifted me a lovely pink and white quilt that has been put to good use on the couch. It has only grown softer with use.
I remain in awe of the talented hands that created all of these quilts. There is love and comfort in every stitch. My hat is off to all who keep this tradition alive.
Heather Ziegler can be reached at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.