Comforting Quilters

CQ has been busy, and our starship of quilts is allowing is to get quilts out with lightening speed!  We'll be delivering these two over the weekend to a Veteran's Widow and a breast cancer patient.  She'll stay warm at treatments that start onTuesday

CQ has been busy, and our starship of quilts is allowing is to get quilts out with lightening speed!  We'll be delivering these two over the weekend to a Veteran's Widow and a breast cancer patient.  She'll stay warm at treatments that start onTuesday

The Art of Quilt Making dates back centuries. I thought it would be fun to study the history of Georgia Quilt Making on the blog. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll try to post some information from the Georgia Encyclopedia for your enjoyment. You can navigate to this website by clicking the link below:


Let's start with the 18th Century....

Quilt making
Courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development
Busy Bee Quilting Club
is the process of sewing decorative bed covers from layers of fabric, either for personal use or for sale. Georgia quilts and their designs have changed over time, reflecting the influences of geography, historical events, technological innovations, economic circumstances, ethnic traditions, and personal aesthetics.

The Eighteenth Century

The earliest settlers in Georgia depended on transoceanic trade for their household goods. Bed covers were among the most common household textiles in the American colonies.

As quilts became popular in western Europe during the late eighteenth century, they also appeared in Georgia. Only wealthy families could afford the expensive fabrics used for quilts. Among the earliest styles were whole-cloth quilts, made from two large sheets of silk or cotton fabric with a layer of loose cotton between, typically sewn together with a decorative pattern of stitches.

Center Motif Design 18th Century

Early Georgia quilts were also made from printed cotton fabrics imported from India or Europe. Quilt makers cut out individual floral motifs from printed chintz fabrics and sewed them to a plain foundation in pleasing arrangements. Early chintz quilts in Georgia follow the European style, typically featuring a large central motif surrounded by multiple borders. Another European needlework technique that was popular in Savannah in the early nineteenth century was English-template piecing, or mosaic patchwork. In this technique, small geometric shapes—often hexagons—are cut from paper and covered with fabric; then the covered motifs are sewn together to form a design. Many fine early-nineteenth-century chintz and mosaic patchwork quilts survive from coastal Georgia.

English-Template Piecing

There are many places you can go to study and learn these techniques.  I recently completed a quilt top using the English-Template technique and was surprised at the ease in which the hexagons stitched together.

Enjoy your history lesson, and remember to Comfort someone with a quilt!

Our own Karla Chidester has graciously donated back the Comforting Quilter's quilt to the group!  Yes, it is true, and now you will have a second chance to win this beautiful quilt.  Be sure to contact Comforting Quilter's to buy your tickets! 

The drawing will be held on October 23, 2010 at the Battle of Byron Chili Fest.  Tickets go on sale July 19, 2010!  Contact us now!

Tickets:

One Ticket        $  1.00
Six Tickets        $  5.00
Twelve Tickets  $10.00

Every wonder how to cut a quilt square?  Have you got the desire to learn the next step?  Watch this beginning quilt video and learn the basics!

Comforting Quilter's made the morning news this morning!  I've attached the newscast for you to see.  Our piece is about 2 minutes into the broadcast.


Happy 4th (or 5th) of July!

The Watermelon Days & Peanut Craze was a complete success!  Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to make our event fun-filled, happy and successful!

It is through our dedicated Comforting Quilter's members and those others  who generously gave of their time and donations we were able to raise over $500 to assist those in need of comfort when facing difficult situations.  Your donations will go a long way in purchasing the much needed supplies for creating a memory of comfort!

Our winner of the First Annual Comforting Quilter's Quilt went to Karla Chidester of Byron, GA.  She was not present to win as she and her family were on vacation, but we phoned her from the park and congratulated her!

WMGT 41 was on hand to film the event, and we look forward to watching our morning unfold on the news Monday evening.  Be sure to tune in and watch the fun!

Again, thank you so much for your donations and efforts.  We could not have given Comforting Quilter's such a great beginning without you.

We will be keeping you updated on our next raffle!

You can now follow our blog! Simply click the Network Blogger on the right hand side and you will receive posts and news on the latest happenings of Comforting Quilter's.

Email Julie if you need assistance or would like to make a donation

Comforting Quilters is making it's debut at the Battle of Byron to held in downtown Byron, GA on the 1st of May!

The event is sure to fun-filled, and as usual, our fun group of gals have a great day of Old-Time Mercantile Relaxation planned for all those who stop by to visit.

The planning has been fast and furious, but plans are in the works for the First Annual Quilt Show to be shown in the Depot Museum, a Quilt Rack displaying the techniques of quilting by hand, and a Quilt Raffle to go to the lucky winner of a authentic Comforting Quilter's quilt.