Quilt Making
Throughout the long winter nights,
The weather was very cold.
Coverlets for warmth were needed
for the occupants of Mama's household.
So, Mama with her neighboring friends
Found it a necessity
To make quilts to provide warmth
and form a "Quilting Bee".
Mama made her daughters
Dresses from gingham and calico;
And she saved the fabric scraps
For quilts to design and sew.
She chose the quilt pattern
To match the scraps she had--
Be it solids, stripes, and flowers,
Or a brilliant plaid.
After Mama selected a quilt pattern
Matching with care,
She cut the quilt pieces
In circles, rectangles, and squares.
The quilt pattern she'd
Made of heavy cardboard
Was placed on the scraps of cloth.
(A cardboard template was the best she could afford.)
She sharpened her scissors and began to cut
The patterned shaped pieces
To later join by seams
That would add to her collection of master-pieces.
With a small rounded needle and size 30 thread
She made small even-stitches by hand
To piece the sections together
And to add a contrasting bordering-band.
After the quilt top was completely set
Together, there was a satisfying atomosphere.
Then, between the quilt top and muslin lining
Mountain Mist Cotton was placed there.
Quilting through the layers
Was the next step and act;
For this is what was to hold
The quilt together in fact.
The quilt was placed in a wooden frame
Which was made of poles by our Pop.
Grass-string was fastened to the four corners
And attached to the ceiling-top.
The quilting frame swung
From the ceiling each morn
For Mama, her daughters, and friends
To quilt by the crackling fire where it was warm.
At night the quilt in the frame
Was to the ceiling rolled
To be let down the next morning
By unwinding the string on the poles.
Neighboring friends came to visit
And spend the night and day.
There would be Annie,
Martha Green, and Lindy Mae.
As they quilted, their fingers
They would often prick
Which made them holler "Ouch"
And grab their fingers quick.
The friends would talk
Of this and that;
And the quilt would be completed
In no time flat.
On the wood stove, Mama would have an iron kettle
Of dried, pinto beans boiling with fat meat.
Then she'd make cornbread in the oven
Along with an apple cobbler for a treat.
When the quilting was completed,
It was taken from the frame.
Then a matching binding was added;
And on the back, she embroidered the date and her name.
During the winter months
Making quilts was Mama's love.
As she pieced, quilted, and visited
With friends, their talk turned to the goodness of God above.
These days were treasured
By neighbors and friends.
To them, this was pleasure
With great dividends!
Author Edith Bastin
© Copyright: January 11, 1998. All Rights Reserved.
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