The Original Social Media

Way before the world wide web, e-mail, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, even before the landline telephone, there was a quilt frame set up for ladies to gather around and discuss family, friends, and the latest news in the community. 

Often it was weekly, but in some cases, like my aunt’s, a frame was up all the time so when there was time, a quick stitch could be put in.  The photo below shows my Mom hand quilting in the family room in 1986.  

A quilt frame can hold any size quilt, here it has a small throw-size quilt pinned it.

It was around these quilt frames where recipes could be exchanged, stories shared, and in recent years, a little money could be raised.  It was a place where needles could be threaded too. One of the ladies who rarely missed coming to quilting never put a stitch in a quilt. Her job was to thread needles and she was kept busy! Many ladies around the frame meant many threads being tied off and a new needle and thread needed. In the photos below, these ladies met a couple times a week to quilt for the public as well as making quilts to raffle so they could help support various church ministries. 

A wedding ring quilt being hand quilted by the ladies with a second quilt on a frame in the background.

My Mom was a quilter with two churches in our town.  One was the Catholic church and they quilted in the basement of the school, then Goelz Hall, and when a new parish was built in town, they moved their operation there.  A photo is shown below. She also quilted at the United Church of Christ and regardless of which group, if I stopped in, I was offered a needle and a place at the frame.  My stitches were never as small and tight as theirs, but it was fun just the same.  

The quilters receive a visit from the priest of each parish.

I’ve not put in nearly the number of stitches as these ladies, just enough to know I prefer a long arm to do my quilting. 😊 I’m not sure how long their quilts were in the frames, but I do know our long arm can stitch 1,300 stitches per minute!

What’s the best part of making a quilt?  Giving it away!  Deciding which pattern, shopping for the fabric, see it coming together as it’s pieced, and of course, seeing it come off the long arm all quilted and ready to be bound.  But the very best part? Surprising the person with their quilt.  Prior to 2020, there were tears, hugs, smiles.  I miss those hugs . . .

Some of the quilting ladies, Lorine Tonnies, Virginia Biver, and Evelyn Riebold (left to right) giving the quilt to the lucky recepient.

Quilters gathering around a frame may be rare these days, but it’s still a special thing.  If you get the chance, be sure and pull up a seat and put in a stitch or two with them, you won’t regret it. And you may be surprised what you learn!