Discover Smith Mountain Lake
SPRING 2016
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uilting is a skill that has been around for eons.
The earliest known quilted garment is depicted
on a carved ivory figure of an Egyptian Pharaoh
that dates back to about 3400 BC, according
to Wikipedia. The earliest known (surviving) European
bed quilt is from the 14th Century. It is made of linen
and padded with wool, and is 122” by 106” in size. A
standard king sized bed is 76” wide by 80” long.
Typically, quilts are three layers of material: A plain
colored fabric as the bottom layer, a padding of some
type for warmth as the second layer, and pieces of various
colored fabric that have been stitched together to form
the top layer. Quilting involves sewing these three layers
together with a running stitch. Besides being decorative,
this stitching holds the padding (such as cotton batting
or wool) in place during use and laundering.
Quilts served very useful purposes during Colonial
times. They not only kept folks warm, they provided
a way to use any scrap of material that was still good
from otherwise worn out garments. Store-bought cloth
was expensive and often scarce. Quilting also provided
an excuse for lonely pioneer women to socialize. Next
to going to church it was the primary way for women to
get together with other women and swap stories. About
8 women could sit around a quilting frame at one time.
Over the years, women began using quilts to
commemorate special occasions, such as marriage, the
birth of a child, and other landmark events in their lives.
In some cases these quilts are works of art; some of them
have provided historical facts. Certainly, most of us at
one time or another have snuggled deep down under a
homemade quilt during a frosty night.
The Lake Quilters’ Guild at Smith Mountain Lake
is
doing its part to keep the skill and art of quilting alive.
They also keep fellow citizens warm with their charitable
donations of items that they have quilted. For example,
they make teddy bears and give them to CASA for kids
who are being uprooted because of violence or neglect.
They make Christmas stockings. Their quilted pillow
cases can double as suitcases for women and children in
shelters. Lap quilts and pillows warm and comfort the sick
and elderly. Colorful handmade quilted sacks attached to
walkers or wheelchairs provide safe-keeping for toiletries
or stationary products, and prove that somebody cares.
The guild remembers those who are undergoing chemo-
therapy, and kids who are involved in auto accidents.
In some instances, a teddy bear is all a vulnerable child
has to hold on to or love. The feel, look, and smell of a
handmade quilt can awaken the senses and stir memories
of youth, home, mother, or grandmother. Quilts
represent safety, comfort, and love as surely as Mom’s
apple pie speaks to us of home and love. The ladies of the
guild also make “Quilts of Valor” for veterans who are
patients in the VA Hospital in Salem.
There is a beautiful quilt on display at the Visitor’s Center
at Bridgewater Marina that some lucky person will soon
own. This quilt was designed and made by Cindy Clark
to commemorate Smith Mountain Lake’s 50th birthday.
The quilt will be raffled this month, with proceeds going
toward the celebration of the Lake’s birthday. Tickets
are still being sold at the Visitor’s Center for $5, and the
drawing is scheduled for March 7, 2016.
In designing the quilt, Cindy depicted hearth and home,
as well as scenic views of mountains and water, including
flying geese and the SML dam. The design was also used
for the guild’s “Block of the Month” classes, which are
offered to guild members each month free of charge, and
teach the various techniques used in quilting today, such
as: Log Cabin, Half Square Triangle and Quarter Square
Triangle, Free Form Appliqué, and Photo Transfer, just
to name a few.
From start to finish, it takes a minimum of two months
for an experienced quilter to complete a quilt, says Nancy
Robbins, a member of the guild and an avid quilter
herself. Nancy, who provides promotional information
for the guild, invites folks to their upcoming quilt show.
It’s called “Celebrating Quilting 2016”, and will showcase
some of the most beautiful handiwork of guild members.
The show is being held at Trinity Ecumenical Church
on April 1st and 2nd. Two of the quilts that will be on
display are going to be raffled. The guild is asking for a
$5 donation to attend the show, with proceeds going to
charity. Raffle tickets will be available at the show during
both days, and proceeds from the raffles will also go to
charity.
Along with SML turning 50 this year, the quilting guild
turns 25, and has about 145 members. To learn more
about the guild or how to become a member, visit www.
lakequilters.org
Officers of the Smith Mountain Lake Quilters Guild
are: Stephanie Schaefer, president; Bette Gove and Kay
McCoy, vice-presidents for programming; Fran Strumph,
secretary; Dawn Saunders, treasurer; and Betty Reynolds,
membership.
PIECING IT
TOGETHER:
THE ART OF
STAYING WARM
By Kate Hofstetter
