24 women and youth from Fountain City Presbyterian Church gathered on Saturday, July 20, for a very unique experience: “Quilting Bee.”
Dana Lamb hosted the group of multi-generational participants at her home as Tamara Ownby led a tutorial on quilting. Beverly Holland also led a group in crocheting.
As the group assembled, quilts were on display from Ownby’s collection as well as several from Dorothy Montgomery and others, each with its own intriguing history.
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- Tamara Ownby Collection: Civil War era quilt
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- Note the intricate pattern of Civil War era quilt done with home spun white fabrics
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- Civil War era quilt: note black cotton seed
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- Ownby’s mother brought her this key to Paris pin and she recreated it on the quilt
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- Born in France, Ownby handmade this quilt from French reproduction fabrics
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- Tamara Ownby shows feed sack similar to one that provided pieces in the quilt to be sewed at Saturday’s bee
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- Paper piecing by Dorothy Montgomery
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- Wall hanging quilted with paper piecing by D. Montgomery
Once gathered, the goal was to complete one quilt to be auctioned off in a silent auction at the church Fall Fest in October. Each person present will have their signature on the finished quilt.
The unfinished quilt waiting to be stitched by the participants in Saturday’s quilting bee, to be auctioned in Octobers FCPS Fall Fest
A little history of quilting and the quilting bee?
Quilting itself has been practiced for centuries, with evidence of quilted textiles dating back to ancient civilizations but only developed as a skill in North America in recent centuries.
Quilting in North America became an essential skill for women, as it provided warmth and comfort in the form of bed coverings. Quilts were often made from scraps of fabric, repurposed clothing, and other materials, making them both practical and economical.
The development of this survival skill led to the communal activity known as the “Quilting Bee” during the 18th and 19th centuries, where women could come together to collaborate on quilts and socialize.
Tamara showed the group a feed sack, explaining how the sacks were originally made of plain white or cream colored fabric. Once companies started using sturdy printed fabrics, the farmers’ wives made aprons, curtains, dresses, quilts and more from the durable material. The patterned feed sacks started in the 1930s and are highly valued today when found online.
Quilting bees provided an opportunity for women to not only connect and support each other but also to share their knowledge and skills. One can see the creativity and craftsmanship featured within the intricate designs and patterns of the hand stitched quilts of the past.
Today, quilting bees continue to exist in various forms, evolving with the times. There are quilting guilds and quilting clubs bringing quilters together to share their ancestry treasures, their personal creations, and provide support to one another in future quilting endeavors.
Saturday’s unique experience exposed multiple generations to this not to be forgotten survival skill that today is a creative but still useful art form.
A very fortunate recipient will make just the right bid at the FCPC October Fall Festival and go home with a treasure indeed. This writer will definitely be in the bidding war!
All of us have a story and I want to tell yours! Send them to susan@knoxtntoday.com.
