Now let me tell you how this ride-about got started. Jason and I had ourselves a genuine dispute. I spent years in the antique business selling quilts, so I know good and well which pattern folks asked for the most. But, of course, Jason did not believe me. There was only one way to settle it: put the question to the women who'd know for certain.
So we went to see the Avery Riverwalk Quilting Guild. Now let me tell you, that was a room full of talented women! I know, because my wife used to be one. Our contact was Cindy, and let me tell you, that woman is a little ball of fire. When Cindy puts her energy into something, it comes out first-class every time. She'll run a raffle you'd figure might raise two or three hundred dollars, and doggone if she doesn't pull in two thousand.
Right fast, after we walked in, it looked like one of those ladies was wearing her quilt. But when she stood up, it turned out to be a unique pair of quilted overalls. She confessed she didn't make them — but declared she sure could have, if she decided to put her mind to it.
Karen gave us the grand tour. She walked us past a patriotic sampler. Every block was different, but similar enough to come together into something beautiful. She named the patterns in the sampler, so check the video to see how they blended together into a fabulous quilt.
I had to cover my eyes when she pointed out the Ohio quilting star. I mean, come on, Karen — North Carolina has a quilting star! And what the heck is a "wonky star" set on an angle? (Turns out "wonky star" is an actual industry term. Who knew?) She also showed us a wall hanging the guild presented to the New Christian Church for hosting them every month.
Karen let us in on how quilting has changed, too. In the old days — before Jason's and my grandparents — women would gather around a big table with needle and thread, bring food, talk all day, and stitch a quilt together by hand. The guild sort of keeps that tradition alive. They meet at ten in the morning, have a program, share a potluck lunch, and then sew individually in the afternoon on programmable machines. Oh yeah — the talking? This old boy don't say nothing about that!
Here's something our ride-about partners might not know: folks have been quilting for over 3,000 years. We have quilts in our own home that my wife's mother made sixty years ago, and they kept us warm again this past winter.
But I haven't forgotten the bet. Jason and I drove all the way to Avery County to find out, once and for all, which quilt pattern reigns supreme — and one of us walked away right, the other one wrong. I'm not going to spoil it here.
Watch the ride-about to find out who won the bet — and meet the quilters of Avery County.
Climb into our backseat — subscribe and ride along with Alton & Jason every week.
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