M is for Museums of Quilts

Antique quilt

Quilts often give us a chance to travel back in time. Imagine wrapping a quilt made by your mother, grandmother, aunt, or even great-grandmother. My friend and fellow author, Deborah has a quilt made by her mother-in-law, just for Deborah.

The quilt is across the bottom of her bed, for looks. However, on bad days, or when Deborah is ill she wants that quilt to wrap around her. It gives her the feeling of having her mother-in-law’s arms wrap around her. A feeling she enjoys since her mother-in-law died several years ago.

We don’t have to wrap a quilt around us to visit the past and feel the emotions of those long ago quilters. We can visit quilt museums. No, we can’t wrap up in those quilts, but just seeing them touches our hearts.

On my list of quilty places to visit is the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden Colorado. As a bonus, until the end of April that museum has a special exhibit by male (another “m” word) quilters.  While I won’t make it to the Colorado museum this month, it is on my list of places to see.

Quilt museums are like a permanent quilt show, giving guests the opportunity to see a variety of quilts over a longer period of time. The museums also offer visitors a chance to see special displays, such as the  round-up of men’s quilts available at the Rocky Mountain Quilt museum.

You don’t have to go to a quilt museum though. Other museums often offer a peek into the past with quilt displays. The quilt show above was made in 1850 and is on display in a museum in  Dodge City Kansas.

Do you have a quilt museum in your state?

Have you ever visited a quilt museum?

Do you own a quilt made by a relative, or loved one no longer with us?

The complete story of Deborah’s quilt is in Devoted to Quilting 2. Join us on Facebook at, A Patchwork Life.

Joining the fun bloggers at the A to Z challenge. Check them out for more great blogs.

What is a Longarm?

What is a Long arm?

When I first heard the term my mind went silly. A person (most likely a woman) sitting in a chair with arms that reached down to the floor. Or she could be standing, flat-footed and changing the light-bulb on a nine-foot ceiling.

Purhaps the comics I read as a child left that mental image for me. Comics like the Elongated Man. Although, I don’t remember reading about him. My memory conjured up “Rubber Man” or “Elastic Man,” I didn’t even think of “Plastic Man” which apparently was a real comic according to the cool blogger over at LEFT AND WRITE blog. Back when the A to Zers were on the letter “e” he wrote about the Elongated Man, how would you like to have THAT name as a super hero? He mentioned the Plastic Man, but said nothing about the Rubber Man or the Elastic Man, guess my brain just made them up.

All of that to say, that is not what a long-arm means.

Longarm doesn’t refer to the quilter (man or woman) at all. Instead it refers to the sewing machine.  Most sewing machines are 9-12 inches between the needle and the body of the machine, the longarm machine has 18-26 inches (I think those numbers are right) making it easier to quilt.

Most longarm machines are mounted on a frame holding the quilt. The machine is moved along the quilt to do the stitching rather than moving the fabric. These machines are BIG and require space, not to mention they are also expensive. Two reasons most quilters send their quilts out to be quilted, it’s cheaper and more space saving than owning their own longarm machine.

There are longarm machines that can be placed on a table allowing the quilter to sit, and move the quilt sandwich under the needle to do the quilting. These machines are less expensive (although still pricey) and take up less space.

Many quilters purchased their longarm to build a home-based business. It gave them a way to earn money while staying at home, and allowed local quilters a way to have their projects machine quilted locally.

It’s also possible the men in the quilt world is a direct result of the longarm machine. After all, it’s just a big power tool. I have no proof, just my opinion.

Now you know, a longarm is not a strange person, but a very handy machine. Do you have a longarm machine? How do you get your quilts quilted?

Linking up with Blogging A to Z :

And, the Ultimate Blog Challenge:

George Price, Quilter-Teacher

He makes a quilt complete.

I first met him eight years ago. He had just joined the ranks of male quilters. While browsing the  shelves with fabric of his wife’s store, ok, and purchasing.

I was drawn to the hum of the long arm quilting machine tucked in the back corner of the store. A MAN was operating the machine.

That man was George Price, of  Prairie Notions Quilt and Fabric Shop, located in Allen OK. Quilts and quilting are a family affair for the Price family. Wife Pam owns and operates the fabric store while George does the quilting. Children and grandchildren help out when and where needed.  Except for quilting, George does the quilting.

He took a short break from stitching, that day to answer my many questions about the machine and the processes. He’s usually willing to take time to answer my questions, or the questions of other customers.

Since that first day I have watched as he quilted hundreds of quilts. In face,  since he began he’s quilted over 1800 quilts I’ve seen quilts quilted by him at shows.  I’ve seen some of  his quilts win prizes. Mostly, I enjoy knowing the man, and watching him work.

He takes the time to talk to his customers to determine what they want, their vision for the quilt. Sometimes he offers suggestions. Like the time I took him a log cabin quilt, with less than precision seams. Following the seams wouldn’t work, I just knew I wanted it quilted. He offered a solution, that I accepted. When the quilt was completed and ready for me, I loved it. Other times, someone will suggest a thread color for the quilting. He will offer an alternative. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the quilter loves the final outcome when following his suggestion.

He has few rules.

He will not stitch over the handwork of the quilt maker.

If the quilt has embroidery or applique he stitches around that.

If a fabric has a picture, he doesn’t stitch over the picture.

He  wants nothing to detract from the beauty of the quilt. He believes the quilt maker’s work is what is important, the quilting should only enhance, not detract or be a focal point.

He takes time for his customers, and is still answering my questions, teaching me and others about long arm quilting.

If you know a man who quilts, whether he pieces, appliques, or finishes one off with his quilting, take time to watch him work and visit with him. You’ll enjoy it.

Do you know a male quilter? Want to share him with the rest of us? Leave me a comment.

Until next time. Quilted blessings to all.