Hand-crafted or machine-fashioned, it’s quilt season in Vermont

The leaves are turning brilliant reds and oranges, the nights are turning chilly, and local folks are turning to their quilts, either snuggling under the patchwork near the wood stove or crafting new coverlets by hand or with the aid of modern technology.

www.vermontjournal.com

Hand-crafted or machine-fashioned, it’s quilt season in Vermont BY KAREN ENGDAHL, The ShopperOctober 23, 2017 quilts Studio class space. Photo by Karen Engdahl SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – The leaves are turning brilliant reds and oranges, the nights are turning chilly, and local folks are turning to their quilts, either snuggling under the patchwork near the wood stove or crafting new coverlets by hand or with the aid of modern technology. Springfield resident Shelly Holley, who has been doing long-arm machine quilting in the area since 2004, is kicking off “quilt season” this year by opening a new Log Cabin Quilting studio at 35 Dell Road. The bright fall colors viewed through the studio’s many windows are echoed in the colorful fabrics and finished quilts displayed throughout the room. “This quilt was made by Christy Thomas for a Stephen King fan,” says Holley, pointing to the quilt ready for set-up at the long-arm machine. “She designed it to look like a bookshelf and embroidered the titles of Stephen King’s novels on the spines. Now I’m going to quilt it, going around each book.” Holley smiles as she traces the outlines of the books with her hand. “That’s my favorite part—bringing the quilts to life.” Another of Holley’s customers, Charmaine Wesley-Hartman of Chester, agrees that Holley has a magic touch with quilts. “I was new to quilting and brought one of my first quilts to Shelly. I was so worried it was crooked and lumpy—and she made it beautiful. She made me feel ten feet tall!” Wesley-Hartman, who has now completed many quilts, often works in a palette of black, white, and red. “I moved to Vermont about 15 years ago and immediately found women friends who were quilters,” she said, “and I was inspired to try quilting. Unfortunately, following established patterns frustrated me, so I began creating my own patterns from black and white fabrics I would slowly piece together by hand. Each piece was cut as I needed it and placed in a contemporary pattern.” Other Log Cabin Quilting customers come to Holley for classes and camaraderie in addition to helping finish their creations. Recent class projects have included quilts, bags, runners, and table toppers. Holley also offers open sewing sessions in the studio on the first, second, and fourth Mondays of the month from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. where quilters can bring their own projects and work in a group atmosphere. Holley is excited to introduce her new studio to the community at an Open House on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. “It will be a fun time for people to try the long-arm quilter, have some coffee and doughnuts, and meet other quilters,” she says. For more information about Log Cabin Quilting, visit Holley’s Facebook page @logcabinquiltingvt.