An American Quilt
By: Shelley Jones

People always say what will be meant to be will be. I guess you could say I believe it. It all started about last November when I was laid off. I was bummed about being unemployed, but felt that maybe taking a step outside of the corporate world I would be able to do some things I’ve always wanted to do. I made a list of things I wanted to explore and on that list was learning how to quilt. I have to be honest; it was not on the top of my list since I knew nothing about sewing and didn’t even own a sewing machine. It wasn’t until April of this year that I had saved up enough and went out and bought my first sewing machine. My mother showed me how to use it. I did a lot of reading, and found I really enjoyed designing quilts and collecting fabrics. I think those ladies at the first few quilt shops thought I was crazy I was planning away, buying fabric, yet didn’t really know how to make a quilt yet. I don’t blame them, it was kind of crazy. Well anyhow, from that April till this August I learned how to make a quilt and made six or so. I have found that they all tend to have a story to go with them, but the one I am writing about today was by chance.

It was the first week in August and I was home visiting my parents in Live Oak, Florida. My mother happens to be in charge of putting together the church newsletter and in exchange for her editing my resume I in turn edited her newsletter. In that newsletter was an article for a retreat for soldiers coming back from Iraq. The program is called Wounded Warriors and they were asking for quilts and nice letters for the soldiers coming to the retreat this September. The quilts would be due by August 28th, had to be red white and blue, and no larger than 60” x 60”. I wanted to help but wasn’t sure if I had the time to finish a quilt since I was going with my family to Tennessee for 10 days at the end of August. The crazy thing was that throughout July I had been buying patriotic fabric for no apparent reason. So, maybe that was my reason. I agreed to make the quilt.

I called around and made an appointment in one of the local shops to learn how to use a long arm sewing machine so I could speed up the quilting process. In the meantime I got to work. I went to the library and checked out books and found my inspiration in Kaffe Fassett’s Quilts in the Sun, I chose to adapt my pattern from Brandon Mably’s Big Star Quilt. I made the quilt top over that weekend and ordered a fabric for the backing. Over the next few weeks I waited for the fabric to come in, and it just didn’t come. When I was about to cancel my order I got news that the order had shipped but then I got a call from the quilting shop cancelling my appointment with the long arm, apparently their machine was acting up. So great. I figured I’d just have to take everything with me and quilt it on my small machine in the Mountains there was no time for anything else.

We left Florida and made it to Townsend, Tennessee on August 16th. The next day we were driving around and my mom was reading the Townsend paper and came across this ad for Pappy’s Quilting in the nearby town of Maryville. I figured I’d check it out. When I called they were very nice and said that they do teach how to use the long arm and you could pay to use it, but unfortunately they didn’t have any openings until the end of September. It figures I thought, so I said thanks anyway and right before I hung up I thought to leave my name and number in case they had any cancellations. Literally by the end of the day Pappy’s daughter had called back saying the lady for the next day had cancelled and if I wanted to come in I could. I couldn’t believe it. The next two days I took the class and quilted my quilt at Pappy’s Quilting. They were great and I learned a lot. A day before we left I happened to stop back by to look for a fabric for another quilt I started and Pappy’s daughter was there again and she told me I should tell my story to this website, she said don’t leave anything out. So after everything it seems like even if I don’t win a trip or anything else I feel like I was meant to tell my story and meant to make this quilt. I hope whoever it goes to will enjoy it; it is one of my favorites that I’ve made so far.
Thanks for your time!
Sincerely,
Shelley Jones

I own the following HQ machines: