♪ male announcer: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GRANTS FROM GINGHER, INCORPORATED, MAKERS OF SCISSORS AND SHEARS FOR HOME AND INDUSTRY, AND: [upbeat acoustic guitar music] ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO OUR SHOW ENTITLED MAIL A QUILT.

LAST TIME YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THIS BLOCK PUT TOGETHER.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE A DEMONSTRATION ON FRAMED QUILTING AT THE HORACE WILLIAMS HOUSE.

IT IS A PLEASURE TODAY TO WELCOME YOU TO A--THE END--THE TAG END OF A BOARD MEETING OF OUR NORTH CAROLINA STATE SYMPOSIUM, A BOARD WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND THAT WAS FORMED IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND PERPETUATE THE ART OF QUILTING WITHIN NORTH CAROLINA.

WE HAVE TWO GOALS TODAY.

ONE, TO EXAMINE A QUILT THAT IS GOING TO BE CALLED A MAIL A QUILT THAT IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO OUR STATE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION MORE OR LESS IN HONOR OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO FORMULATE AND PROMOTE THE ARTS WITHIN OUR STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY; AND ALSO MORE OR LESS A LESSON IN LEARNING HOW TO PUT A QUILT ON A STANDING FRAME.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF US ARE FINDING.

WE HAVE INHERITED QUILT TOPS, OR WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT QUILTING WITHIN A FRAME, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LESSON TODAY.

IT'S ALSO A PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE AND SEE SUE MCCARTER AGAIN FROM OUR CHARLOTTE QUILTERS GUILD AND FROM A SHOW OF SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

SINCE THEN, YOU'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL THINGS ACCOMPLISHED, INCLUDING-- >> MY SON, WHO IS NOW 20 MONTHS OLD.

I WAS PREGNANT THE LAST TIME, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SEEN RERUNS, I AM NOT PREGNANT ANYMORE.

>> IT'S SO GOOD TO KNOW.

BUT WHAT HAVE YOU PRODUCED HERE ALSO?

SHOW US YOUR BEAUTIFUL QUILT.

>> I HAVE ALSO PRODUCED ANOTHER WEDDING QUILT... >> OH, IT'S LOVELY.

>> WHICH I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE A LIFETIME PROGRESS.

MOST YOUNG WOMEN MAKE ONE BEFORE THEY'RE MARRIED, BUT I'VE MADE MINE AFTER I HAVE BEEN MARRIED AND WILL PROBABLY WORK ON IT, CONTINUE TO QUILT ON IT FOREVER.

I'M DOING STIPPLE QUILTING IN THE TRAPUNTO TO MAKE IT STAND OUT SINCE I HAVE SO HEAVILY QUILTED THE REST OF THE QUILT TOP.

>> AND I LOVE YOUR CHOICE OF GLOSHEEN, AND YOUR COLORS ARE JUST THE CURRENT IN COLORS, AND BEAUTIFUL FABRIC.

WHEN IT TURNS, IT JUST-- IT CASTS DIFFERENT SHADOWS ALL ACROSS THE TOP.

IT'S LOVELY, SUE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR VEST?

I REMEMBER THAT IN PROGRESS.

>> WELL, I WAS WORKING ON A VEST DURING THE LAST SHOW, AN IRIS VEST, WHICH I HAVE SINCE COMPLETED.

IT'S A BLOOMING IRIS.

>> OH, I LOVE IT.

AND INTERESTING LINES HERE IN THE BACKGROUND, ALMOST A CROSSHATCHING, BUT IT STOPS SO-- >> YES, IT'S A CHINESE-- AN ORIENTAL GRID.

>> VERY NICE.

WELL, WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE BOTH JANE HALL AND IRMA KIRKPATRICK WITH US TODAY.

BUT I WANT TO SPEND JUST A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT OUR DESIGN AND HOW IT GOT TO THIS POINT.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT SOME OF YOU AS A CHILD, AT LEAST I KNOW I DID, SPENT A WHILE-- SOMETIMES IN SCHOOL, WE'D GET CARRIED AWAY, AND I REMEMBER MANY TIMES DRAWING BOXES.

AND I'D DRAW TWO BOXES LIKE SO, AND THEN I WOULD CONNECT THEM JUST LIKE THIS.

AND I WAS DOODLING ONE DAY WITH THIS SORT OF IDEA, KNOWING THAT I WANTED TO CREATE A PATTERN THAT WE COULD ALL DO IN A MAIL-A-QUILT PROJECT ACROSS THE STATE.

AND WHEN I HAD WORKED ON THIS-- I NEED ONE MORE LINE UP HERE-- I REALIZED THAT I HAD CREATED A BOX WHICH REMINDED ME A LOT OF A TELEVISION.

WELL, I COULD SEE IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS THE ONLY ONE.

BUT WE DID CREATE AN INTERESTING QUILT.

AND MY MOTHER, WHEN SEEING THIS QUILT, DECIDED THAT WHAT IT TRULY NEEDED WAS A LITTLE MORE PERSPECTIVE.

SO WHAT WAS SENT OUT AND WHAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

AND THE TELEVISION WITH THE PATCHWORK IN THE CENTER NOW HAS A NEW LINE, MORE OR LESS A LEDGE, THAT HAS BEEN ADDED HERE TO GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE DEFINITION.

BUT I WAS IN KENTUCKY LAST WEEK AND DID NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT THIS BEING A TELEVISION QUILT.

AND ONE PERSON GOT IT RIGHT AWAY AND EVEN NAMED THE QUILT.

SHE CALLED IT TEST PATTERN.

SO I FEEL SO GOOD ONE PERSON HAS FINALLY FIGURED THIS OUT.

BUT WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY COMPLETE A PATCHWORK QUILT THAT WE CAN PRESENT TO OUR STATE PUBLIC TELEVISION.

IN GETTING READY TO PUT THE ENTIRE QUILT IN THE FRAME, THERE HAS TO BE SOME PREPARATION OR BASTING BEFOREHAND.

I FOUND THE BEST PROCESS WAS TO SIMPLY WORK ON A CLEAN, AND IN MY CASE, CARPETED FLOOR, AND PUT THE BACKING DOWN FLAT.

OF COURSE, THE OUTSIDE WOULD GO AGAINST THE CARPETING WITH THE WRONG SIDE FACING UP.

I THEN TOOK SOME STRONG TAPE AND SIMPLY SECURED THE FOUR CORNERS ON THE CARPETING, AND EVEN THE SIDES, AND THAT KEPT THAT BACKING TAUT, AND THEN PUT THE BATTING ON TOP OF THAT, AND THEN THE, OF COURSE, DECORATIVE TOP ON THAT, PINNED IT IN PLACE, AND THEN I WAS READY FOR THE BASTING STITCHES.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO HAVE A LITTLE TOUCH OF ARTHRITIS, MAYBE, I ALSO FOUND THAT A CURVED NEEDLE REALLY WORKED NICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT QUILT.

WHEN I COULDN'T REALLY GET MY HAND UNDER TO FEEL THAT IT HAD GONE ALL THE WAY THROUGH, THIS REALLY SEEMED TO BE ONE OF THE ANSWERS.

NOW, THIS WILL BE MAILED TO EACH OF US THAT HAD A PART.

AND I HAVE NOT GONE AHEAD AND MARKED THE QUILT TOP, BUT I THINK ALL OF US REALIZE THAT TO DO A QUILT JUSTICE THAT IT SHOULD BE MARKED BEFORE OR SOME OF IT INDICATED WHEN IT IS JUST A QUILT TOP, WHEN YOU CAN PRESS DOWN ON A HARD SURFACE.

NOW, LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND.

IRMA, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU TODAY.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE TIPS FROM THE MASTER HERE ON HOW TO PUT THIS INTO THE FRAME.

NOW, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE.

I REALIZE THIS IS NOT YOUR FRAME, AND THERE'S PROBABLY SOMETHING PERSONAL ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUR OWN FRAME.

BUT MAYBE-- YOU HAVE EXAMINED IT.

I FEEL IT'S A NICE, STRONG ONE.

WHAT--DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO MAKE ON THAT, OR... >> VERY STURDY; I THINK SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES ARE THE SAME IN PUTTING THEM TOGETHER.

SHALL WE GO AHEAD AND-- >> YES, RIGHT.

OKAY.

>> AND JANE AND SUE ARE GONNA HELP.

>> COME ON OVER, AND LET'S HELP.

CAN I ASK YOU ALL ONE THING?

NOW, EXAMINE WHERE I HAVE BASTED THIS.

I THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CONCEPT.

I DID AS I HAVE READ IN ALL THE BOOKS.

I STARTED FROM THE CENTER.

YOU SEE THE ARRAY OF KNOTS HERE IN THE CENTER OF THE QUILT.

I HAVE BASTED OUT.

AND IN EXAMINING MY BASTING, I REALIZED I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING GOING THIS WAY.

DO YOU THINK I'VE BASTED IT ENOUGH, OR DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS MORE?

>> I THINK IT WILL HOLD.

>> I THINK IT'S FINE.

WHEN WE GET IT IN THE FRAME-- >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT IS LONGER THIS WAY, AND WE FOUND THAT IN TURNING IT, IT WOULD GO BETTER IN THIS OPPOSITE WAY.

OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, NOW, IF WE WERE PUTTING IT IN A FRAME, A QUILT THAT'S GOING TO BE QUILTED IN ONE DAY, IT WOULD BE A FRAME THAT WOULD EXTEND THE ENTIRE QUILT.

BUT WE WILL NEED TO ROLL THE SIDES.

>> OKAY.

>> SO WE HAVE MARKED THE CENTERS OF THE QUILT... >> OKAY.

>> AND SOMEWHERE THE CENTER OF THE FRAME.

>> OKAY.

DO YOU THINK A QUILT WAS EVER-- AN ENTIRE QUILT WAS QUILTED IN ONE DAY?

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK IT IS, BUT I THINK IT'S OFTEN THE FAN QUILTING, A SIMPLE QUILTING, AND I THINK IT'S OFTEN BY WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN QUILTING TOGETHER FOR 1,000 YEARS AND KNOW JUST HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.

>> RIGHT.

>> NOW, WHAT WE'LL DO IS PIN IT.

WE'VE PINNED THE CENTER IN.

IF YOU WILL GO THAT WAY... >> ALL RIGHT, OKAY; I'M JUST GONNA LEAN OVER AND GET SOME PINS HERE.

WHAT DID YOU SAY, ABOUT EVERY FOUR INCHES?

>> I THINK CLOSER THAN THAT.

JANE, DO YOU AGREE, ABOUT AS CLOSE-- >> I THINK SO, YES.

VERY OFTEN YOU WOULD-- WHOOP-- VERY OFTEN YOU WOULD BASTE IT IN.

BUT WITH THESE LONG PINS, I THINK IT WORKS REALLY PRETTY WELL.

>> SO WE WANT IT TO BE VERY SECURE BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO BE ROLLED.

>> AND KIND OF HIDE THE HEAD OF THE PIN MAYBE DOWN INTO THE-- I CAN SEE THAT THE MUSLIN STRIPS HAVE BEEN STAPLED ONTO THIS.

ACTUALLY, THIS IS A RACE TO SEE WHO CAN GET THERE FIRST, RIGHT?

THIS IS THE NIMBLE FINGERS HERE-- FLYING FINGERS, WE'LL CALL THEM, OKAY?

>> NOW, ANOTHER WAY TO PUT A QUILT IN A BIG FRAME IS TO STRETCH THE LINING OR BACKING AND LACE IT INTO THE SIDE PIECES-- AND THIS IS USUALLY A FRAME THAT'S SET UP ON THE BACKS OF CHAIRS-- AND THEN LAY THE BATTING AND LAY THE TOP, AND THAT IS ONLY PINNED AROUND THE EDGES.

THERE IS NO BASTING THROUGH ALL THREE THICKNESSES.

>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE TRICKY.

AND DO YOU START QUILTING AT THE OUTSIDE?

>> YOU STARTED QUILTING ON ALL FOUR SIDES, AND THEN YOU START ROLLING IT.

AND THAT'S THE WAY OUT AT CANE CREEK RECENTLY WE DID A QUILT AND DID IT IN A DAY AND A HALF.

>> AND IT HAS TO STAY PUT THEN RIGHT WHERE IT STARTS-- >> ABSOLUTELY, UNLESS IT'S A FRAME THAT CAN BE RAISED TO THE CEILING.

>> MM-HMM.

>> VERY OFTEN, I WOULD MARK A STARTING OR A STOPPING PLACE ON ONE END TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS THE SAME PLACE ON BOTH SIDES SO THAT I WOULD KNOW WHETHER IT CAME OUT THE SAME.

>> YEAH, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WHEN YOU ROLL IT, IT KIND OF SCOOGIES OUT OF SHAPE.

>> WE'RE GONNA RELY A LOT ON MASKING TAPE TO MARK THIS, BECAUSE AS YOU COULD SEE, A LOT OF THE LINES ARE JUST STRAIGHT LINES, AND I WORRY THAT ANY MARKING WE WOULD PUT ON THIS WOULD BE RUBBED OFF AS IT WENT IN THE BOX AND OUT OF THE BOX AS IT WERE MAILED TO EACH ONE OF YOU.

AND I'M SO GLAD YOU'VE ALL PUT YOUR NAME ON THE BLOCKS THAT YOU DID, AND WE'LL SIMPLY START WITH THE GIRLS' BLOCKS THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THAT WAY, THEY'LL DO THE FIRST QUILTING.

NOW WHAT HAPPENS?

>> NOW, JANE KNOWS ABOUT ROLLING ON THIS KIND OF FRAME, AND WHICH END DO YOU-- >> I THINK THE CRITICAL THING IS FOR TWO PEOPLE ON EACH POLE TO ROLL AT THE SAME SPEED.

>> BUT YOU WOULD START QUILTING IN THE MIDDLE.

>> I WOULD START IN THE MIDDLE, YES.

>> WE JUST ROLL TOWARD AND JUST KEEP THIS NICE AND SMOOTH.

>> JUST KEEP AN IDEA.

>> AND SUE AND I JUST KIND OF ROLL SO THAT WE'RE EVEN.

>> IS THERE SOME SORT OF CEREMONY THAT HAPPENS NOW?

THIS IS EXCITING.

OKAY.

>> IRMA, DO YOU EVER GET BOWING IN THE BACKING FABRIC?

>> WELL, IF I DO, THEN I WOULD ROLL ONE ONE WAY AND ONE THE OTHER; VERY SELDOM IF IT'S BASTED WELL.

HAVE YOU HAD THAT?

>> ONLY ON BLOCKS THAT ARE SET ON THE DIAGONAL.

>> NOW, IF WE NEED-- AS WE QUILT ON THIS, WE'D NEED A LITTLE TENSION, BUT I THINK YOU HAD A TIP-- >> WELL, THIS IS A HOMETOWN TIP, IRMA.

THIS--MARY LOU KIMBALL FROM OUR TOWN DOES THIS.

AND OF COURSE, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, I NEED A LITTLE TIGHTER RUBBER BAND.

BUT I THOUGHT THIS WAS A REAL GOOD IDEA.

SHE JUST USES THESE CLIPS.

I SAW YOU HAD A PIECE OF FABRIC ON ANOTHER ONE WITH BIG DIAPER PINS.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS NICE ALSO.

>> I'VE NO USE FOR THE DIAPER PINS ANYWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> LOOKS GOOD.

>> NOW, ARE WE READY TO DO SOME QUILTING?

LET ME GET THE MASKING TAPE OUT.

AND I DO HAVE A DIAGRAM, AND THIS WILL BE GOING WITH THE QUILT WHEN WE SEND IT IN THE MAIL, MORE OR LESS TO GIVE YOU A GUIDE ON WHERE TO DO YOUR LINES.

AND ALSO, A FINISHED BLOCK WILL GO ALONG WITH THIS.

NOW, THIS WAS SHARON LEE'S BLOCK.

CAME A LITTLE BIT LATE.

BUT THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT BLOCK, 'CAUSE THIS WILL BE THE "TOUCH ME" BLOCK.

YOU KNOW HOW YOU GO UP TO A QUILT, AND YOU'RE JUST DYING TO TOUCH IT?

WELL, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TOUCHING OUR QUILT.

BUT THIS WILL BE THE "TOUCH ME" QUILT.

HOPE SHARON IS WILLING TO SHARE THAT WITH US.

[laughs] WE HAVE THE DIAGONAL LINES, DOUBLE DIAGONAL LINES GOING IN THAT SITUATION.

SO I LIKE TO STORE MY MASKING TAPE IN THIS BECAUSE IT JUST PICKS UP THREADS.

AND PRETTY SOON I HAVE MASKING TAPE-- >> NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT IS-- >> OKAY, NOW, WHAT I DID WAS SIMPLY FIND THE MIDPOINT OF HERE, HERE, AND HERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, I COULD PUT A PIECE OF MASKING TAPE ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE, AND EACH TIME, I CUT OFF JUST THAT MUCH TRIANGLE, AND IT CREATED ALMOST AN OFFSET LITTLE BLOCK WITHIN EACH SQUARE.

>> NOW, WHERE ARE WE ON THIS?

IS THAT THE ORIENTATION?

SO I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS START WITH ONE OF THESE ONES.

>> OKAY, I SEE.

>> FROM RIGHT TO LEFT.

NOW, DO YOU HAVE A MEASURE HERE?

>> WELL, WHAT I DID WAS, THIS FROM HERE TO HERE WAS 1/2 AN INCH AND THEN ANOTHER 1/2.

>> WE NEED A RULER.

>> OKAY, I THINK MASKING TAPE WILL BE FINE RIGHT NOW.

THAT LOOKS ABOUT RIGHT.

>> SO IF I GO ALONG THAT EDGE-- >> MM-HMM.

THAT'S GOOD.

NOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE FRAME, ARE YOU ALWAYS GONNA BE QUILTING IN ONE DIRECTION, OR IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE WAY?

>> WELL, THE EASIEST DIRECTION FOR ME BECAUSE I'M RIGHT-HANDED IS TO GO RIGHT TO LEFT OR TOWARD ME.

AND IF YOU HAVE A LEFT-HANDED FRIEND, YOU CAN CALL ON HER TO COME WHEN YOU GET TO AN AWKWARD ANGLE AND HELP QUILT.

BUT YOU SOMETIMES LEARN TO QUILT IN AWKWARD ANGLES.

BUT THIS WOULD CLEARLY BE AWKWARD.

THIS IS MORE POSSIBLE.

THIS IS EASIER.

AND THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE.

>> YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT YOUR FAVORITE DEVICE FOR MARKING ARE SOAP SLIVERS.

YOU LIKE TO USE THE SOAP SLIVERS?

>> ON DARK FABRIC, I DO.

>> IT KIND OF WEARS OFF AS YOU'RE QUILTING IT.

>> SO YOU CAN'T MARK THE WHOLE QUILT AT ONCE, BUT IT WORKS VERY WELL TO-- >> ONE TIME I BOUGHT A QUILT TOP, AND IT HAD A LOT OF-- WHICH I THOUGHT WERE EITHER SOAP MARKINGS OR TOOTHPASTE.

I WASN'T SURE, AND WHEN I LEFT, I ASKED THE LADY IF THE TOOTHPASTE WOULD COME OUT OF THE QUILT TOP.

AND SHE LAUGHED AND SHE SAID, "OH, NO, DEAR."

SHE SAID, "THAT'S LIQUID STARCH," THAT THEY TOOK STRING AND DROPPED IT IN LIQUID STARCH AND THEN WENT ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE QUILT AND DROPPED THE STRING DOWN ON THE QUILT TOP.

HAD YOU EVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE?

THAT WAS A NEW ONE FOR ME.

>> DOES IT COME OUT?

>> YES, IT CAME OUT.

>> I'VE HEARD OF DIPPING A STRING IN FLOUR AND STRETCHING ACROSS AND FLIPPING IT TO MARK, OR CORN STARCH.

NOW, I'M GONNA START.

I HAVE A KNOT IN THE END OF MY THREAD, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO COME UP.

>> AND THAT KNOT IS GOING AS IF IN THE BATTING, OR-- >> AND I--RIGHT, LODGED IN THE BATTING.

NOW, AN ALTERNATIVE, IF I KNOW I WANT TO GO IN FROM THIS POINT DOWN IN ANOTHER DIRECTION IS TO CUT IT DOUBLE LONG AND LEAVE A LONG TAIL AND COME BACK AND PICK IT UP.

>> I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

>> BUT NOW I WOULD LIKE MY NEEDLE TO GO IN AS PERPENDICULAR-- IN AND OUT-- AS PERPENDICULAR AS POSSIBLE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND THAT MEANS I WANT TO GET IDEALLY A ROCKING MOTION.

>> THERE IS AN ART TO THAT.

I JUST-- >> AND IT'S HARD TO DO THAT FOR ME IF I DON'T HAVE A THIMBLE THAT HAS DEEP ENOUGH POCKMARKS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND THIS IS MY FAVORITE SILVER THIMBLE, WHICH IS-- I HAVE MANAGED TO HANG ON TO FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

AND IT HAS SENTIMENTAL VALUE, BUT IT HAS UTILITARIAN VALUE AS WELL BECAUSE THOSE MARKS ARE DEEP ENOUGH SO I DO NOT HOLD ON TO MY NEEDLE.

I'M DOING LIKE THIS.

>> MM-HMM, MM-HMM.

AND IT TRULY IS A-- DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SIZE NEEDLE, IRMA?

DO YOU WORK WITH A TINY ONE OR A-- >> I'M WORKING WITH A 10.

I WOULD WORK WITH A 12 IF I COULD SEE TO THREAD IT.

BUT I THINK THE SMALLER THE NEEDLE, THE SMALLER THE STITCHES.

IT'S JUST THAT I HAVE A TERRIBLE TIME SEEING WHICH END TO THREAD OF A SIZE 12.

>> I BREAK A 12.

SOMEHOW, IT SEEMS TO POP IN MY HAND AND-- OH, I THINK THAT IS A REAL ART HOW YOU'RE DOING THAT.

NOW, YOU'RE USING YOUR THUMB, AREN'T YOU?

THAT IS BALANCING.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS OFF HAND UNDERNEATH?

>> ALL RIGHT, IT'S A TWO-HANDED ACUPUNCTURE.

FIRST I HIT MY THUMB ON THIS HAND LIKE THIS... >> UH-HUH.

>> TO CONTROL THAT STITCH.

BUT WHEN I'M BRINGING IT UP, I'M PUSHING-- I'M GOING LIKE THIS UNDERNEATH, AND I'LL PUSH ON THE NEEDLE TO CONTROL THE SIZE OF THE STITCHES.

>> I THINK I NEED TO DO MORE STUDYING UNDERNEATH THE QUILT FRAME.

I THINK THAT MUST BE ONE OF THE SECRETS.

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED ONE OF THESE THIMBLES, IRMA?

>> I HAVE, AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY OTHER FAVORITE ONE, I THINK THEY'D BE VERY SATISFACTORY.

>> I'M GOING TO WORK ON THIS ONE.

SOMEHOW, THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WILL HELP TO LODGE THE EYE OF THAT NEEDLE IN THERE AND CATCH IT.

AND YOU'RE PUTTING HOW MANY STITCHES ON EACH TIME?

ABOUT--LET'S COUNT.

>> WELL, ABOUT THREE.

>> THREE, RIGHT.

>> THREE DOWN-UP.

>> I HAD TO CHOOSE THE BACKING FOR THIS QUILT, AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT A DARK BACKING, HOW YOUR QUILTING THREAD IS GONNA JUMP OUT AT YOU.

BUT I THINK I'VE BEEN VERY CLEVER IN USING A PIN DOT, SO IT'S HARD TO SEE EVERYTHING.

BUT I THINK I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO SAY WE UNDER-QUILTED THIS.

I THINK, REALLY, WHEN IN DOUBT, QUILT MORE.

AND, OF COURSE, YOU REALIZE THIS IS THE ANTENNA COMING UP HERE.

YOU GET THAT, DON'T YOU, IRMA?

>> UM, YES.

>> YES, YES, GOOD, ALL RIGHT.

[laughter] HAD TO DO A LOT OF COAXING WITH--TO MAKE YOU ALL BELIEVERS, I CAN TELL.

OKAY, OH, IT'S LOOKING GOOD.

JANE AND SUE, GET A CHAIR.

COME ON OVER, AND LET'S JOIN.

I'VE GOT SOME MORE THREAD HERE.

LET'S SEE IF IT WORKS FOR YOU TOO.

IF IT WORKS FOR IRMA, IT'S BOUND TO WORK FOR THE REST OF US.

HERE'S A SHORT NEEDLE.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME MASKING TAPE.

AND LET'S SEE, NOW.

IF THAT IS THE SIDE, OVER HERE WOULD BE THE SAME ONE.

SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN-- DO YOU ALL PREFER THE 100% COTTON OVER THE BLEND THREAD?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT... >> I LIKE THE WAY THE 100% COTTON QUILTS, BUT I USE THE BLEND WHEN I NEED A SPECIFIC COLOR THAT I CAN'T GET IN THE COTTON.

SOMETIMES YOU WANT A-- >> I NEED A NEEDLE.

>> YOU NEED A NEEDLE?

OKAY.

>> DO YOU PUT BEESWAX ON IT WHEN YOU-- >> I DON'T, BECAUSE THE QUILTING-- IF I HAVE TO USE THREAD THAT'S NOT QUILTING THREAD, I PUT BEESWAX ON IT, YEAH.

>> NOW, SEE, THIS IS THE GOOD PART ABOUT QUILTING ON A FRAME.

YOU GET TO SIT AROUND WITH PEOPLE AND-- >> YOU WORK WITH-- HERE IN THIS AREA, IRMA, YOU DO SOME TEACHING WITH SOME OF THE FOREIGN STUDENTS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THAT SOUNDS FASCINATING.

THEY MUST CARRY BACK A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICAN PATCHWORK.

IS THAT RIGHT, OR-- >> WELL, WE-- I'VE GOTTEN STARTED TEACHING WOMEN WHO HAVE COME TO THE TRIANGLE AREA BECAUSE THEIR HUSBANDS HAVE BEEN SENT HERE.

AND I'VE FOUND THAT NOT ONLY CAN THEY LEARN A LOT ABOUT OUR FOLK ART OF QUILTING, BUT IT MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO THEM TO RELATE TO OTHER PEOPLE AROUND A QUILTING FRAME.

AND SOMETIMES LANGUAGE IS A BARRIER, BUT JUST SITTING AROUND IN COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE AROUND A QUILTING FRAME.

AND THESE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN TURN OUT MARVELOUS PRODUCTS, BUT THE PROCESS HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PRODUCT.

>> I THINK ONE THING FOR ALL OF US TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT AS TEACHERS, WE TRY TO EXPLAIN ALL THE POSSIBILITIES, BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF.

EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE STYLE IN QUILTING, AND WE ALL END UP WITH THE END RESULT.

THE THREE LAYERS ARE GONNA BE CONNECTED, BUT HOW WE GET THERE COMES FROM EXPERIMENTING AND FINDING THE MOST COMFORTABLE WAY.

>> I THINK THE IDEA OF SENDING THIS AROUND IS REALLY NEAT.

>> WELL, THAT WAY, WE'LL EACH HAVE A PART OF IT.

>> I WONDERED HOW YOU WERE GOING TO QUILT IT.

>> WELL, I PROMISE TO COMPLETE THE BORDERS.

SO THAT'LL GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF A TAG END THERE.

AND I'M WORKING ON A LITTLE FRAME THAT WE CAN HAVE.

AND I'LL HAVE ALL OF YOU AUTOGRAPH THE PIECE OF FABRIC THAT'LL GO IN THAT FRAME THAT WILL HANG WITH THE QUILT WHEREVER IT IS.

SO YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS DOING YOUR WORK FOR IT.

IT WAS INTERESTING: ONCE MOTHER INSISTED THAT WE PUT THIS LEDGE IN HERE, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE QUILT; ALL OF A SUDDEN, A NEW PATTERN HAS EVOLVED FROM HAVING THIS TIED IN WITH THE GRAY HERE.

>> ALMOST A LEAF.

>> ALMOST A LEAF IDEA.

AND I HADN'T SEEN THAT UNTIL WE GOT IT ALL PIECED.

>> I LIKE THE LEDGE.

>> HOW DID YOU PUT THE LEDGE IN?

>> WELL, THE LEDGE IS-- THIS IS SHIRLEY'S LEDGE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE HAS INSERTED WHEN SHE DOES THE HOUSE ON THE HILL, AND THAT'S JUST A-- CAN BE EITHER A BIAS FOLD OR A STRAIGHT-OF-THE-GRAIN FOLD THAT WE JUST INCLUDE IN A SEAM.

AND IT JUST ADDS SOME EXTRA DIMENSION.

AND--BUT WE HAVE USED THAT MAINLY ON HOUSE ON THE HILL.

BUT IT DID WORK HERE.

I FELT AWFUL TAKING OUT YOUR STITCHES THAT YOU HAD ALREADY PUT IN.

IN SOME INSTANCES, A COUPLE OF YOU HAD HAND-PIECED IT.

AND IT WAS ALMOST A CRIMINAL ACT TO TAKE THEM OUT, TO INSERT THAT, BUT I FELT THAT IT DID ADD SOMETHING, A LITTLE-- >> IT GIVES IT MORE DEPTH.

>> YES, IT REALLY DOES.

WELL, MOTHER ALWAYS KNOWS BEST, HONESTLY.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN, WILL YOU?

[laughter] >> OKAY, YES, THEN I JUST-- NOW, WHAT WILL YOU DO THERE, IRMA, NOW THAT YOU'RE DOWN THERE?

YOU COULD LEAVE THAT DANGLING AND THEN JUST START UP HERE AGAIN SINCE YOU'RE GOING IN THAT SAME DIRECTION.

>> WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE?

>> WELL, NOW--OH, I SEE.

>> IF WE'RE JUST DOING ONE BLOCK, I BELIEVE THAT I WOULD END IT OFF HERE... >> MM-HMM.

>> BECAUSE THERE'S NEARLY NO PLACE TO GO UNLESS I WANTED TO TRY THAT.

>> DO ONE OF THOSE AWKWARD THINGS.

WELL, NOW, ON THE SHEET OF PAPER THAT I SEND OUT, I'M GOING TO INDICATE, FOR INSTANCE, FROM THIS LINE TO HERE, IT WILL BE 1/2 AN INCH.

SO THAT WOULD BE TWO ROWS OF THE 1/4 INCH MASKING TAPE.

AND THAT WILL HELP.

YOU WILL HAVE THAT AS A GUIDE.

WHERE THE ANTENNA GOES, I'VE SIMPLY-- FOR INSTANCE, HERE IT STARTS ABOUT 1/4 OF AN INCH UP SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO FOOL WITH THE SEAM ALLOWANCE.

AND I FOUND THE MIDPOINT HERE SO JUST WOULD DRAW A MASKING TAPE LINE FROM THERE TO THERE, THEN THE MIDPOINT UP HERE, AND THEN THIS WILL FALL INTO THE NEXT BLOCK.

IN OTHER WORDS, THIS WOULD GO FROM HERE UP, FROM HERE THIS WAY, AND THEN FIND THE MIDPOINT HERE.

YOU SEE, YOU HAVE JUST A GUIDE TO GO.

THEN THIS LONG DIAGONAL I DIVIDED IN THIRDS, SO YOU'D BE COMING ALL THE WAY FROM HERE OVER HERE.

>> BUT YOU WILL WRITE ALL THIS DOWN.

>> YES, IT WILL ALL BE IN GOOD, STRONG ENGLISH.

I THINK YOU'LL GET THAT.

AND SO A FEW LITTLE MISTAKES WILL-- THAT WILL MAKE IT INDIVIDUAL.

THE DOUBLE CROSSHATCHING TRULY ENHANCED THIS ENTIRE QUILT.

THEY DID A LOVELY JOB OF QUILTING IT.

AND AS IT WAS SENT AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE SENT A SOFT FRAME IN THE BOX, AND SO EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO SIGN ONCE THEY HAD PUT THEIR QUILTING STITCHES ON IT.

IT WILL BECOME A PERMANENT RECORD, AND WE'RE WAITING FOR A VERY SPECIAL TIME TO GIVE THIS TO OUR PBS STATION IN NORTH CAROLINA.

OUR BLOCK OF THE DAY IS WEATHER VANE.

IT'S A BASIC NINE-PATCH, AND BY NOW, YOU'VE CERTAINLY GOTTEN NINE-PATCH DOWN PAT, BUT I THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT IN THREE RENDITIONS: SHIRLEY'S SAMPLER IN THE PINKS, OUR SPINNING SPOOLS SAMPLER, AND THEN IN THE BLUES AND IN THE PURPLE.

REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE TEMPLATES.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE START WITH OUR SMALLEST ELEMENTS FIRST.

WE WOULD GET OUR TRIANGLES PUT TOGETHER AND OUR FLYING GEESE RECTANGLE.

THEY WOULD BE SEWN TO FORM OUR 4 1/2 INCH SQUARE.

ONCE THIS SQUARE WAS ASSEMBLED, WE WOULD GO BACK TO OUR RECTANGULAR SETUP FOR SEWING THE BASIC NINE-PATCH TOGETHER.

THREE RECTANGLES TO FORM A 12 1/2 INCH SQUARE.

OUR SHOW NEXT TIME WILL FEATURE THE FLEXICURVE.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND I'M ANXIOUS TO TEACH YOU SEW AND FLIP WITH CURVES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT TIME.

THANK YOU.

[upbeat acoustic guitar music] ♪ ♪ Captioning byCaptionMax www.captionmax.com announcer: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY GRANTS FROM GINGHER, INCORPORATED, MAKERS OF SCISSORS AND SHEARS FOR HOME AND INDUSTRY, AND: GEORGIA BONESTEEL IS THE AUTHOR OF LAP QUILTING PUBLISHED BY OXMOOR HOUSE AND AVAILABLE IN LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES NATIONWIDE.