[synthesized jingle] [upbeat acoustic guitar music] ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME.

THE QUILTING BEE HAS CERTAINLY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

TODAY IS A SPECIAL SHOW.

WE HAVE GUESTS VISITING US, AND THEY ALL HAVE BROUGHT THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.

AND BECAUSE OF LAP QUILTING, THEY'RE ALL WORKING ON INDIVIDUAL THINGS RATHER THAN ONE GREAT BIG QUILT.

A COUPLE OF GALS ARE A PART OF THE NORTH CAROLINA QUILT SYMPOSIUM, AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE THE NORTH CAROLINA LILLY ON A T-SHIRT, ON A TOTE BAG, AND EVEN STATIONERY?

THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT YOU CAN DO IN YOUR STATE OR YOUR COUNTRY OR EVEN YOUR PARRISH ONCE YOU GET ORGANIZED.

AND AS A WHOLE GROUP, THEN YOU CAN MORE ORE LESS DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE HERE ON THIS CALENDAR ALSO.

THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND THE NORTH CAROLINA QUILT SYMPOSIUM IS FORMED REALLY TO PROMOTE AND PERPETUATE THE ART OF QUILTING.

AND IN THIS CASE, WE'RE PUTTING OUT A QUARTERLY CALENDAR SO WE CAN ALERT PEOPLE TO WHEN THERE'LL BE, A NEW, SAY, AN OPENING OR A SHOW, A MUSEUM THAT WILL INVOLVE QUILTS, OR SOMETHING THAT WILL PERTAIN TO THE ART OF QUILTING.

WE WANT TO ALSO THINK TODAY ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE CONNECTING THE THREE LAYERS.

AND WHAT ARE THE TOOLS?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO NEED?

WE'RE GOING TO NEED NEEDLES, AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO RECOMMEND A SHORT NEEDLE.

NOW, THAT MEANS A HIGHER NUMBER WILL HAVE A SHORTER NEEDLE.

THEY EVEN GO AS HIGH AS A 10 OR 11, AND THAT'S A REAL SHORT NEEDLE.

SOME OF THEM EVEN COME WITH EXTRA-LARGE EYES, WHICH MAKES IT EASIER FOR YOU TO SEE THE THREAD.

BUT I DO THINK THAT A SHORT NEEDLE WILL PRODUCE A MORE EVEN AND A MORE CONSISTENT STITCH.

WE'RE ALSO GONNA USE THE THREAD, THE QUILTING THREAD.

NOW IT COMES IN 100% COTTON, OR YOU CAN GET A BLEND TODAY.

I REALLY PREFER THE COTTON.

IT HAS A NICE WAX COATING ON IT.

AND I HAVE FOUND THAT YOU REALLY DON'T EVEN NEED TO PULL YOUR THREAD THROUGH WAX ANYMORE.

SOME PEOPLE PREFER THE BEESWAX.

MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE HABIT OF USING IT AND YOU'RE JUST MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

YOU CAN SEE AN ARRAY OF THIMBLES, AND I DO THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

YOU'RE NOT ONLY GONNA NEED THE THIMBLE TO HELP DIRECT THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE THROUGH THOSE THREE LAYERS, BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN IN THE HABIT OF USING IT IN THEIR OFF HAND, AND I THINK THAT WORKS NICELY ALSO.

THIS LITTLE THIMBLE WITH THE FLAT HEAD ON IT IS NICE BECAUSE WHEN THAT NEEDLE COMES THROUGH, YOU NEED SOMETHING TO PROTECT YOUR FINGERS.

THEY GET CALLOUSED.

AND ONCE THE TIP OF THE NEEDLE HITS THAT, YOU REALIZE YOU'VE CONNECTED THE THREE LAYERS, AND THAT WAY, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR ONE OR YOUR THREE STITCHES AND GO ON FROM THERE.

I HAVE FOUND THAT IN QUILTING, MYSELF, I AM MORE COMFORTABLE WITHOUT A HOOPER OR FRAME.

BUT I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO MORE OR LESS TRY AND EXPERIMENT AND FIND WHICH WAY WORKS FOR YOU.

IN DOING LAP QUILTING WITHOUT A FRAME, I THINK IT'S MORE OR LESS A TECHNIQUE OF LEARNING TO MANIPULATE THE FABRIC TOWARDS YOU.

I THINK YOU FIND BOTH HANDS ARE WORKING.

I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED LADIES WHEN I'VE WATCHED THEM AT A BIG QUILTING FRAME WHERE THEY MORE OR LESS QUILT IN WHAT I CALL ALMOST A "ROCK AND ROLL MOTION."

THEIR THUMB RESTS UP ON THE TOP OF THE QUILT AND ALMOST ACTS AS A BALANCE.

AND THEN THIS, WHERE THE THIMBLE IS, RESTS BEHIND AND HELPS TO BRING IT THROUGH.

SO TODAY WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY SPEND TIME WATCHING FIVE DIFFERENT LADIES HANDLE THE FABRIC AND, WHAT'S MORE THAN THAT, GET TO SEE THE WONDERFUL PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

COME JOIN ME IN THE STUDIO.

WELCOME, CHARLOTTE QUILTERS GUILD.

IT'S A REAL THRILL TO HAVE SOMEONE HERE ON THE SET WITH ME.

IT'S BEEN KIND OF LONELY HERE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY'S SHOW AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE ART OF QUILTING, CONNECTING THE THREE LAYERS.

I THOUGHT WE'D TAKE TIME TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE BEFORE WE GET INTO QUILTING.

SUE MCCARTER, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

ANNE DICKERSON, ELLEN EANES, GERI CLARK, AND MAXINE WOOD OVER THERE WITH THE DRESDEN PLATE.

BEFORE WE ACTUALLY ZOOM IN ON CLOSE-UPS OF EVERYONE QUILTING, I THOUGHT WE'D TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND TALK ABOUT THE FOOLPROOF KNOT.

AND I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE THE ANSWER FOR PULLING A KNOT THROUGH THE THREE LAYERS, AND I'D LIKE TO DEMONSTRATE IT JUST ONCE HERE, THE FACT THAT WE GO AHEAD AND THREAD THE NEEDLE AND THEN TAKE THE UNKNOTTED END.

AND I LIKE TO THINK OF IT COMING TOWARDS THE NEEDLE AND GRABBING IT BETWEEN AND THEN SIMPLY WRAPPING IT ONCE, TWICE, SOMETIMES THREE TIMES.

AND THEN SIMPLY SLIDE THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH.

AND WHEN YOU SLIDE IT, YOU'RE GONNA FIND THAT YOU'RE USUALLY LEFT WITH A LITTLE-- YOU HAVE TO KIND OF PULL IT THERE, BUT YOU'RE LEFT WITH A LITTLE TAIL.

AND THAT--WELL, THE TAIL IS NOT GONNA...

THERE IT IS.

THERE IS THE TAIL.

AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SNIP OFF THAT END, BUT THAT'S THE END THAT YOU PULL ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

DO YOU USE THAT KNOT, SUE?

>> I DO.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> VERY EFFECTIVE.

>> I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE WORKING ON.

EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT PROJECT TODAY, AND WHAT EXACTLY-- CAN YOU SHOW AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON?

>> THIS IS THE BACK OF A VEST, AN IRIS VEST, DESIGNED BY CAROL HOLLIS IN TOPEKA, KANSAS.

>> OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> IT'S MADE OUT OF GLUE SHEEN.

>> I RECOGNIZE THIS IS-- I SHOWED SOME OF DOROTHY BRINKMAN'S-- >> YES, THIS IS DOT BRINKMAN'S LATTICE DESIGN ON THE BACKGROUND.

>> THAT'S SO FITTING WITH THE FLORAL DESIGN, AND I HAVE THE FEELING THAT THIS IRIS WOULD JUST KEEP COMING DOWN THE VEST.

DOES THE FRONT HAVE THE IRIS ON IT ALSO?

>> THE FRONT HAS IRIS ON IT ALSO, AND ONE OF THE LEAVES CROSSES FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT SIDE.

>> OH, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

NOW, WHAT HAVE YOU PUT IN HERE, SUE?

WHAT IS THIS?

>> I'M USING FLANNEL AS MY MIDDLE LAYER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS BULKY AND I CAN WEAR MY VEST YEAR-ROUND.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU QUILT WITH A HOOP AND WITHOUT, BOTH WAYS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, YES.

>> AND TELL ME HOW YOU GET WHEN YOU-- YOU KIND OF CHANGED THE TENSION ON THAT.

I NOTICED IT'S KIND OF LOOSE.

>> I DO; I MAKE MY TENSION VERY LOOSE SO THAT I CAN GET A GOOD ROCKING MOTION WITH MY NEEDLE.

PUSHING UP WITH MY LEFT UNDERNEATH AND WITH MY RIGHT HAND WITH MY THIMBLE, I ROCK THE NEEDLE BACK AND FORTH SO THAT I CAN TAKE MY LITTLE STITCHES.

>> GOSH, YOU TAKE MORE THAN-- HOW MANY DO YOU TAKE EACH TIME?

>> OH, I TAKE FIVE OR SIX EACH TIME.

>> THAT'S GREAT THEN.

ALL THE FASTER.

>> BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOOSE TENSION, YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

>> RIGHT.

BUT YOU SEE HOW SHE NAVIGATES?

THE EYE OF THAT NEEDLE IS REALLY GOING THROUGH.

IT'S DETERMINED BY YOUR THIMBLE, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT'S DOING IT.

>> NOW, WHAT DO YOU USE ON YOUR OFF HAND?

ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?

>> WHEN IT GETS VERY SORE, I PUT SOME ADHESIVE TAPE UNDERNEATH.

>> OR JUST QUIT AND REST FOR AN HOUR OR TWO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND GO WASH DISHES.

>> OH, THAT'S LOVELY.

AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT IN ALL ECRU THREAD.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WHEN I GET INTO THE DESIGN PART, I WILL CHANGE TO THE BACKGROUND COLOR THREAD, AND I'LL QUILT VERY CLOSELY TO MY APPLIQUE SO THAT IT WILL STAND OUT.

>> HMM, THAT'S GOING TO BEAUTIFUL, SUE.

I LOVE IT.

WHILE WE'RE HERE, I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE THIS LARGE THING YOU BROUGHT.

CAN WE SHOW THAT AND HAVE MINUTE TO-- >> MY PARTNER AND I, JUDY BRIAN, DESIGNED THIS BRIDAL QUILT.

WE BEGAN DOING RESEARCH ON WOMEN AND WOMEN'S QUILTS AND GOT VERY INTERESTED IN ONE ASPECT OF A WOMAN'S LIFE, WHICH IS HER WEDDING AND HER MARRIAGE, AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A CUSTOM IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF A WEDDING QUILT, AND WE DESIGNED THIS QUILT TOGETHER.

IT'S VERY SYMBOLIC.

EACH BLOCK MEANS SOMETHING.

AND WE'RE NOW TEACHING A COURSE ON IT IN CHARLOTTE.

>> OH, I WANT TO SIGN UP.

IT JUST SOUNDS MARVELOUS.

NOW TELL ME.

I SEE YOU'RE QUILTING THIS IN-- YOU'RE USING ONE THESE HOOPS.

>> YES, WE ARE.

A STANDING HOOP.

>> AND WILL ALL OF THE BACKGROUND BE THE STRAIGHT LINES, OR ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE THAT?

WHAT WILL YOU DO THERE?

>> NO, ALL OF THE BACKGROUND WILL BE THE SAME.

IT WILL BE THE DOUBLE STRAIGHT LINES AS A FILL.

>> AND IT'LL BE GOING THIS WAY ALSO?

AND IT WILL BE GOING, YES, DIAGONALLY.

>> AND LOOK, YOU'VE PULLED THE CORDING THROUGH HERE FOR-- >> YES, WE HAVE USED THE CORD QUILTING IN THE TRUE LOVER'S KNOT IN EACH OF THE CORNERS AND IN THE HEARTS.

>> OH, THE COLORS ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL.

THEY REALLY ARE.

I LOOK AT CERTAIN FABRICS AND REMEMBER WHERE I'VE USED THEM MYSELF.

THAT WAS PART OF A VEST I HAD.

>> I THINK THE MOST FUN WE HAD, I DID THE CORNUCOPIA, AND THIS LITTLE PINEAPPLE IS LITTLE, TEENY, 1/2 INCH PIECED HEXAGONS.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

THAT IS JUST LOVELY, SUE.

OH, IT REALLY IS.

AND I LIKE THE SWAG.

THIS KIND OF PULLS IT ALL TOGETHER.

NOW IS THERE MEANING IN THIS TOO?

>> YES, IN MOST OF THE BRIDAL QUILTS, WE FOUND THEY USED VERY ELABORATE BORDERS.

THEY USED THE SWAG AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE BOW KNOTS.

THAT WAS CUSTOM OF NEVER HAVING CUTTING A THREAD-- CUTTING A RIBBON, AND THEY WOULD TIE ALL OF THEIR RIBBONS TOGETHER.

>> WELL, NOW, HOW ARE GOING TO SHARE THIS?

ARE YOU GONNA HAVE IT SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR, AND THEN SHE'S GONNA HAVE IT SIX MONTHS?

>> NO, WE'RE MAKING ANOTHER ONE.

THIS IS HERS.

AND WE'RE MAKING MINE RIGHT NOW DURING THE CLASS.

>> WILL YOUR COLORS BE THE SAME, OR ARE THEY-- >> NO, I'M DOING MINE IN PEACHES AND GREENS AND GLOW SHEEN.

>> OH, WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT ALSO.

GLOW SHEEN IS A GREAT FABRIC.

>> IT IS.

>> I'VE ENJOYED WORKING FOR IT-- WITH IT.

POLISHED COTTON, WHEN YOU WASH IT, IT LOSES A LOT OF ITS SHEEN, BUT THE GLOW SHEEN RETAINS IT, AND IT IS LOVELY.

AND I LOVE THE COLORS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON.

AS LONG AS WE'RE HOLDING UP A BIG ONE, LET'S LOOK AT THIS.

>> OKAY.

>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE IT FOR US, ANNE?

>> WELL, THIS IS A PINE TREE PATTERN.

I GOT THIS PARTICULAR PATTERN OUT OF JEFFREY GUTCHEON'S BOOK, QUILT DESIGN WORKBOOK, AND I'M MAKING IT FOR MY MOTHER TO PUT IN FRONT OF A PICTURE WINDOW OVER HER COUCH, AND THERE ARE TALL PINE TREES OUTSIDE THE WINDOW THAT I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED.

OH, THAT'S SO APPROPRIATE.

SO THIS IS A REAL LABOR OF LOVE.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> YOU'RE DOING THIS AND GIVING IT AWAY.

AND NOW, YOU QUILT JUST ON YOUR LAP WITHOUT A HOOP OR A FRAME OR ANYTHING.

>> AND NO THIMBLE.

>> AND NO THIMBLE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

>> I DO EVERYTHING WRONG, BUT IT-- >> BUT I NOTICED SHE IS USING THE TAPE.

WE HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT MASKING TAPE, DIFFERENT FORMS OF IT, HAS BEEN A GREAT HELP, DON'T YOU THINK, AS A GUIDELINE FOR QUILTING?

I THINK YOU MUST REMEMBER NOT TO LEAVE IT ON FOR, LIKE, A MONTH OR SO, AND IT MIGHT ABSORB, YOU KNOW, IN THE FABRIC, BUT I THINK IT'S GREAT.

YOU CAN DIFFERENT WIDTHS, AND THERE'S EVEN NEW TAPE OUT THAT YOU CAN PULL OFF THE DESIRED WIDTH YOU WANT.

AND WHAT YOU DO IS, YOU LINE THIS UP WITH HE SEAM LINE AND THEN QUILT RIGHT ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT.

>> IT'S ESPECIALLY GREAT FOR DARK FABRICS.

>> RIGHT, WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE ANY MARKING AND ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE STRAIGHT LINES YOU'VE GOT GOING ON THERE.

WELL, I JUST LOVE THAT.

IT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT WILL YOU DO OUT HERE IN THE BORDER?

>> I HAVEN'T DECIDED YET.

I FOUND THAT IF I GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE THINKS I DO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WHEN I GET THERE, IT JUST ALL FALLS TOGETHER.

>> IT'LL HAPPEN.

WELL, IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT REALLY IS.

>> IS THIS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT?

>> YES.

>> OH, IS IT REALLY?

WE'RE GIVEN IT AWAY.

ELLEN, I LOVE THOSE COLORS.

THEY ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL.

HOLD IT UP, AND ANNE, CAN YOU TAKE A CORNER OF THAT?

AND WE CAN SEE THAT THIS WILL BE A WALL HANGING, AND THIS FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

THIS IS COMMISSION WORK.

>> YES, IT IS.

I DON'T USUALLY DO THAT, BECAUSE I HATE TO GIVE AWAY.

I GIVE AWAY THINGS TO MY CHILDREN, QUILTS THAT I'VE MADE, BUT IT'S SORT OF A WRENCH TO GIVE AWAY SOMETHING YOU'VE WORKED THIS LONG ON.

AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FABRICS, WHICH I BOUGHT IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND I FIND THAT I DO PICK UP FABRICS HERE AND THERE.

YOU HAVE TO IN ORDER TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT-LOOKING.

AND I'M ALSO OUT OF IT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO THEN.

>> BUT ELLEN, I LIKE-- LOOK HOW SHE'S TAKEN THE TIME, AND WHERE SHE HAS CUT OUT HER DIAMONDS, SHE HAS CENTERED EACH ONE OF HER LITTLE FLOWERS.

IT'S JUST SO EVIDENT THE TIME AND THE PATIENCE YOU'VE TAKEN WITH THAT.

ALSO NOTICE THAT ELLEN HAS STARTED QUILTING IN THE CENTER, AND THAT'S ONE POINT WE DO NEED TO MAKE IN ALL OF OUR--WHATEVER FORM OF QUILTING YOU DO, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO START IN THE CENTER AND WORK OUT TOWARDS THE END.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO START AT THE BORDER AND WORK IN.

>> WELL, I LIKE TO USE THIS ROUND HOOP TOO, BECAUSE THE MOST CAREFUL WAY TO QUILT, OF COURSE, IS ALWAYS COMING TOWARDS YOURSELF.

THIS WAY, I CAN TURN IT TO REACH ODD ANGLES, AND I'M NEVER UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT.

AND AGAIN, I CAN ADJUST THE TENSION TO SUIT MYSELF, SO IT'S A VERY ENJOYABLE THING TO ME.

I SORT OF FEEL LIKE A STITCH IS A STITCH AND I'M ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO KEEP OR SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS TREASURE, SO IT'S A LABOR LOVE.

>> IT REALLY IS BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, I CAN'T GO BY YOU WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THAT LOVELY JACKET IN THE BACK.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A COUPLE OF SHOWS ON VESTS, AND I THINK IT HAS BECOME SO POPULAR.

NOW, THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A VEST.

IT'S A WHOLE JACKET, AND IT IS SO RICH-LOOKING.

IT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

>> I SORT OF GOT CARRIED AWAY WITH PURPLE.

>> WELL, TURN IT AROUND, SO WE CAN SEE THE BACK SIDE.

>> I STARTED IT WITH ONE PIECE OF PIMA COTTON IN THE PURPLE, AND THEN I FOUND THAT OVER THE YEARS I HAD COLLECTED A NUMBER OF PIECES OF PURPLE CALICOS AND TIE PRINTS AND JUMBLED THEM ALL TOGETHER.

THEY ALL BLENDED TOGETHER.

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND I LIKE THE WAY YOU'VE TAKEN THE ANGLE AND THEN YOU'VE BROKEN IT BY HAVING THE STRAIGHT.

>> WELL, YES, THE PATTERN HAS A SET-IN PIECE IN THE SIDE, AND THIS GIVES IT SHAPE.

I LIKE THAT VERY MUCH.

>> I DO TOO.

>> IT'S A VERY FLATTERING JACKET.

>> AND NOT SO BOXY.

>> NO.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE TEACHING A CLASS IN THAT?

>> YES, I'M TEACHING A CLASS IN THIS, SO IT'S SOMETHING NEW FOR ME.

>> OPEN UP THE LINING SO WE CAN GET THE FULL EFFECT OF THAT.

OH, JUST BEAUTIFUL.

IT REALLY IS VERY NICE.

GERI, WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

THAT'S A WHOLE-- >> I'M WORKING ON A CHERRY BASKET, AND IT'S GONNA BE A PILLOW FOR MY DAN, WHICH IS CHRISTMAS COLORS, RED AND GREEN.

I WAS TELLING ANNE THAT I HAD MADE A SCHOOLHOUSE PILLOW, AND SOMEHOW I FELT I NEEDED ANOTHER PILLOW THAT WAS A PICTURE NOT A BLOCK PATTERN, SO I CHOSE THE CHERRY BASKET.

>> NOW, YOU'VE SAID IT.

IT IS ON THE DIAGONAL, ISN'T IT?

>> MM-HMM.

>> SO WHEN THE--I SEE.

AND YOU'RE JUST MORE OR LESS DOING OUTLINE QUILTING, AREN'T YOU, JUST AROUND THE-- DO YOU DO 1/4 INCH, OR DO YOU COME IN CLOSER TO THE-- >> WELL, IN HER, IT'S 1/4 INCH, AND I APPLIQUED THE HANDLE ON AND PIECED THE BLOCKS.

>> RIGHT, YOU COULD ALMOST GO AHEAD AND QUILT SOME FLOWERS COMING OUT OF THAT BASKET, COULDN'T YOU?

>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT.

OR MAYBE IF I COULD MAKE SOME LITTLE CHERRIES IN THE CORNER WITH THE LITTLE-- YOU KNOW HOW CHERRIES ALWAYS LOOK ON THE STEMS WITH THE LITTLE LEAF HANGING OFF.

>> HOW DO YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT COLOR QUILTING THREAD?

I FIND I HAVE A TENDENCY TO PICK UP THE WHITE AND ECRU MORE THAN OFTEN, BUT I DO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE WRITING AND SAYING, "HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT COLOR OF THREAD TO USE?"

DO YOU THINK IT'S DETERMINED BY THE BACK OF YOUR FABRIC, OR-- >> WELL, IF I'M DOING VERY ELABORATE QUILTING, I'D TRY NOT DO IT IN A PRINT, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW UP.

SO I LIKE THE SHADOW THAT THE QUILTING MAKES, AND I TEND TO DO IT IN A PLAIN-COLOR FABRIC, AND BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL THAT MY STITCHES ARE PERFECT, I FIND THAT MATCHING THREAD ALLOWS ME A LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR, WHERE THE CONTRASTING THREAD, EVERY STITCH HAS TO BE PERFECT, AND I HAVE NOT REACHED THAT DEGREE OF PERFECTION YET.

>> I'VE ALWAYS SAID IN CLASS THAT IF YOUR STITCHES WERE DONE ON A SEWING MACHINE, THEY'D BE PERFECTLY CONSISTENT, SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT YOU NEED TO GET PERFECTLY INCONSISTENT STITCHES, BECAUSE THAT'S THE HUMAN QUALITY OF QUILTING.

AND IT HAS HARD TO GET 'EM-- I THINK OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 'EM SHORT AND EVEN AND TOGETHER.

BUT IF THEY WERE PERFECT, THEY'D BE DONE ON A SEWING MACHINE.

>> WELL, I'M MORE RELAXED ABOUT IT IF MY THREAD MATCHES MY BACKGROUND AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT EVERY STITCH BEING PERFECT.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

IT REALLY IS.

OH, MAXINE, I LOVE THE COLORS IN THAT DRESDEN PLATE.

YOU LOOK AT THOSE COLORS, AND IT'S KIND OF A STEP BACK IN TIME.

I THINK--TELL US ABOUT THAT BLOCK.

WASN'T THAT AN OLD FROM AN OLD COLLECTION, OR-- >> THE PATCHES WERE GIVEN TO ME BY MY HUSBAND'S AUNT LAURA, AND MOST OF THEM DATE BACK AT LEAST TO THE 1930s.

I HAD PUT THE THINGS ASIDE A LONG TIME AGO TO WORK ON WHEN I "RETIRED."

AND AFTER HAVING RUN OUT OF THINGS TO DO OR THE HOUSE WOULDN'T STAND ANOTHER PICTURE OR ANOTHER PILLOW OR ANOTHER AFGHAN, I PULLED OUT THE QUILLS.

AND I'VE ALREADY DONE ONE AND PIECED IT ALL IN ONE P-- AND QUILTED IT ALL IN ONE PIECE.

AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE AND PLEASURE, IT TOOK VIEWER'S CHOICE AT THE CHARLOTTE QUILTERS GUILD QUILT SHOW AT THE OBSERVER LAST SPRING.

>> I REMEMBERED SEEING THAT.

IT WAS LOVELY.

>> THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT THESE FABRICS; THEY ARE VERY TIGHTLY WOVEN.

AND IN TRYING TO PULL MY NEEDLE THROUGH SOMETIMES, THE THREAD AND THE NEEDLE ARE HARD TO HANG ON TO, SO I USE A LITTLE RUBBER FINGERTIP, AND IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.

IT WILL GRASP THE NEEDLE, AND I CAN PULL IT THROUGH.

>> I'VE USED ONE OF THOSE ON MY OFF HAND TOO.

I GET KIND OF A CALLOUS HERE, AND I FOUND THAT IF PUT ONE ON MY OFF HAND, IT WORKS NICELY ALSO.

BUT I THINK THE COMBINATION OF THOSE COLORS ARE SO PRETTY.

AND I NOTICE YOU'RE KIND OF ALMOST QUILTING IN THE DITCH, AREN'T YOU?

>> YES, QUILTING IN THE DITCH ON EACH ONE.

THEN I HAVE A SMALL FAN OR DRESDEN PLATE PADDING IN THE CORNER.

>> TURN OVER THE BACK, MAXINE, 'CAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT EARLIER AND IT LOOKS SO PRETTY ALREADY, WHAT YOU'VE GOT STARTED.

OH, THAT'S LOVELY.

IT REALLY IS JUST LOVELY.

I WANT TO SPEND JUST A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT YOUR GUILD.

I KNOW THAT IT HAS GROWN, SO THE FIRST TIME-- NOW, JUST KEEP QUILTING, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA-- I WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW YOU DO HANDLE THAT.

BUT I JUST ADMIRE YOUR GROUP.

SO THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU WERE IN A SMALL LIBRARY ROOM.

THE NEXT TIME I CAN DOWN, YOU WERE IN A HUGE ROOM IN A CHURCH, AND I KIDDED YOU ABOUT GOING TO THE COLOSSEUM NEXT.

AND IT HAS GROWN FROM, WHAT, EIGHT MEMBERS TO OVER 100.

>> TO OVER 100 IN 18 MONTHS.

WE HAVE JUST BEEN SO PLEASED WITH THE TURNOUT.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE KNEW WERE IN CHARLOTTE WHO WERE QUILTERS, BUT WE COULDN'T FIND THEM, AND FINALLY WE DID.

AND THEN THEY BEGAN TO FIND US.

WELL, I KNOW FOR ME, JUST GETTING WITH A GROUP AND BEING ABLE TO FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING AND JUST CONCENTRATE ON YOUR CLOTH AND TALK ABOUT A NEW PATTERN OR SOMETHING YOU'VE JUST LEARNED OR SHARING IT, IT'S A REAL FUN THING TO GET TOGETHER, 'CAUSE YOU'RE LEARNING AND YOU'RE PRODUCING, AND... >> WELL, WE'VE HAD SOME INTERESTING PROGRAMS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND SO MANY NEWCOMERS COME MAINLY TO SEE THE PROGRAM, BUT THEN THEY FIND THEY'RE THOROUGHLY INTO THE WHOLE SUBJECT AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO HAPPEN.

YOUR EYES OPEN TO DESIGN ALL AROUND YOU AND COLOR, AND YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT THINGS IN A NEW WAY.

AND EVERYONE'S CAUGHT UP IN THIS FEVER NOW.

AND BESIDES THE COMRADESHIP, IT'S BEEN A GREAT-- AN EDUCATION, REALLY, FOR ALL US WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IT.

>> I KNOW IT; HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEN JOIN YOUR GROUP YET?

>> NOT YET.

>> NOT YET.

WELL, MAYBE WE'LL GET ONE.

>> BUT ONE OF THE NICEST THINGS I THINK WE DO, SINCE ARE MEETINGS ARE AT NIGHT, SINCE MOST OF OUR LADIES DO WORK, WE HAVE STARTED WHAT WE CALL "SOCIAL HOUR," AND THAT'S AT 6:30 TO 7:30.

AND EVERYBODY BRINGS A BAG SUPPER OR THEIR DESSERT OR SOMETHING TO DRINK, AND SO WE HAVE AN HOUR OF JUST SITTING AROUND SHARING WHAT WE ARE DOING BEFORE OUR REGULAR MEETING.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

>> WELL, NOW I NOTICED, SUE, THAT YOU'RE IN A MOTHERLY WAY.

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR BABY QUILT YET OR PLANNED YOUR BLUE AND PINK QUILT YET?

>> NOT YET, BUT I'M WORKING ON IT.

>> YOU'RE WORKING ON IT.

OKAY, I'M GLAD.

>> I DO HAVE A FAVORITE PICKED OUT.

>> WELL, THAT'S GOOD.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT ELLEN WAS DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE, AND I'VE HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT DOING COMMISSIONED WORK.

I'VE DONE A COUPLE OF QUILTS THAT HAVE GONE AWAY, AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY FEEL LIKE I DO.

IT'S LIKE YOU'VE LOST A CHILD.

AND I WAS TALKING TO A GAL AT A CRAFT FAIR ONE TIME, AND SHE HAD AN INTERESTING THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND THAT'S ALL SHE DOES, IS WORK FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

AND SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE WAS QUILTING, SHE CONCENTRATES ON THE COST OF GROUND BEEF AND MAYBE THE LATEST FENDER BENDER THAT HER TEENAGER HAS HAD.

AND THEN WHEN SHE SELLS THE QUILT, ALL THOSE BAD THINGS JUST GO OUT THE DOOR.

AND I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD THEORY TO HAVE.

>> WELL, I AGREED TO DO THIS FOR SOMEONE IN CHARLOTTE WHO HAD ADMIRED SOMETHING THAT I HAD IN THE CHARLOTTE QUILT SHOW, AND HE WANTED TO BUY IT.

AND I HAD MADE THAT PARTICULAR PIECE FOR MY HUSBAND FOR HIS OFFICE, AND MY FIRST REACTION WAS, "NO, I COULDN'T POSSIBLY SELL THAT."

SO THEN HE SAID, "WELL, IF YOU WOULD EVER CONSIDER MAKING ANOTHER ONE, I'D LIKE TO BUY IT."

SO I PARTICULARLY LIKE THIS MAN, HE'S BEEN AWFULLY NICE TO THIS GROUP, AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING.

I FEEL THAT HE APPRECIATES IT.

IT WILL NOT GO IN A CORNER.

IN FACT, I KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING TO PUT IT.

AND HE SELECTED THE COLORS.

I DON'T THINK I COULD LET SOMEONE DICTATE TO ME WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO AND WHAT COLORS TO USE.

I FEEL THAT I HAVE TO DO MY OWN THING WITH IT.

I HAVE TO SELECT THE PATTERN AND THE COLORS IN ORDER TO BE COMFORTABLE.

>> DO YOU WORK TWO PROJECTS AHEAD?

>> YES, ALWAYS.

I MEAN, WHILE YOU'RE FINISHING ONE, YOU THINK OF A NEW ONE THAT YOU'RE DYING TO DO.

IN A WAY, IT'S FRUSTRATING.

THE NEW MAGAZINES COME OUT AND NEW BOOKS, AND YOU THINK YOU'RE ALL SETTLED ON THE PERFECT QUILT, AND THEN SOMETHING NEW COMES OUT, AND YOU THINK, "UH-OH."

>> I DO FIND, THOUGH, THAT I HAVE A TENDENCY TO FINISH THINGS.

I MAY BE WORKING ON FOUR OR FIVE THINGS AT ONE TIME, BUT I LIKE EVERYTHING I'M DOING SO MUCH THAT I FINISH THE THINGS, AND THEN I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.

>> I KNOW IT.

I FIND THAT LOT OF MY STUDENTS GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END, AND I THINK THAT'S SO ENCOURAGING.

WHO WANTS YOUR PROJECTS TO END UP IN A CLOSET SOMEWHERE?

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FINISH.

>> WELL, I DO HAVE NEEDLEPOINT PIECES TO FINISH WHICH NO ONE HAS FINISHED FOR ME.

>> SO YOU STARTED OUT IN NEEDLEPOINT AND THEN SWITCHED OVER TO QUILTING?

>> YES, I WAS DOING A LOT OF NEEDLEPOINT AND OTHER EMBROIDERY, AND I FIGURED A STITCH WAS A STITCH, AND I WANTED QUILTS, AND THEY TOOK A LOT OF STITCHES BUT REALLY NOT AS MUCH AS YOU'D PUT IN A LARGE NEEDLEPOINT PIECE.

SO I FIND IT SATISFYING FROM THAT ANGLE.

>> SUE AND I HAD A CHANCE LAST YEAR TO TRAVEL OVER TO CHATTANOOGA TO BETS RAMSEY'S LITTLE-- WELL, IT'S MORE THAN LITTLE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL, BIG SYMPOSIUM THAT SHE HAS.

AND I THINK THE THING ABOUT BETS RAMSEY'S SYMPOSIUM IS THAT EACH YEAR, SHE HAS A DIFFERENT THEME.

AND I THINK THAT'S-- I HOPE EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE AT SOME POINT TO GO TO A SYMPOSIUM OR A LARGE QUILT CONVENTION, BECAUSE IT REALLY MAKES IT SO NICE TO SHARE IDEAS, AND QUITE OFTEN, YOU HAVE PROFESSIONALS GIVING WORKSHOPS.

AND I THINK, PERHAPS, MAYBE YOU'VE HAD SOMEONE'S BOOK AND YOU'VE STUDIED UNDER THEM OR SEEN THEM, BUT THEN WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET TO SEE THE REAL THING, THEIR QUILTED WORKS, IT'S ALWAYS VERY EXCITING.

>> IT IS, WELL, AND THEN, JUST THE THRILL OF HAVING 200 OR 300 PEOPLE OF THE SAME INTEREST AND JUST EATING, SLEEPING, WORKING, TALKING QUILTS FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS IS ENOUGH TO CHARGE YOU UP FOR THE WHOLE YEAR SO THAT YOU CAN GO BACK AND GET TO WORK.

>> IT'S LIKE A SISTERHOOD.

>> I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT.

I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I'M PROUD OF THE BOARD, THE SYMPOSIUM, THAT HAS EVOLVED OUT OF THIS STATE.

AND HOPEFULLY, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT COUNTIES AND OTHER STATES AND EVEN PARISHES CAN DO, BECAUSE I KNOW MY HUSBAND WAS KIDDING ME ONE TIME AFTER WE TOOK A LONG DRIVE ACROSS THE STATE ONE DAY TO COME TO MEETING, AND HE SAID, "WELL, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CLUB LIKE THAT?"

AND I TOOK THE REMAINING THREE HOURS GOING BACK EXPLAINING TO HIM WHY.

I WAS GOING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT HE KNEW.

AND I THINK IT DOES MEAN SOME SACRIFICES ON THE PART OF YOUR FAMILY, BUT TO ME THE REWARDING THING IS, EVEN FOR YOUR CHILDREN, TO SEE THAT YOU CAN GET SO INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT YOU ALMOST LOSE YOURSELF.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S A GOOD-- IT'S A MARVELOUS OUT.

DON'T YOU FEEL THAT WAY?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> IT'S MORE THAN JUST A CRAFT, I THINK.

YOU FORGET ABOUT YOURSELF AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> I FIND MYSELF WORKED UP OVER THE DESIGN STUFF.

YOU END UP-- ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER.

YOU START OUT WITH ONE LITTLE PIECE OF RESEARCH FOR A QUILTING DESIGN OR A PIECE OF FABRIC, AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING RESEARCH INTO OLD FABRICS.

AND THEN YOU START LOOKING AT ALL FABRICS, AND YOU SEE THINGS THAT YOU HADN'T REALLY NOTICED BEFORE, AND IT OPENS YOUR EYES TO COLOR TOO.

>> A LOT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, "WHAT DETERMINES A CALICO?"

NOW, ALL I REALLY KNOW IS THAT I KNOW THE WORD "CALICO" CAME FROM THE WORD CALICUT IN INDIA, AND PERHAPS THAT WAS WHERE THEY FIRST STARTED.

BUT IS IT TRUE THAT A CALICO IS SIMPLY A SMALL LITTLE PRINT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS THE KIND OF PRINT THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE REVERSE SIDE?

DO YOU HAVE ANY TERMINOLOGY THAT-- >> NO, I DON'T.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE TODAY THINK OF CALICOS AS THE SMALL LITTLE PRINTS.

I DON'T THINK THEY WERE ALWAYS THE SMALL PRINTS.

I THINK THAT THE INTERESTING THING TODAY IS TO HAVE A COLLECTION OF FABRICS LIKE ANNE HAS HERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL ASK ME, "WELL, WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR FABRICS?

"CAN I GO OUT AND BUY SOME LIKE YOU JUST PUT IN THAT QUILT?"

AND I CAN'T REALLY, BECAUSE MAYBE I'VE COLLECTED THEM OVER THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

AND I TRY TO VISIT FABRIC STORES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND, IF I LEAVE THE COUNTRY, SOME INTERESTING FABRICS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

THIS IS WHAT I THINK MAKES IT VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

AND ANNE HAS SUCH A VARIETY IN HERE.

AND SHE'S GOING TO ENJOY LOOKING AT THIS EVERY TIME SHE SEES IT FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

>> IT MAKES QUILTING MORE INTERESTING WHEN YOU HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS TO LOOK AT.

>> AND MAYBE EACH ONE HAS A PERSONAL MEMORY FOR YOU FROM SOMEWHERE YOU WENT AND PICKED UP THIS PIECE OR THAT PIECE.

>> WELL, IT'S THE OLD STORY ABOUT YOU GET SO-- WE INVARIABLY GO TO THE REMNANT BOX, DON'T WE, BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT HERE WE ARE CREATING SOMETHING OUT OF MAYBE SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T COST AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S BEEN SO NICE HAVING YOU HERE TODAY.

IT REALLY HAS.

I HOPE WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD CLOSE-UPS AND SEEING EVERYTHING, THE WAY YOU'VE HELD A NEEDLE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONCENTRATE NEXT SHOW IN WHAT HAPPENS AFTER OUR BLOCKS ARE PUT TOGETHER AND THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THEM, PUTTING THEM TOGETHER INTO LARGE ROWS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE WORKING ON A HOOP OR AN ENTIRE QUILT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

WE ENJOYED IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, GEORGIA.

>> WE ENJOYED IT TOO.

male announcer: GEORGIA BONESTEEL IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK LAP QUILTING WITH GEORGIA BONESTEEL, BASED ON THIS TELEVISION SERIES.

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