In March of 2002, I went to Pigeon Forge for the Great American Quiltfest along with friends Bonnie Ouellette, Ellie Schultz and Penny Nichol. Penny and I were "newcomers" to the Mountain Quiltfest whereas Bonnie and Ellie had attended before. I am the newest quilter of our group and I would speculate that Bonnie, Ellie and Penny have a combined quilting experience of 45-50+ years.

In the opening reception crowd, my friends and I got separated and I found myself alone. I headed for the quilt show. I took in the quilts slowly, taking in every detail. Understand that I am still new to this quilting process (although I admit to be addicted) so I am anxious to know what and how everything is done. I recall appliquéd quilts, rag quilts, art quilts, baby quilts, machine and hand pieced quilts; a show of quilts as diverse as their makers.

On one aisle, I found what I consider a rather dark quilt — meaning that the colors indicated that the fabrics were either old or reproductions. I prefer very bold, bright colors or pastels with garden hues — but still I circled the room and came back to this quilt several times. I was intrigued by it's perfection. The quilt hung beautifully – not one ripple or wave — it was a perfect rectangle, hanging as though an invisible frame encased it. There was no border. Every teeny, tiny piece had been placed so as to arrange a design within the overall design. I stood close and touched the quilt. The piecing was perfect. I looked for just one seam offset — surely, this quilt maker would have just one little boo-boo? But no, the whole thing was perfect! The quilting was perfect. It was machine quilted. The quilter had meandered over the quilt, being careful not to sew into or over the light contrasting blocks. This created the effect of the light blocks literally jumping out at you. Free form quilting and every stitch length were equal. I decided that a perfectionist must have made it!

In class the next day, I told my teacher and classmates about the perfect quilt. After seeing the show during our lunch break, they agreed that the quilt was perfect. I told my friends about the perfect quilt. After a while, we were visiting the show again, peering over the perfect quilt. We tired to figure out how the blocks were made. We measured the squares and jotted down our estimates. We guessed as to whether this pattern might be included in one of the recent books on civil war quilts.

Somewhere throughout this process, we agreed that the quilt was perfect and that we should each attempt to recreate it — and maybe have a block swap in the process! It would be a good project to share. Penny took pictures with her digital camera. Then it was off to the vendors to begin buying civil war reproduction fabrics. We were overcome with the urge to create!

During the drive home, we made sketches of the quilt — or at least of our recollection of it. We spent hours the next two or so weeks looking for the pattern and making test blocks — but none looked right. It was at this time that Penny decided to get caught up on reading her quilt magazines. There on the front of Quilters Newsletter Magazine, September 2001, as big as day — was the perfect quilt. And it was indeed the same quilt, with the same name "Attic Treasure". The quilt had begun as a block swap with a friend. Now we had everything, yardage, cutting and piecing directions. It was decided that we would take the summer to make our quilts and be ready for show and tell at our September guild meeting.

Come September, everyone was ready — at least with their quilt tops — except me. I have no excuse, just getting side tracked with other projects, family, and job — the usual stuff. After several months of "no show" on my part, my friends decided to show their quilts without me. I think maybe they thought I could be shamed into getting mine made. But I have no shame — just too many quilt projects. My friends' quilts are truly lovely. And yes, theirs are perfect too. Penny made hers much larger than the original — and she hand quilted it!

And where is my perfect quilt? Its here — still in dream form and still perfect! If I don't get to work on it soon, however, I'm going to go broke buying civil war reproduction fabrics!

You can click on Bonnie and Eleanor's quilts for more about these quilts and detail pictures. More information about Penny's quilt is coming soon.

©2003 Brenda Hewell

Look for the article by Brenda's husband, John on "Babying Your Featherweight"

www.thequiltercommunity.com