The idea behind The Heart of Maryland Libraries quilt was to create a piece of art that visually renders the hearts of individual library systems throughout Maryland. More than 130 librarians and library users from across the state contributed their time and creativity to produce a diverse selection of twenty-seven quilt squares. The final result is a statement on the unifying nature of Maryland libraries. Customers can also peruse a copy of the scrapbook that Susan Howes created documenting the stories behind the quilt squares. The quilt will be displayed through Saturday, May 15 at the Calvert Library Prince Frederick after which it will continue on its journey around the state.
The Readers’ Quilt being raffled is another work of art created by library lover Anita Turley. Tickets are available for $1 each or 6 for $5 at any Calvert Library location until the drawing on May 28, 2010. Inspired by her mother, Eloise Konzak, a librarian for over 25 years in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, the quilt features books that were family favorites growing up and some that her mother gave to her grandson over the years. Sewn and designed by Turley, she turned the final top-quilting over to Michelle’s Quilts in Hughesville. She made and donated the quilt in memory of her mother, finishing the last stitch on what would have been her parent’s 60th anniversary on August 17, 2009 having started it in February of that year. The raffle is a fundraiser for Calvert Library and will go towards library materials.
Why do quilters quilt? In the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth century, quilts were made for utilitarian reasons. We needed warmth. When polyester was born in the mid-twentieth century and quilts took a nose dive in popularity. In the late 1970's oil prices caused polyester to get more expensive and good 'ole cotton came back and there was a quilt-making revival. Today most quilts are made to fulfill a quilter’s need to be creative. Many use beautiful cotton fabrics like a painter uses paint. Art quilts use various materials, not just cloth and are interpretative in their design rather than repeating a pattern.
Because making quilts by hand takes a long time, many quilters have learned to love computerized sewing machines to help make quilts in the twenty-first century. According to Marti Phelps, quilting instructor at the Calvert Quilt Shop and quilt historian, “We still appreciate what Grandma did and even like to create the same designs that she did but we piece and even quilt with a machine. We have so many quilts we want to make and making a quilt by machine is so much faster! An individual can machine-piece and machine-quilt her own bed-size quilt in a month or two, putting in an hour or so a day.”
Historically, quilting has always been a social event. Quilters got together to hand-quilt around a frame and they could finish a quilt in a day with 8-9 quilters seated at the frame. Quilters still gather to work and share stories about their families, keep up with community happenings, and support each other. Quilting is a stress reducer and creative outlet. When asked how else quilting has changed over the years, Phelps had this to say, “We don't use cardboard and scissors anymore to create patterns. With the invention of the rotary cutter, mat, and plastic rulers, we slice squares, rectangles, and strips. We have marvelous fibers to use for filling in a quilt today; in addition to polyester, we have wonderful cotton, wool, silk, and even bamboo for the ecology-minded. We even have "green" polyester batting made from recycled plastic bottles.”
While a nice quilt can keep your heating bill down, the hobby itself can be expensive. Many quilters use their home sewing machines, however "long-arm quilting machines" have become popular, though very expensive (“Try $35,000.” says Phelps). These machines have openings to slide the quilt into that are 30-36" deep. Soon a home quilting machine with an 11" opening will be available on the market for a mere $3,000. Quilting is big industry but quilters have big hearts. Come to the Calvert Library to see what Calvert County and Maryland quilters have to show you. For more information, call the Calvert Library Prince Frederick at 410-535-0291 or 301-855-1862.
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