Crazy about quilting

The store's back room was brightly colored chaos, strewn with fabric squares and humming with activity.

Quilters hunched over machines and eyed pieces critically, making sure they had placed each square just right. Some heaved exasperated sighs, frustrated by yet another seam sewn wrong. Others chatted happily with friends and admired the other quilts in progress.

It's not an uncommon sight at the Quilt Gallery, which hosts several sewing and quilting classes throughout the year.

But the quilters in the store's most recent class were children, many of whom had never picked up a pincushion before.

Each summer for the last decade, the Flathead Quilters Guild has organized "Quilts for Kids," a four-day class for local youths. This year, 16 children - 14 girls and two boys - took the class. Most were related to guild members and ranged in age from 9 to 13.

The quilt design varies each year, but it's usually a small lap blanket. Guild members select the pattern and the children choose the fabric they want to use.

Children pay just $20 and may purchase their material from any fabric store in the valley, said Joan Hodgeboom, a guild member and owner of the Quilt Gallery.

Normally, it would cost $60 to $70 to make a quilt this size, she said. Fabric stores provide a 20-percent discount and the guild covers the rest.

Hodgeboom has helped with Quilts for Kids for the last three years. For the first two, she provided discounted fabric for the young quilters. This summer, her store hosted the class.

She praised the youths' creativity and hard work. Gale Stevens, who organized this year's class, agreed.

Stevens is constantly amazed by the colors and fabric combinations that children show up with. That's one reason guild members volunteer to help with the class, she said.

"These kids are so inspiring," she said.

Stevens, who has been an avid quilter for the last three years, has her own inspiration to share.

"I am passionate about it," she said. "I love cutting fabric into little pieces and putting them together to make something beautiful."

Horse patterns were popular this summer; at least three children made equine-themed blankets. But the material and color combinations were as varied as the kids themselves.

Some chose the brightest fabrics they could find; others opted for interesting blends of stripes and polka dots. The two boys in the class made quilts with outdoor themes: fly fishing and hunting.

One girl chose fabrics with rooster and chicken-wire patterns.

Her quilt was going to be a gift for her grandmother, who likes roosters.

Elizabeth Zimmer, 12, didn't know what she would do with her bright quilt. She signed up for the class last Christmas and was glad to give up a few warm summer days to sew.

"It's a really fun class," she said.

The children worked quickly and efficiently, even though many had never sewn before. Every so often, someone had to use a seam ripper after sewing a block on backward, and a couple of the smaller girls had to reach up to use the iron.

For the most part, however, the class ran smoothly. This, Stevens said, was largely due to the number of guild volunteers helping with the class.

"All these ladies that are here today are passionate about quilting," she said. "It's a chance for us to pass on what we love to the next generation."

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.