When my sister and I were working on our family history, we asked for memories. Our cousin, Sharon, shared this one. “As I said, Mama made most of my (our) clothes. I marvel that she was able to do so much without a pattern---she just made her own. She instilled in me the joy of making things with my hands. Daddy got calf feed in printed cloth sacks then and he would always look for pretty ones, then he’d get two or three alike so we could make a full garment from them. I remember that he always made me feel like he enjoyed getting them and seeing us use them.” This feed sack was purchased at the elevator. It wore well. I still have a quilt my mother made out of this material. My friend in South Carolina, said her mother liked to sew at a young age. One day when her mother’s parents were leaving the house, her teenage mother was warned not to mess with her mother’s calico (feed sack) while they were gone.

Both of my husband’s grandmothers made quilts. He remembers his Grandma Knowlton was in a quilting bee with six or eight ladies from the neighborhood and went with her as a young boy on more than one occasion. She was picked up because she didn’t drive. They relied on her to lay out the pieces in a design. Some of the ladies felt it was much prettier when Suzie had her hand in the project. His Grandma Coney made quilts for many years. People would send scraps her way because they knew she would put them to good use. One year for Christmas she made each of her seven children a quilt. Another Christmas she crocheted each of them an afghan.

My mother liked to make baby quilts out of flannel. She called it wrapping the baby in love. When Tom and I married, she made a nine patch quilt that is still being used thirty-nine years later. Many years later each of her four children received a homemade quilt for Christmas. They are still being used.

My husband’s mother crocheted an afghan for our seventh wedding anniversary. It has seven rows of plain blue followed by seven rows of variegated blue then that pattern is repeated. Tom grabs that afghan when he is sick and snuggles up in its warmth.

Wright’s Idea Book is just that full of ideas. It lists The Wonderful Virtues of Handwork.  Handwork is a fascinating hobby because: It’s outstandingly unique. It’s easy to do. It gives great results. It’s quick to pick up and work on. It can be carried with you. It’s gratifying as it progresses. It can be done while watching TV. It has lasting beauty and qualities. It’s truly a creative expression. It’s more attractive than most ready-mades. It can help fill idle hours. It gives one a sense of accomplishment.

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