The following story is taken from the Spring 1999 issue of Broomsedge Chronicles. This was written by Julie Massengill of Glasgow as told her by WIlma Pierce of Harrogate, TN in 1999. "My mother, Wilma Pierce, grew up in a small community in the hills of Tennessee called Tazewell, which is located in Claborne County. In the early 1940's, generally in January or February, Mom recalls as a child accompanying her mother, Irene Hansard, to quilting bees, which were a big event. They walked across the hills in the cold of winter wearing long stockings on their legs and handmade dresses that had been sewn by Grandma. But before the quilting bee could happen, several steps took place. "First, the men of the community began assembling a quilting frame, which would last for years. The frame consisted of a total of four boards, two long and two short, giving the frame a rectangular shape. The short boards crossed over the long boards, leaving an extension protruding from each end. Each of the four boards had tacks placed about every four to six inches apart where the quilt would be attached very tightly. Every board also had holes drilled every twelve inches so that a nail with a head could be dropped into it for sizing of the frame. These holes allowed the ladies to roll their finished work under the frame in order to decrease their work space and make quilts of different sizes. The corners of the short boards had large holes in which strings were tied and then attached to ten-foot high ceilings, so the quilt could be rolled up along the frame to the ceiling until another quilting day. "On the day of a quilting bee, the farmers' slim wives assembled and stitched the quilt together. First, they placed the back of the quilt, which was usually muslin (heavy or sheer cotton cloths of plain weave), on the frame. Second, they carefully laid a layer of cotton on top of the muslin, making sure both layers were pulled tightly over the tacks on the frame. Last was the quilt top, the heart of the quilt which someone in the community had stitched together from cut pieces of material, designing the fabric into pictures, patterns, or appliqued patchwork. Many quilt tops were signed and dated, while others had an intentional mistake of turning a piece of fabric backward, upside down or sideways. The makers of the quilt tops did this because only God could create something that was perfect. After each layer was placed tightly and securely over the tacks on the frame, the ladies sewed the layers together with short running stitches, called quilting stitches. Three to four women lined up on each side of the quilt and began working right away with their thimbles on their fingers, their needles sewing swiftly, and their scissors close at hand. "Lastly, the quilting bees for a time for children and adults to enjoy the social gathering of the day. It was a time for the children to play and have fun, and the women to talk and visit with one another. Everyone didn't quilt at the same time. Some quilted, some cooked, and some cared for the children, but they all cared about their families and neighbors. They talked about the community and the people in it, but this was never gossip because these Christian women figured out ways to help one another or someone in need. So truly more went into the quilts than stitches because they were filled with the care and love of all the neighborhood ladies. Mom recalls that her fondest memories were those wonderful times that were spent with one another at the quilting bees. "Unfortunately, quilting bees are becoming a thing of the past. Even my mother doesn't quilt -- she only pieces the quilt tops together. She never learned the art of quilting even though she had one of the best teachers. However, her quilt tops are beautiful and cherished by all four of her children, especially me even though I never learned to sew. For my generation, the art of making beautiful quilts is dying out, but the biggest loss is the closeness of the community pulling together to love and to help one another. The quilting bees were a time to visit, to care, and to love. The quilts were an extra bonus." Happy Memorial Day - Sandi To post to lists: [email protected] or [email protected] Sandi's Puzzlers: http://www.gensoup.org/gorinpuzzles/index.php Sandi's Website: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/