Patchwork quilting, also referred to as piece work quilting, got its start in the American colonies as taxation and political unrest were on the rise, causing women to resort to piece fabric scraps together to make bed coverings.

Prior to that time, quilting, or the process of sewing two pieces of fabric with stuffing between them, was used in Europe for whole-cloth quilt bed covers and in Eastern countries for clothing.

The patchwork quilting tradition has been passed down from mother to daughter or through quilting groups, such as the Pomona Christian Church’s Ladies Aid, over the years and features a top decorative layer, batting and a backing.

Traditional top layers are piece worked together in a variety of patterns.

“There are books and books of patterns,” said PCC Ladies Aid member Loretta Weber.

Jean Asberry of The Hideaway Quilt Shop in Birch Tree shared how the wagon trains in the 1800s most likely created even more demand for quilts.

“A friend told me that the wagon trains that left from St. Louis required three blankets per person. One was to use on the trip, which would probably wear it out. The second was for use when you got west. The last one was often used for burial.”

According to Asberry, the going price for three quilts during the wagon trail days was $21. Today, the price varies tremendously, depending on the quality of the fabric, the design of the quilt and the skill of the quilter.

“For instance, if using greigh goods, or the lower-end fabric without dyes, the price might be considerably lower than a higher quality fabric,” said Asberry. “There’s this whole spectrum of fabric.”

Asberry indicated the skill of the quilter could depend on how even the stitches are and the number of stitches per inch.

“Toe catchers will have two to three inches per inch. That’s a cheap quilt,” said Asberry. “Ten to 12 stitches per inch is a good quilt. There’s a wide variance in the skill of the quilter.”

“Around here we have some very skilled craftswomen,” added Asberry. “I’ll put the workmanship of these women up against anyone in the United States or anyone in the world.”

Asberry noted the Ozarks economic status has contributed to the quilting tradition.

“This area is in a constant state of depression. The men know how to hunt, do some plumbing and electrical work, build, raise cattle and grow crops because they’ve had to,” said Asberry. “By the same token, the women know how to raise gardens, can, quilt, sew, embroider and much more. The people of this area are multitalented.”

Lena McClellan, 92, Pomona, has been quilting since she was a little girl and has belonged to Pomona Christian Church’s Ladies Aid for more than 40 years.

“I taught myself to quilt,” said McClellan.

Fellow member Joanna Corman attributes McClellan with helping teach several members to quilt, including current member Janet Brassfield who learned to quilt when she joined the Ladies Aid after retirement.

McClellan shared the difference in the thread available decades ago and today.

“When Momma was quilting, they had fine, coarse and regular thread,” said McClellan. “Now, they have quilting thread, sewing thread, embroidery thread and many others. Be careful what thread you get.”

Other Ladies Aid members recall memories of quilting years ago.

“So many clothes were made. Where the clothes were cut out, there were plenty of scraps. They used those for quilting,” said Weber. “My mom would take used outfits and cut them up for quilting material.”

“Mammy Johnson would use old overalls to make quilts, which made them very heavy,” Claudine Freeman shared. “She would tack them since they were too heavy to quilt.”

Tack means to tie with yarn.

“My mom made a lot of stuff out of feed sacks,” said Weber. “She made all her aprons out of feed sacks. If Dad got the whites ones, she used those to make our underwear.”

“Back then, things were different,” said Weber. “You didn’t have a closet so full you couldn’t get another thing in it.”

Ladies Aid member Cleta Collins noted quilting can be done by machine today.

“They have specialty quilting machines now. I have one but I would rather do it by hand,” said Collins.

Women today quilt for some of the same reasons women quilted years ago.

“The women here quilt, some out of necessity, some out of joy of the craft,” said Asberry. “Most of the women that come to the classes, it’s not that they don’t know how to quilt, but it’s for the camaraderie, not unlike the old-fashioned quilting bees.

“There are not many places where women can get together and just have fun. Nothing is expected of them. That’s why the Hideaway Quilt Shop was built,” said Asberry. “The women can come here, get together, talk, laugh and have a good time.”

The Hideaway quilters’ room, known as the Heirloom Room, is off limits to the general public.

“No one is allowed in the Heirloom Room besides quilters,” said Asberry. “It’s strictly for those participating. I want people to feel free to share ideas. Quilters allow that, non-quilters don’t.”

The camaraderie of quilters is evident when visiting a PCC Ladies Aid work day. The group not only quilts but shares needs in the community, sends cards to those who may be suffering from illness or bereavement, encourage one another and much more.

For more information about the Pomona Christian Church’s Ladies Aid, which quilt to raise funds for various church activities, call Joyce Nielson at (417) 469-3381.

To learn more about quilting or joining a Hideaway Quilting class, visit the shop at 3217 W. First Street in Birch Tree or contact Jean Asberry at (573) 292-1008.

For those who want a quilt of their own, a Wizard of Oz quilt made by Asberry will be raffled off at the Oz Fall Fest with proceeds going to the Imagination Library, which provides children enrolled in the program with a hardback, age-appropriate reading book per month from birth through age 5. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six and may be purchased at The Hideaway Quilt Shop or at Howell County News/Yellow Brick Toys and Books.

Quilting wisdom from the PCC Ladies Aid

• “Use a thimble,” advised Corman.

• Be patient. “It requires patience. You don’t make these overnight,” said Weber. “It can take our group six months to complete a quilt.”

• Use safety pins. “They hold the top, batting and backing together, so they don’t move,” said McClellan.

• For beginner quilters, use the nine-patch quilts. “The nine-patch are easier to quilt,” said Weber.

• To remove stains, “I use lemon juice and lay it in the sunshine,” said Collins. “Use peroxide and cold water to remove blood stains.”

• Replace needles when they get dull or are bent. Needles sizes vary. Corman suggests larger needles for easier handling.

• Wax the thread to make it easier to pull through the fabric. Ladies Aid member Nadia Wise waxes the thread for the Ladies Aid by melting a pound of paraffin wax in a coffee can. “Once the wax is melted, drop in spools of thread and let them sit for 15 minutes or longer, letting the wax soak through the thread,” said Wise.