We lived in Clarion PA in 1981 and I created this State Capitals Quilt for my 5 year old son Mark ( he’ll turn 43 next month). Bicentennial baby. My grandmother actually knit a red white and blue Afghan to match. Anyway, Mark learned all the capitals of the states at an early age thanks to my dad. It’s fun to hear a two year old say “Sacramento.”
I’ve seen the quilt in grandson Michael’s and also in Jack’s room but today it was hanging over the banister here in Ohio so thought I’d post it.
I used a National Geographic map as the template for the states, machine appliquéing them onto the squares in the order they entered the union. Delaware and Maryland State the First square. I embroidered the capital on each. Texas and Alaska are on a different Scale so they’d fit onto the their square. I wish I knew how many miles to the inch The last square I embroidered a bit of the Nation’s Capital.
Then my Aunt Rhea and my cousin Beth (both whom have passed) took it to their church quilting group in Illinois and the group hand quilted it, completing in 1984. We were living in Germany that year. I can’t remember having it there but must have been reunited with it in 1986 when we moved stateside to Kentucky.
We exchanged email and contact information and hope to knit together sometime soon.
Malka explained the dye process. We learned about the addition of soda ash.
Wax design drying, ready for a dye bath
Joanne spotted these gloves on a shelf. Thanks J.
Left Handed Appliqué Scissors.
Stacks of fabric to be sewn into quilt designs
Thanks for a wonderful tour. Malka saw us out to the parking lot.
