Two common ways to quilt are hand quilting and using a sewing machine. For a family of women in Northern Arkansas, hand quilting is the only way to go.
The Start of a Family Tradition
Women that lived during the late 1800s and early 1900s in the South had to garden, take care of the farm, take care of the family, cook, sew and quilt. Clatie Hunter was one of these women that did all of this. Her daughter, Zelma Hunter, married in her early twenties and took on the role of a wife and mother just as her mother had done.
Zelma married a man by the name of Otis Wells. The couple bought a house and a farm in Bellefonte, Ark. and started to raise their family. Wells didn't have it much easier than her mother. She also had to do all of the things that a woman during this time had to do.
Sewing machines were invented but not too many women could afford one. With money being an issue, Wells still had to hand quilt all of her blankets and quilts.
Passing on the Quilting Traditions
Wells had three daughters. All three daughters learned to quilt at a young age to help their mother. All three daughters grew up to have a daughter themselves. Wells not only taught her own daughters to quilt but also taught her granddaughters. One granddaughter of Wells, Peggy Wells, took quilting to heart.
Peggy learned to quilt very young. Quilting is more of a hobby for Peggy than anything because she does not have to quilt to provide warmth to her family. Even though sewing machines are very affordable today, Peggy still hand quilts every quilt she makes.
Peggy had a daughter herself. She taught her daughter to hand quilt. Her daughter started quilting quilts for her teddy bears when she was young.
Quilt Tops Being Passed to New Generations
Clatie Hunter made many quilt tops during her later age that she was unable to finish. The quilt tops were passed to her daughter, Zelma Wells. Many of the quilt tops were completed into quilts by Wells but some still remained not finished.
When Hunter passed away, Wells gave many of the unfinished quilt tops to her three daughters. Due to working and raising a family, a lot of the quilt tops were passed on to Wells' granddaughter, Peggy. Peggy took the time to make some of the quilt tops into quilts.
One quilt top that has been around for five generations of women is now in the hands of Peggy's daughter. "These quilts hold a piece of our families past which is why they are so sacred to us," Peggy said.
Keeping The Tradition Going by Gifts
Peggy has made many quilts in her life, some winning blue ribbons in the Baxter County Fair of Mountain Home, Ark. Last Christmas, Peggy decided to give quilts to her immediate family members as gifts.
She made one for her brother, sister, husband and daughter with hopes the quilts will be passed on. It took Peggy a year to make these quilts because she hand quilted them all.
A family of women are working hard to keep the tradition of quilting in their family. Quilts hold a large sentimental value to this family and "always will," Peggy says.
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