The Petroglyph Quilt by Nancy Kimmerle

Grayson Country Quilt Guild is a non-profit organization of wonderful quilt artists who meet once a month to learn and share quilting techniques, participate in service projects, and promote the art of quilting in our community.
Community service projects have included making bed quilts for the women’s shelter in Blanding, sending quilts to the armed forces in Iraq, making lap robes for the Care Center, and donating quilts to families who have lost their homes in fires.  Quilt classes have also been taught in the elementary and middle schools.  Thousands of volunteer hours go into these worthwhile projects.
Every year the Guild makes a special quilt to be sold to finance these activities.  This year’s quilt, “The Petroglyph Quilt” is an original design of authentic rock art found in Southeastern Utah.  Each block was researched and recreated in fabric by hand appliqué and embroidery.  As you can see, each quilter added their own unique interpretation to the petroglyph pattern they were given, just as the original artists seemed to have done.

Petroglyph Quilt

Appliqué is a technique of applying a piece of fabric onto another piece of fabric by turning under the raw edge and making tiny hand stitches.  An appliqué class was taught in January 2006 and the project was announced.  The patterns were taken hoe to complete.  Some were stitched while watching the Olympic games on T.V., some were stitched via transportation to high school basketball games and to family activities.  One was stitched while waiting in the hospital while a loved one was having a serious operation.  After each block was completed the process of putting them together resembled a giant jigsaw puzzle.  It was during this process that something magical happened.  The quilt came alive with movement, animated by the designs, colors and theme of red rocks and ancient people who left their marks on them.
Sashing and borders were added, and the quilt was put on frames to quilt by hand.  Quilting was sewn around each figure and then shadow stitched, making two stitching lines which accents the design.  Fingers became calloused and needle pricks caused drops of red on the quilt, which were quickly rubbed off.  Quilting bees, with stories and laughter, are a regular ‘hen party’.
An estimated sixteen yards of fabric was used for the quilt and over 225 hours went into making this quilt.  Grayson Country Quilters is proud to present the 2006 “Petroglyph Quilt” for your viewing pleasure and bids to own this fantastic quilt.


***  Note Cards of the Petroglyph Quilt are available for sale.  Cards come in sets of four (4) and envelopes are included.  Note cards are 3 x 5.  Cost is $6.00 plus $1.50 shipping.  Please email sidney7705@gmail.com for purchase information.