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Woolen Quilts
Working with wool reflects my heritage of sharing an interest in quilts and genealogy with my grandmother Harriet Smith McNeill of Monticello, Iowa. Over the years, she carefully salvaged, cut, and saved the first woolen squares I used. In 1968, she presented them to me with the request for a woolen “afghan.” She had drawn the design on the back of a brown paper bag. Another of her influences was the use of buttons for accent and completion. She had a wonderful bag of great buttons and a collection of pill bottles containing clamshell shirt buttons. These started appearing on my quilts in 1980.
Raised in the Midwest, wool was the fiber of choice. In the fall and winter, the naturally waterproof woolen cloth offered protection and warmth from the elements of weather. Seasons changed twice a year and with them, the storm windows and the wardrobes.
In Oregon, sleeping under a woolen quilt has been my year-around routine. The breathable woolen fabric offers the perfect balance for a night's rest between the need for warmth and the quilt's comfortable weight. Bundling under a woolen quilt gives the sense of security and protection against the sounds of the wind and rain. (Go to Trades for more information about my quilts.)
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Woolen Quilts