Every Quilt Tells a Story: A Quilter's Stash of Wit and Wisdom

by Helen Kelley

Every quilt tells a story. There is a universality in those stories as well as in the quilts themselves and the threads that hold them together. In the tradition of Erma Bombeck, Helen Kelley shares her tales of quilts and quiltmaking with trademark charm and wit. This gifted storyteller gathers the snippings, threads, and scraps of everyday life and effortlessly stitches them together to create a narrative to which every quilter can relate. Each piece--from the humorous to the heartwarming--touches your soul and makes you smile, reminding you of your own passion for quilts and the stories they tell. Helen Kelley is an author, instructor, and lecturer, but she is, first and foremost, a quiltmaker. For twenty years, this "Erma Bombeck" of the quilting world has parlayed her passion for all things quilt into her enormously popular "Loose Threads" column in "Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine."

Genres: Quilting, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Helen Kelley was a nationally recognized quiltmaker. In all, Kelley made more than 150 quilts, sometimes taking years for the vision of one to take shape and spending months crafting it. Kelley, whose work was often inspired by family life and her travels, was inducted into the Quilting Hall of Fame in Marion, Ind., in August 2008.

Her work has earned several awards. Her quilt modeled after a Norwegian tapestry is owned by the Minnesota Historical Society and was dubbed by quilt experts as one of 100 best of the 20th century.

Kelley held workshops around the country and in other nations and was a willing teacher. Starting in 1983, she became a columnist for Quilters Newsletter, a magazine, and she continued to write the column until her death.

Kelley died of a heart attack on Sept. 1, 2008, at her home in northeast Minneapolis. She was 81.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of columns written by the author for Quilter's Newsletter Magazine. It is a glimpse into the life of a compulsive quilter and her work habits, design process, and personal relationships. The author made her first quilt for her marriage in 1948, so it is also a study of the history of modern quilting through the eyes of a woman who preferred to hand sew every step and applique as well. She addresses fabric styles, the growth of quilting popularity, sharing her knowledge, the impact of quilting on her daily life, and mistakes/lessons learned.

I anticipated a quicker read with this book, but the slow pace was the fault of the reader rather than the author. I think a non-quilter could enjoy this book, but a lot of its message would be lost in translation.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sew but I had just decided to try quilting and this was one of the books in the stack of quilting books that I picked up at the library. I picked up several how-to books and several "inspirational" books. This was the only one of the inspirational books that was actually inspirational. The books by Berlo and Tatem were duds.

I have only just started planning my quilting project but I hope that the quilters I meet along the way are like Helen Kelley. She is someone who wants to spread the joy. I will certainly be looking for her other books.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a quilter. My aunt was, and I have 2 quilts from her. I did once undertake to fix another of her quilts that belongs to my mother, but that is the extent of my quilting experience.

I saw this book on the book exchange shelf at a local library and decided to pick it up. It's a series of short pieces that all relate to quilting in some way. It was interesting but I do have to think that someone who quilts might get more out of some of the stories than I did.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. But I did enjoy reading it. I would recommend it to anyone really interested in quilting.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dated.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anecdotes that are quite humorous and true to life. Serious quilters will definitely relate to Kelley’s insights and observations.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute easy read. Lots of laugh.

[Ellen Spes · Rating 3 out of 5]

written in. 1930 about. some later chapters. little 2 page opinions. she definitely loved quilting.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki gave me this book before I left for Moscow. We had just lost my mom and her dad within one day of each other. I read little pieces all the time. Helen Kelley writes short stories after quilters. She makes you realize that if you have been quilting for years; there is someone out there that has similar experiences, no matter how ridiculous they might seem to a non-quilter.