Clarke County
Hand Quilting
Jean
Moore learned basic sewing techniques in home economics classes in high school.
As a young mother, she sewed clothes for her daughter, but stopped when the
young girl became a teenager. Ironically, Jean now makes reproduction
antebellum gowns for her daughter and herself as part of a Mardi Gras
association they belong to. Twelve years ago, Jean’s mother-in-law suggested
she try her sewing skills as a quilter.
Jean hand quilts the finished tops that other seamstresses piece together.
Her most challenging tasks have involved finishing antique quit tops that must
first be repaired before quilting can begin. She uses clear thread and the
smallest needles available to create the tiniest of stitches. The smaller
the stitches, the puffier the quilting becomes. Jean does not use a hoop or a
frame. She spreads the quilt over her lap and follows the designs she has
traced with a light fading, purple pen. Jean uses templates that she designs
and her husband, Harold, cuts out of Plexiglas.