Hale County
Quilting
Deborah Carter learned basic quilting techniques from her mother.
After Deborah’s husband retired from the military and they moved south, she
took up her needle and began creating her own works of art using the same
method as her ancestors. Deborah recalls picking cotton and removing the
seeds so that her mother could use the soft white blossoms as batting in such
quilts as the “britches quilt” which was pieced from old denim trousers.
Deborah uses scrap fabrics that she cuts in strips and squares
depending on the design she sees in her mind. She uses no bought patterns
and sometimes changes her design as she uses tiny stitches to slowly hand sew
each piece. Deborah prefers bright colors that “make you happy” and she enjoys
the challenge of matching fabric designs with the same color palette. Without
using modern conveniences, Deborah is using her creative eye and her skillful
needlework to preserve history.