Paula Caldwell (left) and Polly Scott (center), both of Harrisonburg, and Dianne Louvet of Craigsville examine The Pidgeon Family Quilt, part of the Virginia Quilt Museum’s newest exhibit, “Quilts and Quaker Heritage. Before many people had a chance to see the new “Quilts and Quaker Heritage” exhibit at the Virginia Quilt Museum, director Joan Knight made a prediction. A legal assistant and community dance instructor living in Winchester, Robare became an impromptu quilt researcher seven years ago when she decided to look into the history of “The Pidgeon Family Quilt,” a family heirloom passed down on her husband Christopher’s side. Thanks to connections among families and museums, Robare found more than enough quilts to put together “Quilts and Quaker Heritage. Researcher Debra McCauslin discovered that “The Quaker Valley Quilt,” given to Pennsylvania’s Menallen Meeting in honor of William and Rosanna Wright, contains a block representing former slave Mary Payne of Rappahannock County, who became a Quaker.

Tags: quilting fabric, created, quaker, free quilting patterns, machine quilting, quilt