A First Quilt with a Time-Honored Tradition

On a recent Saturday, we learned that a loyal customer Joyce St. Clair, who is not new to sewing, is new to quilting. In fact, she shared her current project and revealed that she only recently finished her first baby quilt. Later that afternoon, Joyce arrived with her first quilt, which is pictured. Joyce declined to be photographed herself, but she is holding up the quilt!

While this quilt might be Joyce's first, she incorporated a time-honored tradition into the finished product. Joyce described that she sewed a lock of hair from the mother of the child into the binding of the baby quilt. She explained that this was a tradition from West Virginia, which was meant to protect and bless the child. Upon further research, it appears that locks of hair have been used throughout the ages as a way to honor, remember, and hold close loved ones. One story from the 19th century that I read described how two friends shared locks of their hair when a family move meant that would live at a distance from each other.

Thank you, Joyce, for sharing your quilts with us and reminding us of a time-honored tradition.

Best, "Another" Joyce
Joyce E. Jadwin