ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — With a huge quilting frame in her family room, and plenty of needlework pillows and other handmade goodies all over the family room, it’s easy to assume that Edna Aldridge loves to quilt and embroider.
And you’d be right. The 79-year-old Robertsdale resident has been learning and practicing the ancient art since her grandmother began to teach her how to do fancy needlework when she was about “10 or 12.”
“I would make scarves and things to put in my hope chest,” said Aldridge.
Right now, Aldridge is working on a queen-sized quilt for her granddaughter, Lauren Taylor, 14, a student at Robertsdale High. The black, white and pink quilt does not have a named pattern, but the fabrics, including squares with a musical score printed on them, are meant to celebrate Lauren’s love of ballet.
Aldridge’s first quilt (at least the one that family members remember) is a “baby quilt” made in 1948 for a relative.
“I made my first big quilt in the 1970s,” said Aldridge.
While Aldridge does the hand-sewing of her quilts, including appliqués, and the complicated stitching in the center, her daughter, Linda Taylor of Marlow does the machine stitching on the edges.
“Linda sews some of the blocks together,” said Aldridge.
It’s a good partnership, but one that causes some friendly friction at times.
“Mom does not know how to use the machine,” confided Taylor.
“I do too,” shot back Aldridge. “I just do a better job of hand sewing.”
It’s clear both women have great respect for each other’s abilities. Linda also makes the “tags” the pair now signs to mark Aldridge’s later quilts.
But, Aldridge fears that the family tradition of quilt making will die with her.
“I think I will be the end of the family history (of quilt making,) Aldridge said. “The grandchildren are not taking it up.”
Well, the grandchildren haven’t seen the latest edition of the Robertsdale United Methodist Church’s Quilt show. According to co-chairperson Mary Barnhill, hundreds of quilters come out and show off their colorful quilts to an admiring public. Organizers are expecting more than 400 quilts.
“We had to put quilts in the sanctuary last time,” said Barnhill. “They are so unique. It's an old art and there’s alot of history in every quilt.”
According to Barnhill, the show is held at RUMC every other year. The next show will be February 5, 6, and 7 of 2009. As of now, admission is $5 and a lunch of soup, salad and dessert is just $5. For more information, see the church’s Web site, robertsdaleumc.com or call 964-5169 or 947-5354. The church office is at 947-4602. According to Barnhill, the show raises money for the church’s mission program.
Aldridge and Taylor are no strangers to the quilt show.
“I’ve been in the quilt show three times,” said Aldridge.
“An she has put quilts in the county fair,” said Taylor.
Showing off the quilts has been a source of satisfaction for Aldridge.
“I don’t know how many contest, I’ve won,” said Aldridge. “People have approached me about making quilts for them, but I only make them for my own family, and I like to work at my own speed.”
Both Aldridge and Taylor worked at the Vanity Fair factory, Aldridge as a payroll clerk, and Taylor as a “work handler,” someone who brought parts of a garment from station to station.
The pair hopes to have a quilt ready in time to show off at the 2009 RUMC show, perhaps the one that they are working on now.
“We will have to see,” said Aldridge.
Aldridge is worried that a touch of arthritis is creeping into her joints, making it hard for her to do the “12 stitches per inch” she’s been known for.
Besides, quilting is a way to relax.
“My husband, Rex and I like to watch TV together,” said Aldridge, adding that her quilting does not get in the way of her enjoying the exploits of her favorite team, the Green Bay Packers.
“I’m a sports nut,” said Aldridge, “I played softball until I was 52, and played on the boys’ softball team for a while.”
Aldridge graduated from Fairhope High in 1946.
But, perhaps fortunately for the guys, quilting caught her interest.
“My mother would hand me bits and pieces,” Aldridge said.
