Claire Neiman made the log cabin-patterned quilt in 1907 and embroidered names of her friends on the logs. Their daughter, Dorothy Hollman McCarthy, inherited the quilt from her mother. Dorothy died in 1987, and now the quilt has been sent from Nebraska to the Cedar County Historical Society. Elda said she recognized some of the family names on the quilt, but no one personally. Yvonne Gregory of Tipton, who was quilting at a working exhibit in Floral Hall, said quilting is coming back.
People are more interested in family traditions and genealogy and their background.
It's a beautiful art that really didn't disappear. It went to wall hangings and pillows. Quilting is a craft whose execution has changed. Formerly, ladies groups, as they were called, gathered at churches and completed quilts within a few weeks. It takes a bit longer now.