In much of the world, quilting has a rich history and so it is true for Ridgeway as well. The earliest article about quilting in the Ridgeway Journal, dated July 31, 1891, was not specific to Ridgway, but was an explanation of how a quilting frame could be a useful and convenient addition to your sewing machine. Another general article discussed how even though many women considered patchwork quilts to be too simple, cutting, and basting quilt blocks could be considered restful and preferable to just “being idle while resting”.
Much like the ladies at the Baptist Church meet now, the ladies Aid Society of the Methodist Church met frequently from the early 1900s onward to quilt, sew balls of carpet rags, make plans for the church, and visit. Gatherings in homes to quilt were often called “quiltings” and they might be held along with “singings” and suppers to create a social event. The members of Kirkley Chapel also quilted and sewed as part of the Golden Hour Club in addition to their own ladies Aid Society.
These ladies’ groups were quite industrious. For example, twenty members and visitors of one Ladies club met at the home of Mrs. Billups for a day in November 1930 and by 4 pm, one quilt was completely quilted and taken out of the frame and a second nearly done. They also enjoyed a nice potluck lunch and left “thinking the day well spent”. Also in 1930, if you made a quilt top of your own and didn’t want to quilt it, Mrs. L. A. Hinkle advertised that she would do “plane” quilting and tack comforts. She also would “weave as usual” at her home and offered rugs for sale.
