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Historically, quilts were sewn by hand or machine by ladies from local churches or quilting guilds at a meeting called a “quilting bee.”  At the beginning of 2022, a story unfolds of how strangers from Raleigh, Tryon, and Landrum created a unique “quilting bee” to support Steps to HOPE. 

It began when the talented Liz Redford of Raleigh, NC shared a picture of a quilt top she had recently completed on a text thread with her group, Sir Walter’s Lacers.  A few of the members were curious and asked who would be the lucky recipient of the beautiful quilt. When Liz nonchalantly texted, “I’m just going to put it in my closet with the other 5 or 6 quilt tops I’ve completed,” Jane Armstrong of Tryon suggested, “Maybe the quilts could be finished and donated to our local domestic violence agency, Steps to HOPE?”  Liz did not have one moment of hesitation to donate to such a worthy organization.  

Jane called Steps to HOPE and they informed her that The Landrum Quilters hand-sew beautiful quilts for the clients at Steps to HOPE and gave Jane the contact information for Emily Boisvert, a member of The Landrum Quilters. Jane called Emily and asked if Jane provided the backing and batting for four quilts and took them to the next Landrum Quilters gathering, would they be willing to do long-arm quilting and complete the beautiful quilts?  Emily graciously agreed and the Landrum Quilters helped create four stunning new quilts for the clients at Steps to HOPE. 

Thank you to all of the participants who contributed to this unique “quilting bee” for such an important organization: Liz Redford, Jane Armstrong, Jeanne Gardner, Darlene Sanford, Elaine Jewett, and Emily Boisvert.

Written by Jane Armstrong, Submitted by Jessica Cashwell