A Log Cabin Quilt …

Melinda Seegers and Wendi Fortmann found common ground when they discovered that each was an avid quilter. When the NCC National Convention was announced, the pair decided they wanted to donate something special to the convention’s traditional auction. They decided on a Log Cabin Quilt.

Although log cabin quilts have been made for centuries, the first documented and signed American quilt was made in 1869. It is said that the center square should be red to represent the hearth fire of a home. In building a log cabin block, this small center square is slowly enlarged by adding rectangular pieces of fabric. This slow but steady build represents the building of a home, which always starts with the family in the center. Melinda and Wendi felt this was a fitting pattern to create for Village collectors that have built an extended family by sharing their love of little porcelain houses. The log cabin history also tells of special quilts created during the Civil War era that had black center squares, instead of the traditional red. These quilts were hung outside of buildings that were safe havens for runaway slaves escaping to the north. The D56 women also felt that this history of helping others directly reflected the charity that Village collectors have always displayed.

This particular quilt was pieced and bound by Melinda and the hand quilting done by Wendi. Traditionally, log cabin quilts are “scrappy”, meaning that any scrap or leftover fabric can be used. Melinda and Wendi combined their fabric stashes and nearly every fabric used in the quilt can be traced directly to quilts that each woman has made in the past. More than 1,500 pieces make up the blocks and border of this quilt.  The quilt size is 70 x 84 inches - a generous twin.

 This distinctive quilt will be donated to the convention auction to be held on Sunday morning. The proceeds will benefit the convention’s chosen charities,

the Hastings Lewis House
and the Ronald McDonald House of Minnesota