CHEATER CLOTH QUILT A FAN FAVORITE AT MAUMEE VALLEY QUILT SHOW – Around The Frame

For those of you not familiar with the term “cheater cloth” it’s cloth printed to resemble a traditional quilt pattern. Purchase it, quilt it and it’s ready for the bed. No cutting, piecing or sewing involved unless you want to make it double-wide and need to seam two lengths together. Not exactly what one would call a work of art.

Dawn Schuller entered the double wedding ring cheater quilt and her mother-in-law Brenda Schuller a charter member of MVASGA shares its history:

“My mother-in-law Norma Bienz Schuller was in the process of making quilts for her five grandchildren when she died in March 1997 at age 81. At her visitation, ladies from her quilting group at St. Paul Lutheran Church, New Haven, told me about the quilts. Since they were to be a surprise, I did not know anything about them. As we were going thru her possessions, I looked for the quilts and found four completed or almost finished quilts and material for a fifth quilt. Her two youngest grandchildren, Elisabeth and Jeremy, were to be confirmed in a few months so I selected quilts for them. One granddaughter, Jennifer liked purple so she received the purple and white quilt. Our son Jon was engaged and planning a wedding in December 1998 so he and his wife Dawn, received their quilt as a wedding gift from Grandma. That left the material for the fifth quilt, a pink star design. I purchased the batting and my mother and sister quilted it at their home. Three years ago our oldest son, Mark married Renee so I finished binding it and gave it to the new couple for their wedding: It only took 17 years for the fifth quilt to be finished and given.”

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Jon and Dawn’s wedding gift quilt was the one that captured the attention of so many people at the show. The voting was very close for the top three places between 100 and 96 votes each. Brenda is very happy Dawn entered Norma’s work because even if it was “cheater” fabric, the sun coming through a side window made the colors stand out!

Jon and Dawn, now keepers of the quilt for almost 20 years are pleased his grandmother’s quilt has been honored not by judges or quilting peers but by the people who attend this wonderful old-time event that reflects the work ethic of simple country lives.

Congratulations also to Lois Weber the first place winner with her flying geese quilt. You may recall the last Waynedale News issue profiled Lois and her Noah quilt that took second place at the Monroeville Quilt Show.