When I was a little girl, my grandmother gave me a quilt to put in my hope chest for when I got married. That seemed like a long time in the future, but that little girl grew up and now as a grandmother myself, I cherish that quilt and its memories. Those memories include my grandmother who always seemed to be busy with some kind of needlework, and my own mother who taught me to sew. Quilts have marked special occasions in our family. There was a quilt to commemorate our tenth and twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, and a quilt signed by my parents' friends when they completed 50 years of marriage. Our sons, David and Daniel, had quilts with patches from places we had visited, soccer tournaments, Boy Scout patches, and drumline competitions. Our daughter Kristin's 21st birthday quilt was made with fabric samples of many dresses she had worn through the years. Wedding quilts and a quilt for our granddaughter have been opportunities for me to share my hopes and prayers for these new beginnings in our family.

My students have always made class quilts, but only in the past few years have I shared my love of quilting with them through literature, math, and the historical significance of quilts. Each student is different and represents a different story, a different pattern just like a quilt. Hopefully they have gained an understanding of the values and patience of those early quilters, who have passed down to us their quilts of timeless meaning and beauty and stories untold and told.