A flyer at a grocery store in Florida, where she lived at the time, caught Ann Converse’s eye nearly 35 years ago. It was a seniors’ quilting group. She wasn’t a senior, but she called the number and was welcomed into the fold. “And so, my quilting addiction began,” she says. “I was taught hand cutting, hand piecing and hand quilting by a 5th-generation quilter.”
A sampler she made introduced her to various techniques, then she completed a queen-sized double wedding ring quilt, which won and placed in several shows.
Ann Converse, artist
While her children were young, she volunteered daily at the elementary school. Although she wasn’t creating new quilts during this busy time, she found a way to share her passion. “Once a year, I would take my quilts and supplies in my little red wagon to various elementary schools, and would speak to classes about quilting: what constitutes a quilt, the various supplies needed and the process of quilting,” says Converse. “Every class would send me thank-you notes, and I was amazed at how many boys were interested in wanting to learn quilting.”
Eleven years ago, she and her husband moved to Almond and Converse began quilting again. In the spring of this year, she became a juried member of Dogwood Crafters, in Dillsboro. “All three of my children, my grandchildren, family members and friends have quilts I’ve made for them as a keepsake to enjoy long after I am gone,” she says. “I also do special orders. Recently, I made four large throws for a friend from her husband’s shirts after he had passed away.” She especially enjoys making baby quilts by hand and has completed several of them on consignment over the last couple of years.
Her largest project to date was a hand-cut, hand-pieced and hand-quilted king-sized doubled wedding ring quilt that she made for her 40th wedding anniversary. It took 14 months to complete. She has begun piecing quilts by machine, but she still hand cuts and hand quilts.
“Before modern machine quilting and long-arm quilting, hand quilting was the only way to complete a quilt,” she says. “Hand quilting is portable and allows you to put your feet up while working on your project. Hand quilting also improves your eye/hand coordination and keeps your mind free of the daily stresses.”
Her work available at Dogwood Crafters includes potholders, table runners, throws, wall hangings and baby quilts—all of them hand quilted. “Dogwood Crafters is a unique place to visit, with 100 local crafters,” Converse says. “There are so many beautiful crafts, and definitely something for everyone.”
Dogwood Crafters is located at 90 Webster Street, in Dillsboro. Learn more at DogwoodCrafters.com.
