Sonja Hakala spent more than a year collecting quilters' stories. A story by Cathy Cardwell of Jonesborough, Tenn. appears in the book.
Cathy Cardwell of Jonesborough, Tenn. has a story in American Patchwork: True Stories from Quilters (hardcover, 232 pages, Thomas Dunne Books from St. Martin's Press). The book is an anthology of 67 true stories collected from quilters and quilt lovers from the United States and Canada.
Editor Sonja Hakala spent more than a year collecting stories, reaching out through quilt guilds, quilt shops and personal connections for the right combination.
"I wanted to present a range of personal tales that reflect the variety of experiences among people who share a common love of quilting," Hakala said. "I feel that Cathy's story, The Storyteller's Dream, adds a unique perspective to American Patchwork."
Hakala offers a few facts about quilting:
1. According to a 2003 survey commissioned by Quilts Inc., there are now 21.3 million active quilters in the country, who spend a total of $2.27 billion each year on their passion.
2. It is estimated there are over 4,000 stores in the U.S. dedicated to quilting.
3. There are over 2,000 quilt guilds in the U.S. Some guilds are small, 25 members or less, but most count more than 200 members. Some statewide guilds have thousands of members.
