Local quilting group The Stash Sisters donated a beautiful handmade quilt and pillow to benefit the Nest Domestic Violence Shelter in Ruidoso Downs.
The quilt, which they named “The Ruidoso Heirloom,” was unveiled at HEAL’s Heroes with Heart Awards Gala held on Valentine’s Day. Tickets for the raffle of the quilt will remain on sale until May 1.
The Stash Sisters is a group of Lincoln County quilters. The group started about 3 years ago when 3 local quilters wanted an informal, friendly group with no hidden agenda, no dues and no officers.
The top of the quilt was pieced by “somebody’s great-grandmother,” here in Ruidoso, using fabrics from the 1930s and 1940s. From inspecting the stitching on the top, it appears that 2 different people hand-pieced much of it and someone else sewed some seams on a machine.
A friend bought the top at a Ruidoso garage sale in 2009 and gave it to The Stash Sisters. The top was dirty and stained. They removed the spots and
soil, but in the process some squares consisting of light, ravelly fabric, came apart.
Out of respect for the historical value of the top, the appropriate way to repair an antique top is to put the new fabric on top of the damaged one. They appliqued hexagons on top of the damaged ones.
In addition to the Ruidoso Heirloom, a beautiful handmade pillow was also donated. It was embroidered and stitched by a group of women who call themselves “Creaciones del lago,” located in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico. These women shifted from making clothing only for their families to establishing a business for themselves. They do things the old-fashioned way; all the embroidery is by hand.
The donated pillow took one woman, in this case, Rosario, about a week to complete, for which she received $50 US.
For further information about The Stash Sisters, please join them when they meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month in the Ruidoso library at 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome.
Raffle tickets for Ruidoso Heirloom Quilt are on sale now for $2 each or 3 for $5. To purchase, please call the Nest at (575) 378-6378.