Clothesline Quilts features traditional small and full size quilt patterns, table toppers, and craft projects for young and old.  The designer, Evonne Cook, has been sewing since taking a home ec class in 7th grade.   Many years later, when her mom learned to quilt (under a designated Master Quilter, no less) and a cousin’s wife shared her quilting, Evonne took notice and soon was hooked.  She has been quilting and designing ever since.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time speaking with Evonne the other day.  Here’s a bit of our conversation….

You have several patterns designed for grandma and a grandchild to use together.  How did that come about?   The coloring bag was the first pattern for kids.  I realized that grandmothers enjoy making something for their grandkids as opposed to just buying a gift. 

As a designer, what comes first for you… the fabric or the design?  Well, I owned a quilt shop for about ten years. Then, it was the fabric that came first.  The patterns were designed with the fabric in mind.   Now, the pattern is where I start… actually for the Civil War Battle Series research is done before the pattern is designed.  When I began the series I selected twelve battles from the Civil War.  For each quilt I would read about the battle, the location and the generals involved. I select a block that seemed appropriate.  For instance, the blockade block for the New Orleans quilt.  The quilt would then be designed around the chosen block.  In each case I discovered that the finished quilt always somehow also formed some reminder or representation of the battle.  As an example, in the battle of Gettysburg the soldiers charged so close to the enemy that they were actually under the cannon fire… the enemy was in front of them and cannonballs were falling behind them.  If you look at the quilt, there is an open section in the middle surrounded by a darker area. 

You say your business is based in your farm home.  Do you have a certain time of day that you prefer to work; do you need to fit your work in between chores?   If I could, I would work on my quilting and designing from morning ’til night.  I find that when you are so interested and involved that it’s necessary to force yourself away from time to time.  So I do make sure that I take weekends off .  But I love my work and happily spend as much time as possible at it.  I am sometimes asked to give presentations but I don’t do it very often as I would much rather be at home working. 

What are you currently working on? Do you have anything new coming out?  I have a new series Civil War Generals.  Lee and Grant will be the first in the series.  These will first make an appearance at Quilt Market in May.  In fact, while I am in the area I will be giving a presentation on my Civil War quilts for a local quilt guild. 

The Civil War patterns all include a brief history about the battle and a fictional letter from the battlefield.  They can be made in two sizes… a lap quilt or a full size bed quilt.  I wish I could be at that guild meeting presentation - hearing Evonne speak about her quilts was fascinating.

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