Quilt made from Grandma's Hankies

by Marcia Dorrheim
When you walk into the home of Pat Rotenberger, a sense of warmth and comfort comes over you, not from the rays of sunlight shining through her many windows though. Instead, it’s the numerous quilted items found throughout, ranging from seasonal wall hangings to table toppers and coasters to, of course, the quilted blanket folded in the corner just waiting to take the chill from the evening air.

Rotenberger has been quilting for 13 years and although she considers herself to be a self-taught quilter, she credits her sister with introducing her to the hobby.

“I have been a sewer for most of my adult life but it was my younger sister, Joanne, who wasn’t even a sewer when she began quilting,” she says with a chuckle, “who got me started.”

Rotenberger began quilting when she was in nursing school and before long she found herself addicted to her new hobby.

“It was just such a great stress reliever,” she said. “I was in my sewing room every day doing something, either picking out new fabrics, or cutting the patterns, or pressing, or sewing.”

Now that Rotenberger is retired and has less stress in her life, she finds her inspiration for quilting comes mostly from her family and friends.

“I am expecting a new grandchild so I’m busy making burp cloths and swaddling blankets right now,” she said. “But I always make an appointment with my quilter so I know that I have to have something ready for her in a few months.”

According to Rotenberger, many quilters today will sew the quilt together but will hire a “long-arm quilter” to do the actual machine quilting on the blanket because it’s more time and cost effective.

“It is expensive to make a big quilt,” she said, “and hand stitching a quilt is really an art with the back and forth rocking motion of the needle and getting all those perfect tiny stitches.”

Rotenberger would know, as she has made more than 40 large quilts through the years.
Many have been gifts for her children and grandchildren, but the quilts that are dearest to her remain in her own home, either folded neatly in her sitting room, covering the beds, or hanging on the walls.

Every quilt seems to have a story as she tells of one made from her grandmother’s colorful hankies, and another with fabric-shaped lady’s hats that are adorned with pieces of her late aunt’s jewelry, and yet another that she received as a gift from the members of her quilting guild after serving her year as president of the organization.

“I have been a member of the Capital Quilters guild for more than 10 years,” Rotenberger says. “It’s just such a great way to learn from everyone, to try different things, and to meet new people. Many of my closest friends are quilters.”

The Capital Quilters hosts the annual Capital Quiltfest each fall and this year Rotenberger is the Featured Quilter. She will have many examples of her work on display at the three-day event which runs from November 5-7, 2010 at the Bismarck Doublewood Inn.

“It’s an honor being chosen by the committee,” she said, “but it’s also a wonderful time to take classes from national and regional teachers, to check out some quilting vendors, and to see the quilt show which has about 100 quilts in all different sizes.”

Rotenberger said the Quiltfest is also a great place for the public to come and see what quilting is all about, especially if you’re interested in getting started.

“We are so lucky in Bismarck-Mandan to have three great quilting stores and two quilting guilds,” she said. “All you need is a basic sewing machine and then take a class and become a member of a guild, you learn so much there. And then, just enjoy!”

Marcia Dorrheim lives in Bismarck with her husband, Aaron, and their three young children.