Read The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club - 02 - The Tattered Quilt for Free Online Page B

teaching each of you how to make a quilted wall hanging with a simple star pattern combined with Log Cabin quilt blocks with an Eight Point Star layout. The finished square hanging will measure thirty-five inches.”
    Selma frowned, feeling her forehead wrinkles deepen. “I don’t care for that idea. Can’t we make the Dahlia or some other floral pattern?”
    “Those would be too difficult,” Lamar spoke up.
    “Well, I’m confident that I could handle any pattern at all, because I’m a proficient seamstress.”
    “I’m sure Emma has a reason for choosing the simple star pattern,” Carmen spoke up. “Since she’s the teacher, she obviously knows what’s best for us.”
    Selma glanced at Blaine to see if he was going to comment, but he just stared at the table. He obviously didn’t want to be there.
His wife probably forced him to come
, Selma thought.
But then, I wonder why she didn’t sign up to take the quilting classes herself
.
    “Actually, I chose the pattern for two reasons,” Emma said calmly. “First, because it’s a bit different from other star patterns. And second, because it will be easy to make. But we’ll get into all the details about making the quilt after my other student has arrived.”
    Selma grunted and folded her arms. “Seems to me if people are going to sign up for a class, the least they can do is be here on time.”
    “It was the young woman’s mother who signed her up,” Emma explained. “And I’m thinking perhaps—”
    “Maybe she didn’t want to come,” Selma cut in. “Some daughters can be stubborn like that. They just don’t appreciate their mothers.”
    Everyone looked at Selma with curious expressions, and the room got uncomfortably quiet. Had she said something wrong? Should she explain about her relationship with Cora? No, it was best to leave that alone. After all, it wasn’t in her nature to talk about her personal life to a bunch of strangers.
    Emma cleared her throat a couple of times, and then she looked over at Lamar and said, “Since Anna’s not here yet, why don’t you go ahead and share some things about Amish quilts?”
    “I’d be pleased to do that.” Lamar joined Emma at the head of the table and proceeded to talk about the history of Amish quilts. “Quilt patterns are a reflection of our daily living and can sometimes resemble things found in nature or on the farm.” He pointed to one of the quilts on display. “This one I designed myself, and I call it simply, ‘Horseshoes.’ As you can see, the shape of a horseshoe is patterned throughout.”
    “How about that one?” Blaine asked, pointing to the quilt closest to him.
    “I designed it, too, and it’s called ‘Pheasant Trail,’ ” Lamar replied.
    “If you ask me, it looks more like ‘chicken scratch,’” Selma said with a snort. “Can’t you show us some pretty floral designs?”
    The room went quiet again, and everyone stared at Selma as if she had pointed ears. What was wrong with these people, anyway? Didn’t they want to see something beautiful, or were they content to look at quilts with bland and blah colors?
    “You don’t have to be so rude,” Carmen spoke up with her hands on her slender hips. “I think Lamar’s designs are quite unique.”
    “Yeah, that’s right,” Blaine agreed. “You shouldn’t be putting them down.”
    Selma’s face heated. She had a notion to gather up her things and head out the door. But if she did that, she’d miss out on learning how to make a quilt. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean that the quilts weren’t nice. I’d just prefer to see something more to my liking.”
    “The thing about Amish quilts,” Emma explained, “is that there’s a variety of patterns, which means there is something to fit everyone’s taste.”
    “That’s right,” Lamar agreed. “Some people prefer the more traditional patterns, like the Lone Star, and some enjoy making something unusual like my Pheasant Trail or Horseshoe