Editor Lindsay Mayland
used the Lizzie’s Legacy
collection by Betsy
Chutchian for Moda Fabrics
(modafabrics.com) to make
the quilt from the book The
Splendid Sampler by Pat
Sloan and Jane Davidson
(shopmartingale.com).l s rLM: If you weren’t a quilt and fabric designer,
what would you want to do?
BC: I would still make quilts, but as for a profession,
I would have loved to teach American history.
LM: How have you seen the quilting community
change since you started?
BC: The quilting community has grown
tremendously since I began quilting in 1980.
Today, every aspect of quilting is available on the
internet, something that was unimaginable then.
Looking at friends’ “quilty” posts on Instagram
and Facebook is fun and inspirational and brings
together a wonderful community of quilting
friends from all over the world. While shopping
on the internet offers a valuable service of a wide
selection and quick and easy deliveries, it’s not
the same experience as dropping in to the local
shop, where everyone knows your name and can‘t
wait to show you the newest arrivals. Sadly, I’ve
seen too many local quilt shops close. For me,
being able to learn hands-on from experienced
teachers and see and touch fabric is something
to be treasured.
LM: Describe your fabric stash.
BC: My fabric stash is huge and well-aged
because I’ve been collecting since 1981. I primarily
collect 1800s reproduction fabrics from lots of
designers. I also have a great collection of my own
lines. Fabrics are color coordinated in cupboards.
Fabrics that I design are stored by collection. And
then there are fabric piles on the floor, unruly
stacks under the drafting table, overflowing tubs
in the closets, and baskets and bags of scraps.
LM: What color fabric do you put in every
quilt?
BC: If at all possible, I include indigo in
every quilt. It’s my all-time favorite fabric,
old or new.LM: If you aren’t busy quilting, what are
you doing on a typical day?
BC: Cooking, changing out quilts around
the house, making a feeble attempt at
cleaning up the mess in the sewing room,
and, when I get the chance, playing with my
grandkids, Madison and Reed.
For more information about Betsy Chutchian,
visit betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com or
@betsy_chutchian on Instagram.ABOVE LEFT Betsy’s newest
fabric collection, Sarah’s
Story for Moda Fabrics,
will be available in stores in
November.
ABOVE An 1870s quilt made
of Carpenter’s Wheel blocks
graces the guest bed in Betsy’s
home. Stacked antique quilts
cushion an 1860 Virginia
church bench.AllPeopleQuilt.com 21