Interview with Mary V. Washington, September 27, 2005

Partial Transcript: Today, September 27th, 2005, we are interviewing Mary V. Washington, Number 20002.017 during a Daughters of Dorcas meeting. The interviewer is Evelyn Salinger.

Segment Synopsis: Washington has two touchstone wall hangings for the interview. The first is "African-American Beauty" and depicts, in the interviewers words, a "woman rising out of [a] flower." Washington made it to give to her daughter. The second wall hanging is "Summer Garden." Washington and the interviewer discuss the colors and the fabrics, especially for the first wall hanging, in some detail. They also talk about some of the techniques used to make the quilt.

Keywords: Christine Bradford; Fabric - color; Quilt Purpose - Gift or presentation; Techniques

Subjects: Bargello quilting

Partial Transcript: When did you first come in contact with quilters or quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Washington first learned to quilt at the Harmony Hall Regional Center (Fort Washington, MD) in 1995. According to Washington's mother, Washingon's paternal grandmother used scraps of cloth from old clothing to make quilts for warmth, but no one else in her family quilted. Washington grew up in an area that used to be called Salesia, but has become Fort Washington, in Prince George's County, MD. She now lives in the Oxon Hill area of Fort Washington. She went to school there and in Upper Marlboro, and continues to live in Oxon Hill. Washington's mother did not sew, so Washington had to teach herself sewing, starting with doll clothes and moving on to clothing for herself.

Keywords: Family; Harmony Hall Regional Center (Fort Washington, MD); Log cabin (quilt pattern); Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Sewing

Partial Transcript: What are your favorite aspects of quilting, of the quilting process?

Segment Synopsis: Washington particularly likes piecing and hand quilting, but there is no aspect of quiltmaking that she dislikes. As of the time of the interview, Washington has been a member of Daughters of Dorcas for about two years, but she has belonged to other quilting groups before and during her membership in that group. In response to interviewer questions, Washington agrees that she enjoys the sociability of her groups and that she is inspired by the work of others. Washington has taken several quilting classes with Jennifer Morris at the Harmony Hall Regional Center.

Keywords: Baltimore Album quilts; Daughters of Dorcas; Harmony Hall Regional Center (Fort Washington, MD); Jennifer Morris; Learning quiltmaking; Quilt groups; Sew-ciables; Sewful Sisters Quilting Bee; Techniques; Uhuru Quilters Guild, Inc.

Partial Transcript: Um, do you have a preference of traditional or contemporary, [and?] as you're going along?.

Segment Synopsis: Washington states a preference for the "old craft quilts," and has a number of books of such patterns. However, she also, occasionally, combines several different patterns to make a quilt. She sometimes creates her own designs. She has a picture album of her quilting. Her daughter is the usual recipient of her quilting projects, but Washington also has made some for charity and for friends. She has also sold some..

Keywords: Family; Quilt Purpose - Charity; Quilt Purpose - Gift or presentation; Sacred Heart Home (Hyattsville, MD); St. Ann's; Traditional quilts

Partial Transcript: I just was going to ask you if you'd, if anyone's commissioned you to do something, yet or just?

Segment Synopsis: Washington has made three commissioned pieces, which she describes briefly. She has shown her quilt only through a Daughters of Dorcas event [which took place, according to the transcript, at the Sumner School] and at a quilt retreat. Washington describes the retreat, at which she attended two classes and also worked on her own projects.

Keywords: Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives (Washington, DC); Christine Bradford; Daughters of Dorcas; Dr. Joan Redfearn Thompson; Quilt retreats; Ricky Tims; Sewful Sisters; quiltmaking classes

Partial Transcript: I always ask, how does quilting impact your family?

Segment Synopsis: Washington's mother complains about the amount of time she spends quilting. Washington has sold some of her craft items to other relatives, but likes to hang on to most of her work. Washington likes quilting because it occupies her time and is a way to meet people. Washington does other hand crafts and meets alternative Thursday night to do handcrafts for charitable purposes with a group of women from her church. She has not won awards, partly because she mostly does not compete in shows, and does not collect quilts.

Keywords: Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives (Washington, DC); Famiy; Sacred Heart Home (Hyattsville, MD)

Subjects: Crafts & decorating

Partial Transcript: Um, what are your thoughts on machine work vs., handwork?

Segment Synopsis: Washington uses a mix of hand and machine work, in part because she does not know how to machine quilt. She would like to learn, but also notes that she likes hand quilting. She has a couple of hoops, one of which can be set up on the floor. She also has a frame, but did not like it when she tried to used it. When asked about the meaning of quilting for American women, Washington replies that it gives them an opportunity to demonstrate skills. Washington's advice to new quilters is to start with simple projects, and, after doing several of those, build from there.

Partial Transcript: Are there any stories or experiences with quilts or quilting that you'd like to, share?

Segment Synopsis: When asked if she has any stories about quilts or quilting that she would like to share, Washington talks about an error she made in the color scheme of her first quilt, whereby two adjacent areas, that should have been in contrasting colors, were in the same or similar colors. Washington estimates that she spends sixteen to twenty hours a week quilting. The interviewer notes that she seems to be producing a fair number of items in that time and asks if she finds her quilt meetings productive. Washington says that she gets more done at home, because meetings are social and she spends time talking to people.

Keywords: Quilting mistake; Time management

Partial Transcript: I didn't ask you if you have done any teaching?

Segment Synopsis: When asked about teaching, Washington says that she is teaching her daughter to quilt and that she helps out when quilters ask her questions. Washington thinks she does about two or three projects a year. She makes quilts in a range of sizes. She has so much fabric that she does not anticipate using it up before her death and recently had to turn down an offer of fabric from someone who was moving.

Keywords: Fabric stash; Family; Teaching quiltmaking