Interview with Sue Herbst, August 11, 2008

Partial Transcript: This is Tomme Fent. Today is Monday, August 11th, 2008, and it is 7:25 p.m. I'm conducting an interview with Sue Herbst for the Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories Project. We are here in Sioux City, Iowa at the First Presbyterian Church. So, Sue, thanks for coming... Why don't you first tell me a little bit about this quilt that you've brought, your touchstone object. What's the name of the quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Herbst says her touchstone quilt does not have an official name, although her family calls it "Circles." She calls it her "Tuesday Quilt," because Herbst worked on the quilt every Tuesday while making it. Herbst made the quilt while she was running a quilt shop. Two women asked her for help in making the quilt after they saw it in Quilting Today magazine. Herbst says that the original design was created by Jodie Stutchbury. [A note in the interview transcript states that Barbara Swinea made the quilt shown in Quilting Today from Stutchbury's design.] Since the magazine did not include a pattern, Herbst first had to create one from the picture. Herbst first made the quilt herself, before teaching the two other women. Herbst estimates that it took her four to five months to finish the quilt top. She then sent the top to a long arm quilter to be quilted.

Keywords: Barbara Swinea; Jodie Stutchbury; Log Cabin - quilt pattern; Long arm quilters; Quilt tops; Quilting Today; Teaching quiltmaking; Tomme Fent

Subjects: Quilting today; Quilts--United States

Partial Transcript: So, you said something about a quilt shop. You used to own a quilt shop?

Segment Synopsis: Herbst was the owner of the Strawberry Patch, a quilt shop in Sioux City, Iowa, for roughly four years. Running the quilt shop required working long hours, but Herbst found it to be very fulfilling. There were no other quilt shops in Sioux City at that time. Herbst bought the quilt shop from its previous owner. Herbst enjoys going to quilt shops because, she says it is a good way to learn about the shops' owners and their personalities.

Keywords: Fabric/Quilt shops; Quilt business; Quilt shops; Small business

Subjects: Quilting shops; Sioux City (Iowa)

Partial Transcript: Well, what is your very first memory of a quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Herbst says, "Quilts have been in my family forever." While Herbst was growing up, her family lived in a "trailer house" on her grandmother's property for part of the year. Herbst's grandmother was a quilter who made hand-pieced utility quilts using scrap fabrics. When Herbst was eight years old, her grandmother taught her to hand piece, as a way of keeping Herbst away from her own scraps and blocks. Herbst started making hand-pieced Four Patch quilts for her first quilts. Now Herbst does most of her work using a machine, but she continues doing some hand piecing and applique.

Keywords: Fabric stash; Family; Four Patch - quilt pattern; Grandmothers; Hand applique; Hand piecing; Learning quiltmaking; Machine quilting; Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Scrap quilts

Subjects: Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: Well, you mentioned that you have a fabric stash. What are your favorite types of fabric?

Segment Synopsis: Herbst loves fabric with Asian and Japanese prints. As far as color goes, she likes lavender and purple. She is preparing to move soon and says that she cannot get rid of any of her fabric. Some of Herbst's fabric stash came from owning her quilt shop, which she sold in 1992 or 1993. She usually only buys a yard or two of fabric at a time, except when buying more yards to be used as a quilt backing. Herbst enjoys making scrap quilts and prefers to use a lot of fabric types with different colors.

Keywords: Fabric selection; Fabric stash; Scrap quilts

Partial Transcript: Well, I know that you've been really involved in your quilt guild, the Siouxland Samplers Quilt Guild. What's your current involvement with the guild?

Segment Synopsis: Herbst is a member of the Siouxland Samplers Quilt Guild. She was also the chair of its quilt show at the time of the interview. She says chairing the quilt show is fun and involves interacting with members of the guild, but she also finds the responsibility intimidating. Herbst was one of thirty or thirty-five people who showed up for the first meeting of the guild, at Lerlene Nevaril's house. During the meeting, they chose a name for the guild and came up with ideas for the guild's goals. Herbst's primary source of quilting information before the guild was Quilter's Newsletter, and she did not know other quiltmakers. Herbst is not sure when the quilt guild began, but a member of the audience says it was started in 1986.

Keywords: Guild leadership; Quilt guilds; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Quilters Newsletter Magazine; Siouxland Samplers Quilt Guild

Subjects: Nevaril, Lerlene, 1938-