A Single Thread (Cobbled Court) by Marie Bostwick

racking my brain, trying to imagine what kind of promotion, or event, or class might make my vision a reality and transform Cobbled Court Quilts into a community for quilters. I’d toyed with several ideas, some more promising than others, but none seemed quite right. Then, on one of the rare occasions when I was actually caught up on my work, I’d sat down to enjoy a few moments with a cup of tea and read the latest copy of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, and there it was—an article about the upcoming Quilt Pink event.
    The idea was simple. During one weekend in September, quilters from all over the country would go to their local quilt shops and piece a quilt block that would become part of a donated quilt. Each sponsoring quilt shop would decide on its own design, so no two quilts would be alike. In the spring, the quilts would be auctioned online and the proceeds donated to breast-cancer research.
    Before I’d even finished reading the article, I knew this was the event I’d been looking for. One that would bring quilters together to do something good for others, just as they had been since the first group of quilters gathered around a wooden frame to exchange gossip and laughter, plying their needles to create something practical and beautiful to benefit someone else.
    That’s how I’d decided on the name for our quilt—Basket of Blessings—a simple, classic design with pink baskets set on the diagonal on a background of assorted shades of brown, from light tan to chocolate. The design would be fairly simple, even for a beginner. The basket part was pieced, and only the handle would have to be appliquéd. And, for the more experienced quilters, I’d have an option to add a few appliquéd flowers in varying shades of pink. I smiled, thinking how pretty it would be to have a handful of blooming baskets sprinkled among the empty ones, all in different tones of pinks and browns, giving each quilter an opportunity to express her individuality while creating a block that would complement the whole quilt. When it was done, I would look at the different blocks, find a pleasing arrangement, and decide what kind of sashing and borders would show the blocks off to their best advantage.
    I was so excited! I called Charlie right away to tell him about my idea.
    “I’ll make up kits for each quilter beforehand with the proper size of fabric squares and patterns. I’ll put the different squares out on a big table, and they can choose whatever colors they want, so every block will be different. Then they can sit down, cut out the pattern, hand stitch the blocks right there, and, hopefully, by the end of the day we’ll have enough blocks to make a whole quilt. What do you think?”
    “What are you going to serve?” he asked.
    “Serve?” I was a little taken aback, annoyed that he was asking questions instead of simply applauding my wonderful idea. “I don’t know. Maybe some fruit and cheese?”
    “And a cake,” he mused. “I’ll make one for you. Something big and chocolate. With all those women, it’ll have to be chocolate.” I started to say he didn’t have to do that, that I could order one from the bakery, but he interrupted before I could get a word in. “And some punch. I’ve got a big punchbowl I use for catering that you can borrow. The whole thing should feel like a party.”
    Beneath Charlie’s gruff exterior there beat a heart of gold. He wasn’t questioning my idea; he was helping me expand it. And he was right on the money. We’d throw a party.
    “Great idea! I’ll even come up with some kind of little favor for everyone who comes, maybe a bag with a little marking pencil and a ruler. And I can have a few door prizes too.”
    “Good,” he agreed. “Now, what are you going to charge for each kit?”
    “Well, it’s for a good cause. I was only planning on charging what I paid for the fabric and pattern copies. I’ll donate the refreshments and prizes. Since the women will be