Common thread

Bright fabrics with a modern edge are making their way into local quilting shops, signaling a generational shift in a craft that's beginning to attract a younger following.

"It's not just a hobby for older women now," said Mark Skomp, who owns Lavender Lime Quilting on South Terrace with his wife, Kathy. "We have literally taught Quilting 101 to everyone from the age of 9 to 93."

Teresa Zachry, owner of Ann's Quilt Shop in East Ridge, said she, too, has noticed the trend.

In her shop, which specializes in quilt making and quilt finishing, she still has many customers who have been quilting for 20 or more years, but a new crop of quilting enthusiasts are showing up as well.

"I think people have decided it's a dying art, and they don't want to let it die," she said. "We went through a time when there weren't as many quilts being made, and now with the younger generation, you're seeing more."

For 23-year-old Jessie Waters, who began quilting a couple years ago, the passion was passed down from generation to generation. She recalls that both her mother and grandmother quilted for longer than she can remember, and it was their love of the art form that piqued her interest.

BY THE NUMBERS* $3.6 billion: Amount quilters spent on their hobby last year - up 9 percent since 2006.* 16.38 million: Number of quilting households in the U.S.* 21.3 million: Active quilters* 16: Years the average quilter has spent quiltingSource: Quilters in America 2010 survey

"I just like being able to create something from a pile of fabric," said Waters, who sells her 3rd Generation Quilts at Chattanooga Market. "And I like that feeling of accomplishment I get when I finish it - thinking, 'Wow, I made that and no one helped me, I did that all on my own.'"

Local quilters emphasized the relaxation and social aspects of quilting. And they're not alone in their passion.

Despite an economic downturn that has left many strapped for cash, quilters spent about $3.6 billion last year - up 9 percent since 2006, according to the 2010 Quilting in America survey conducted by Quilts Inc.

"Nothing keeps quilters from enjoying something that allows them to explore both their talents and their creativity," said Karey Bresenhan, president of Quilts Inc., in a news release.

At Lavender Lime Quilting, the effects of the recession were slow to show. Skomp said everything was business as usual until about six months ago, when "all of a sudden, we fell just a little bit."

He said he doesn't think quilters reacted the same way as many consumers during the downturn because of the comfort associated with the hobby. If there's one common thread among quilters, he said, it's not their age or willingness to spend money on their passion, but rather that "they're very giving."

"You go home feeling pretty warm and fuzzy about the business," Skomp said. "Even when the economy's down, you still feel it. The people are good."

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