Yvonne Hollenbeck shares Patchwork on the Prairie

Yvonne Hollenbeck, left, explains quilting from the Civil War to today’s quilts which she has made. Brenda Hofeldt of Millboro, and Kay Evans of Storm Lake, IA, are the quilt holders of these precious stories of the past and present. On the screen is a hand crank sewing machine, first available in the 1860s. The Log Cabin quilt pictured was made by Yvonne’s great-great grandmother. Photo by Laura Vroman

This four patch was made by Yvonne’s aunt. It just so happened that Yvonne also has that aunts journal where she wrote that she had worked on her “purple quilt.” It wasn’t like they could go buy yards of purple fabric at the store, instead the purple was used in the borders. Photos by Laura Vroman

A colorfully printed feed sack in green, mustard and brown was used to make a lovely apron, dress, or quilt pieces...and the label soaked off would become underwear.