This beautiful nativity Bible quilt was recently completed by Ellen Miller who made it to go with the Bible Story quilts the women of Northfield Presbyterian Church had already made for the Fellowship Halls (see pictures below). Nine ladies contributed to those quilts, but Ellen noticed that there was not a “story” quilt for the nativity. She made the quilt over the past 2 years and finished it in time to hang in the church this week. Ellen is lending this quilt to the church for special Christmas occasions such as their annual Ladies Christmas tea tomorrow. It is machine stitched. The border fabric was bought on a “girlfriends shopping trip” to the quilt shops of Shipshewanna, Indiana this past fall. (great place by the way). Ellen used “The Adoration”, a pattern from the quilt book, Adoration Quilts, by Rachel W. N. Brown to make this quilt.
“The Adoration” is not the first quilt these women have made. I originally found their quilts a few months ago doing a Google search for Bible quilts. I found the following quilts that day:
These quilts were all made from a quilt pattern produced by Magnolia Midnight Pattern Company which has apparently gone out of business. If I can ever get in touch with them I am going to do whatever I can to encourage them to continue creating these awesome patterns. I would love to promote them on this website/blog.
Ellen Miller of Northfield Presbyterian wrote this account describing the labor of love that went into creating the three quilts above:
We started with 10 ladies and a fabric party. Everyone picked out their panel, found fabrics to appliqué, traced the patterns and of course, ate something (smile). Then each took their patterns home to sew. Some hand stitched, some machine, some embellished, some just kept it simple. I think we got it done in about 2 months total. Two of these women then combined and quilted the panels (very simply). We found very colorful border fabric to bring out the panels. We started after Christmas one year and finished in time to hang them for Easter Breakfast.
These women have various quilting events along. They recently created a quilt as a fundraiser for a mission trip. Even the children get quilting fever from time to time. This friendship quilt was created by Ellen Miller’s 4th grade class a year ago:
I pray I will find more quilting churches, and I especially hope to see them making Bible quilts. My prayer and heart’s desire is that this blog will serve to inspire more Christians to see making Bible quilts as an opportunity to share their faith with others.
