The ties that bind
Kirk’s Quilters piece together eras of women’s work

ALTAMONT – When Dorothy Barker retired in 1971 after 20 years of teaching first grade at the Altamont Elementary School, she was looking for something to keep herself busy.

She thought that quilting would provide a good pastime, so she decided to teach herself how to embroider with candlewick.
Candlewicking started in England in the 17th Century. Traditionally, it is white-on-white embroidery, using stem-stitch, Colonial, and French knot stitching.

Barker made 23 white-on-white candlewick blocks.

When her husband retired, the couple began traveling, and enjoying their free time together. Barker never finished the 24th block of the quilt.
"I just tucked them away," Barker told The Enterprise.

The 23 completed blocks sat in a box in Barker’s house until she gave them to her friend Phyllis Schilling at the 2005 Altamont Quilts in the Park show.

Schilling took action. She asked the Altamont group, Kirk’s Quilters, if they wanted to finish the quilt. The women were eager to tackle the challenge.

Norma Holt embroidered the last block, and 11 members of Kirk’s Quilters assembled and hand-quilted the coverlet.

The Dorothy Barker -Phyllis Schilling Quilt has now been finished. Altamont Community Traditions will sell tickets for it to raise money for the Maple Avenue Playground Project. The pocket park that once held a tennis court will become a children’s playground.
"We wanted the quilt to be used to honor Phyllis," said Ruth Dickinson, a Kirk’s Quilters member. "Phyllis has done so much for the village of Altamont," she said. Among other things, the long time resident has been the village gardener and an Altamont trustee.
Barker said that she thinks the women did a beautiful job on the quilt. "These ladies deserve more credit than I should ever have," she said.
Without the help of Kirk’s Quilters, Barker said, "I wouldn’t have done anything with it."

The quilters

Local quilting legend, Doris Kirk, started the group that bears her name.

Some of the women who worked on the Dorothy Barker - Phyllis Schilling Quilt learned to quilt from Kirk.
"She was just a marvelous teacher," said Bobbie Scrafford, one of Kirk’s quilting apprentices. Scrafford made her first quilt in the early 1980s under the watchful eye of Kirk.
Scrafford said that Kirk "was particular, but would let you do your own thing."
"She was always an encourager," she said.

Kirk was a long-time resident of Altamont, and now lives in an assisted living community.

About 20 members belong to the quilting guild, 11 of whom worked on the candlewick quilt, Dickinson told The Enterprise.
Dorothy Barker and Phyllis Schilling are not official Kirk’s Quilters members.

The drawing for the quilt will be held on Dec. 3.
"I just hope someone wins it that really will enjoy it," Barker said.
Scrafford said, in some ways the quilt is a tribute to their "great teacher," Doris Kirk.

"It’s a continuation of her legacy to us," she said.