While most people are familiar with quilts, which consists of fabric squares that are stitched together to create bedspreads or wall hangings, pieces of material can also be made into fabric yo-yos, which are pieces of fabric that are gathered around the edges and pulled together to create circular rosettes. The rosettes can be joined together to create items such as blankets, pillows, bracelets or wall art.

A program about quilts and fabric yo-yos was presented on Feb. 12 by the Friends of Hopewell Furnace in the visitor's center at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson. Guest speakers were members of the Hopewell Quilters, a group of quilting enthusiasts who demonstrate quilting at the site on Fridays from May through October.

Becky Hughes led the program by explaining that a quilt includes three main parts - a top, backing and batting in between. Quilters make stitches that hold all three layers together. Most quilts are composed of uniform fabric squares or patches. "You can also have a quilt that is not a specific pattern, which is called a crazy quilt," she noted.

Hughes referenced a quilt that is hanging on display in the visitor's center that was created in 2021 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Hopewell Furnace. The quilt, which won a first-place prize at the Kimberton Fair, features photos of Hopewell's historic buildings on fabric.

"There are many different types of quilts (like) the one we created for the anniversary of the park, which park volunteers signed," she said, noting that the Hopewell Quilters make one quilt together each year. "The first quilt we made as a group was all hand done; none of that was machine pieced. We had visitors sign their names on it. It was designed to be put on the bed in the tenant house."

While members of the group are quilting in the park, visitors are invited to make their own stitches on a practice piece of cloth. "Sometimes when we are quilting, visitors will come in and talk to us about their experiences with quilts. It is always fun to learn more," said Beth Shugar, a member of the Hopewell Quilters. "I find (learning about) what their grandmother used as a quilting frame to be fascinating. Some of them had quilt frames that were on pulleys so they could be pulled up to the ceiling (when not in use). Some of them had a room that was dedicated to quilting. The ladies would come in and chat and have their own quilting time."

Hughes concluded the program by having audience members make their own fabric yo-yos. "We will give you a needle and thread and a circle of fabric. You fold the fabric (around the perimeter) a quarter of an inch and then stitch around the edges. When you pull it, it will form the yo-yo," Hughes said, adding that creating the yo-yos is a perfect way to use leftover scraps of material.

The Friends of Hopewell Furnace meet on the second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m., with the exception of May, September and October. To learn more, visit http://www.facebook.com/FriendsofHopewellfurnace.

More information about the quilting group is available by searching for "Hopewell Quilters" on Facebook.