Vigo County Historical Society

Several husbands helped complete the handmade quilt

The story behind the bicentennial red, white and blue Star Quilt:

It was a 1977 kit, ordered from Better Homes & Gardens, which Eva Hopp inherited from her aunt. Hopp picked out the machine stitches that had been started and brought it to her Indiana State University Wives Club sewing group.

It became a raffle quilt with funds raised to go to the club, which offers scholarships to ISU students every year. The women hand-sewed the blocks and tore strips for the borders.

Once on the frame, it occupied a special space in the parlor of Jan and Jim Buffington’s home. Any of the sewing group could drop in and hand-quilt; the last one of the day was to turn off the light.

Experiences with the quilting needle varied from beginners to those who had worked on quilts before. Several of the husbands added their stitches and assistance to the project.

A small outline of the state of Indiana was stitched into the interlocking squares.

When finished, a small group gathered and the winning quilt raffle ticket was drawn on July 4, 1991. The lucky winner was me.

Those who had a "hand" in the making of the Star Quilt were Ingrid Alvager, Ruth Burns, Ida Bunger, Jan Buffington, Brittany Buffington, Jan Elrod, Mildred Herbst, Eva Hopp, Bill Hopp. Alta Koch, Barbara Puckett, Ismat Siddiqi, Jackie Trinler, Ann Tyson, Helen Venable, Muriel Wold, Debra Sitarski, Jill Hibbs and Jim Buffington.