And sew it goes. . . .

Quilting, that classic art form that weaves stories withstitches, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

“There’s a lot of interest in it right now,” saysJan Reese, 35, co-founder of The Quilt Patch, a Nashville,Tennessee, retailer of quilts and quilting supplies. “Peoplelike to see something that’s done by hand. Also, people arelooking to give a little part of themselves.”

All that giving adds up: Quilter’s NewsletterMagazine estimates the quilting industry to be worthapproximately $1.5 billion-not exactly a threadbare figure.

Perhaps even more interesting is that nearly 70 percent ofquilters boast at least some college education. That may explainwhy, according to Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine,one-third of quilters own a computer and nearly 10 percent usequilt design software. Even tried-and-true traditions, it seems,are subject to modern-day face lifts.

Which may be all the more reason to predict that consumers ofall ages will remain in stitches. “I think [quilting] willcontinue to be popular because it’s so much a part of ourAmerican heritage,” maintains Reese, who’s been pleasantlysurprised by the number of customers visiting her shop.”Quilts will always hold a special significance.”

Contact Sources

Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, Box 4101, Golden, CO80402-4101, (303) 273-1321;

The Quilt Patch, 2416 Music Valley Dr., #158, Nashville,TN 37214, (615) 883-7404;