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Aunt Norie’s Sewing Room

By Eleanor Mckee - | Jul 17, 2002

Agnes Kissenger became fascinated with the art of piecing quilts as a small child as she watched a favorite aunt create her beautiful quilts.

They had such fun as her aunt also taught her the art.

“My that was back in the ’20s. My aunt would also quilt quilts for others for only $5 each, which was a lot in those days,” Kissenger said. “Even then only the ‘better-fixed’ folks could afford to have one quilted.

“Most quilts and comforters had an old blanket for the filling and were hand-tied with yarn or heavy cord thread. They were made for lasting service and real warmth.”

Agnes, one of several local ladies working through our local Riford Senior Center, has quilted hundreds of quilts through the years as a fund-raiser for the center.

Agnes, of course, donated her hours. She is currently piecing a beautiful Monkey Wrench patterned quilt. This one will be for one of the grandchildren. She recalls her first quilt was also an old, and still popular pattern, the Sunbonnet Sue.

Agnes grew up in Zurich, north of Hays. She remembers well those awful Dust Bowl days when that constant wind blew dust clouds.

That fine, powdery dust found its way seemingly through the very walls in cracks one couldn’t even see with the naked eye. Her parents kept the whole family together in one room in which they kept the windows covered with wet sheets, fearing that they might even suffocate as they slept.

To go outdoors to do chores they also kept their nose and mouth covered with wet handkerchiefs or bandannas.

We all need to count our many blessings, don’t we?

Love and God bless you all. Aunt Norie, P.O. Box 265, Tonganoxie, 66086-0265.