Story By Sam Knee
Clanton, AL — The sound of a sewing machine can often be heard from the house of Gwyn Loyd. Though she is a woman in her 70s, Gwyn is still quite the active quilter. She is part of three different quilting groups: The Cotton Patch Quilt Guild, Stitch and Pray, and the Birmingham Quilter.
Gwyn began quilting more than 50 years ago. “When I first started making quilts, most of them that I made looked kind of old. And now I’m into buying reproduction fabrics that are old and using them in my quilts.” Her love of the past is something she still enjoys in the present. “I’ve always loved old things, whether it’s antique, vintage, or just anything that looks old.”
During the early stages of her quilting, Gwyn’s husband, Tommy Loyd, would refurbish motorcycles. After he finished, Tommy would take them to different motorcycle shows. Gwyn would accompany him on these trips on one condition. That condition, whenever they see a quilt shop along the way, they would stop at it. She said that this led to them visiting many shops across many states.
Gwyn will occasionally go on shopping trips with her quilting friends she calls “shop hops.” These shop hops typically involve her and her friends going out to different quilt shops to look for new fabrics to use in their quilting projects. Her last trip was down to Florida.
“Quilting brings you together.”
Gwyn Loyd
Gwyn attends quilting retreats where she says everyone just relaxes, works on projects, and shares their quilting knowledge with each other. “The one I really enjoy is a four-day retreat where we bring all of our quilting supplies, and all we have to do is just quilt for four days, whether you do it on the machine, by hand, you get together with your friends and learn new techniques. You have somebody that does your cooking and cleaning and you don’t have to do that.”
In addition to the “shop hops” and retreats, Gwyn also makes a yearly trip to Houston, Texas for the International Quilt Festival. The festival showcases quilts made by people from all over the world. “So you get to meet them and find out what life is like in their country, and how they made these quilts, and how they’re different than their techniques and things are different than ours are” Gwyn said.
Gwyn also takes part in helping with a program called Quilts of Valor. It is an a event that is meant to celebrate veterans by presenting them with a quilt. The Cotton Patch Quilt Guild hosts the event in Clanton, and Gwyn is the main one who makes the quilts for the event. “I think that it is a great experience for the men and the women that served in our militaries.” “Seeing the people that we have given the quilts to be so emotional, knowing that somebody cared enough about what they did with their life that we want to thank them for it and that it touches me to know they’re thankful.”
Additionally, Gwyn and the Stitch and Pray quilters make quilts for other groups and charities. She specifically notes that the the quilts go to children who have experienced traumatic situations, Gwyn is not the only member of the Lyod household who makes things for charity. Her husband Tommy has recently taken up crochet as a way to help with arthritis in his hands. In the span of five months, he has already crocheted over 100 hats and counting as they plan to donate them.
When asked what is it like to participate in all these events, she said, “I love it. I would feel lost if I didn’t have all of my quilt friends. They’re very supportive ladies.” What motivates her to keep going at her age? “Because I, the different groups, there’s different people in the different groups and I enjoy being with them and you get to meet new people almost from all over the country and sometimes even different parts of the world. Quilting brings you together.”
Disclaimer: Gordon Smelley shown in the Quilt of Valor article is my grandfather.
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