Interview with Pansy Hector Lovelace, March 1, 2005

Partial Transcript: Today, March 1, 2005, we are interviewing Pansy Hector Lovelace in northeast D.C.

Segment Synopsis: The interviewer, Evelyn Salinger, introduces the subject for the Quilters' S.O.S. interview, Pansy Hector Lovelace.

Partial Transcript: I would like first to talk about the quilt that you brought in.

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace discusses whom she made the quilt for and why she made it. She created it out of one of her aunt’s old quilts. She talks about the different types of fabric which make up the quilt. She talks about seeing her aunt sewing in her childhood and how it influenced her to begin sewing and quilting herself. Lovelace discusses how quilts in her childhood were used for warmth and not for decoration.

Keywords: Fabrics; Last names; Quilt artists; Quilt arts; Quilt heritage; Quilt histories; Quilt tops

Subjects: Aunts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Families; Family life; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles

Partial Transcript: What are your favorite aspects of quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace discusses her love of scrap quilts and her collection of fabrics she has accumulated over the years. She talks about when she uses a sewing machine and when she hand sews. She believes quilts which are not hand quilted are not real quilts. She then discusses how she learned to quilt from her family, and her applique work. She talks about how she can spend 8 to 12 hours a day quilting and neglects her household duties to do so.

Keywords: Hand sewing; Machine sewing; Piecing; Quilting techniques; Scrap quilts

Subjects: Decorative arts; Families; Marriages; Needlework; Quilting: Appliqué; Quilts; Sewing machines; Textile artists; Textiles

Partial Transcript: Where did you actually grow up?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace discusses how she was technically born in North Carolina but raised in Virginia. She then talks about how she came to live in Washington, D.C. and her working history as a government contractor.
Lovelace discusses how she taught a quilting class at the community college and then started teaching a home help aid class. She helps an elderly lady at home, three days a week.

Keywords: Childhood origins; Family origins; Upbringings; Volunteering; Washington, D.C.; Working women

Subjects: Families; Government contractors; North Carolina; Virginia; Voluntarism; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Um, what, what do you do for patterns?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace talks about how she uses patterns she finds in magazines or books. She does not create her own patterns. Lovelace also talks about her favorites of the quilts she has created over the years, including a quilt with applique pansies she made herself.

Keywords: Favorite quilts; Flower quilts; Quilt artists; Quilt literature; Quilt patterns

Subjects: Decorative arts; Needlework; Pansies; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles

Partial Transcript: Why, why is quilting important in your life?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace details why quilting is an important part of her life. She discusses the practicality of quilts and how quilting allows someone to reuse fabric instead of throwing it away.

Keywords: Personal feelings; Practicality; Quilt making; Quilt usage; Recycling; Reusing; Scrap quilts

Subjects: Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Do you do other crafts, besides quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace talks about the various other crafts she has attempted to do, but does not do any of them besides quilting. She discusses how she shops at thrift stores and how hand-made items in these stores are wasted and of little value. She talks about other reasons why she does not like knitted materials.

Keywords: Hand-made items; Knitted materials; Store value; Thrift stores

Subjects: Decorative arts; Knitting; Needlework; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists

Partial Transcript: Uh, have you entered shows with some of your quilts over the years?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace talks about how she has not entered one of her quilts into a quilt show but she does show them at a summer school every year. She discusses the other places she shows her quilts aside from quilt shows and competitions. Lovelace talks about how she does not sell her quilts, but donates them to charity and gives them as gifts.

Keywords: Arts & crafts; Donating; Gift giving; Hand-made items; Personal achievements; Quilt awards; Quilt competitions; Quilt shows; Summer schools

Subjects: Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Gifts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists

Partial Transcript: How has quilting had meaning for the American woman?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace talks about the significance of quilting for American women as a means of expression and catharsis. She discusses the emotionality of quilting for some women.

Keywords: American women; Artistry; Emotional expression; Women in crafts; Women in quilting

Subjects: Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Do you have any advice for new quilters?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace encourages new quilters to start small, with a 9-patch quilt and to use a hoop for hand sewing. She believes starting small will teach you the skills to do large projects well.

Keywords: 9 patch quilts; Large quilt projects; New quilters; Novice quilters; Quilt hoops; Small quilt projects

Subjects: Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Do you keep track of what you’ve made?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace discusses her photo albums, which include photos of every quilt she has made. She also discusses her membership in the Daughters of Dorcas quilting group in Washington, D.C., including how she joined the group and her appreciation for the group. She talks about another quilting group she is part of and how it differs from the Daughters of Dorcas.

Keywords: Daughters of Dorcas; Fabric stores; Photo albums; Quilting groups; Quilting photos; Social circles; Social groups; Washington, D.C.

Subjects: Crafts & decorating; Cultural history; Cultures; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Washington (D.C.); Women

Partial Transcript: Do you sleep under quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Lovelace talks about how she uses her quilts to sleep with. She also discusses her experience teaching quilting classes and how she has little time to teach. Lovelace discusses cooking for children at her church during the summer as a hobby. She talks about how some children during the summer have a hard time finding meals outside of school. She tells anecdotes relating to her experiences at the church during the summer. Lovelace talks about her love of fishing.

Keywords: Cooking as a hobby; Feeding children; Fishing clubs; Practicality of quilts; Teaching quilting; Volunteering

Subjects: Children; Churches; Communities; Fishing; Quilting; Quilts; Voluntarism