Interview with Irma Gail Hatcher, October 23, 1999

Partial Transcript: My name is Phyllis Harris.

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher tells the interviewer she is from Conway, Arkansas and she has been coming to the quilt festival since 1983. She discusses her involvement with the festival, teaching quilt classes and displaying a quilt in the 100 Best Quilts of the 20th century and the "Teaching exhibit". She talks about the creation and history of the quilts which are in the festival, including the awards they have won.

Keywords: 100 Best Quilts of the 20th Century; Award-winning quilts; Baltimore quilts

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Now you've, uh, brought several quilts with you today, and, uh, if you could give us a bit of information about the quilts.

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher talks about how she created one of the quilts for the interview for the birth of her twin granddaughters. She discusses the designs, their meanings, and the techniques which she used to create the quilts.

Keywords: Baltimore style blocks; Creative processes; Family quilts; Needle arts; Quilt blocks; Quilt designs; Quilt symbolism; Twin quilts

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: So, tell me, how long have you been quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher talks about how she has been quilting for 19 years and the first class she took in quilting. She then discusses how she got into quilting after her first quilting failure. She talks about joining a guild in order to better learn how to create quilts, getting advice from the other quilters.

Keywords: Family quilts; Quilting classes; Quilting guilds; Quilts as gifts

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: So...[unintelligible] so what do you think, Irma, makes a, a great quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher discusses what she believes makes a great quilt: the design of the quilt, the quilt's colors, and the quilting itself are what she believes are most important. She then tells the interviewer her favorite quilts of the show, Margaret Docherty's "Little Brown Birds" and Judy Matheson's "Mariner's Compasses". She talks about her favorite elements of the quilts.

Keywords: Hand quilting; Machine quilting; Qualities of a great quilt; Quilt color patterns; Quilt designs

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: What, uh, do you find pleasing about, uh, quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher talks about how she has always enjoyed crafting, but quilting allowed her to create a unique design of her own. She believes quilts are works of art and should be treated as such.

Keywords: Artistry in quilting; Craftsmanship in quilting; Creating art; Quilts as art

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts in art; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: How do you see the--these, uh, quilts make--having an effect in the future--the future use of the quilts?

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher talks about the popularity of quilt exhibits in museums and how quilts are a part of American cultural heritage due to the large number of women in the past who made quilts for their families.

Keywords: Cultural aspects of quilting; Importance of quilting; Quilt festivals; Quilt heritage; Quilts in museums

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: So, do you have an idea of what makes a great quilter?

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher tells the interviewer she believes a great quilter finishes what they have started. She also believes a great quilter has a kind and likable personality.

Keywords: Artistic personalities; Completed projects; Great quilters; Incomplete projects; Quilters

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Uh, uh, how many quilts have you made over the years?

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher discusses her body of work, having created over 50 quilts in her lifetime. She discusses their various sizes and how long they take her to create, according to design and size difference. She tells the interviewer she hand sews her quilts, but uses her machine to applique.

Keywords: Applique quilt blocks; Applique quilts; Hand sewing; Machine quilting; Quilting techniques

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Sewing machines; Textile artists; Textiles

Partial Transcript: How has your family influenced your quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Hatcher talks about how her quilting has impacted her family life. She talks about how her family is supportive of her quilting.

Keywords: Families of quilters; Proud families; Supportive families

Subjects: Artists; Arts & crafts; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Families; Quilting; Quilts; Quilts--Design.; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles