A New Generation of Quilts
Shop caters to experts and newcomers, near and far
Contained in a shop that caters to people who are more than sew-sew are sea turtles, dolphins, whales, starfish, and if you’re lucky enough to spy her, a fantastical mermaid riding a seahorse — all quilted on lushly colored fabric.
Although my immigrant grandmother supported her family as a seamstress in New York City’s Garment District, I inherited no such talent and attach buttons with a Buttoneer. So it was that I entered Coastal Stitches in Destin with barely a thimbleful of knowledge but prepared to dip my toe into the world of quilting — its history, its tools, its enthusiasts and its intrigue.
Three canine furballs — Snuggles, Fluffy and Miesie — were quick to greet me and were followed by shop owners Michele Vangraan and her husband Quinton. Michele, a talented graphic designer, has been consumed by a love of sewing since she was a young girl who made her own clothes. As her expertise evolved, she began to “paint with thread” as a quilt maker.
Immediately, I was impressed by her breathtaking “Royal Beauty,” a quilt dominated by a rose. Check it out at coastalstitchesinc.com.
↳ Coastal Stitches in Destin has an inventory of more than 2,500 bolts of fabric in addition to pre-cut Fat Quarters.” Photo by Forever Young Images
Always updating her training and certifications, Michele offers passion and an immense depth of knowledge to her clients in this service-oriented shop that offers numerous classes to people of all experience and skill levels. Quinton is an expert on the shop’s longarm Handi Quilter sewing machines, which are up to 12 feet wide. The shop sells, installs and services the machines. Quinton’s expertise also extends to laser-cutting of fabric and acrylic templates.
A quilt titled “Toes in the Sand” and coastal-themed quilted products and fabrics also greet visitors at the door. Beyond 2,500 beautifully organized bolts of fabric, popular patriotic and traditional quilts are on display. Four Handi Quilters are loaded with eye-catching quilt tops in the process of being artfully sewn to the batting (various types available) and bottoms, with the aid of Pro-Stitcher computerized software.
The edge-to-edge stitches can be pantographs (intricate, wallpaper-like repeating patterns, curves, swirls and stars); custom, one-of-a-kind stitchery for a one-off quilt destined to become an heirloom (which can last a hundred years); or free-motion stitches, which Michele calls “doodling with thread.” For a fascinating look at what computerized machines can do, click the Videos tab on the Coastal Stitches website.
While I was at the shop, a woman brought in a quilt top, and Michele discussed with her available choices and a time frame for completing the project. In Michele’s office are boxes of quilt tops which have been shipped from far-flung parts of the country and Canada for her to assemble. Some are from snowbirds who have visited the shop.
↳ Students in a class taught by Laura Cumbee complete early steps on their way to creating a table runner. Photo by Forever Young Images
Michele consults with these quilters by phone and with pictures to provide the best interpretation of their works of art. And, there are the all-in quilters who have longarm machines at home in dedicated sewing rooms.
Kim Lyster is one such avid quilter. Retired from the fast-paced world of finance, and with no ability to sew, Kim discovered an old letter from a deceased aunt, who had included a quilt pattern. Many years later, on her own Handi Quilter, with both patience and a heavy foot on the pedal, Lyster created her aunt’s Cathedral Window quilt, which won Kim her first blue ribbon. It’s on innovationswithkandk.com.
According to Michele, quilting today is an activity enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of artists around the globe. The earliest surviving quilt is from 1360 and was made in Sicily. Over 3,000 years ago, Chinese warriors wore quilted vests under their armor.
↳ A “Whalesong” quilt was created by shop owner Michele Vangraan. In adding finishing touches to the piece, she used fusible hot-fix Swarovski crystals to create a water reflection effect. Photo by Forever Young Images
In America, quilting has evolved from pioneering days when primarily women sewed by hand in quilting bees and circles. Working alone, they made household items like blankets and window coverings.
Pioneers even made quilts from empty flour sacks to which millers had ingeniously added lovely designs.
In addition to being fully stocked with almost anything a quilter might need, Michele displays inspiring finished products, throws, blankets, memory and graduation quilts and fun T-shirt quilts. Very popular are tuffets, which range from pincushions to ottomans to mechanics’ creepers with male-themed fabrics (for male mechanics) on wheels.
Quilting is a way of storytelling, communicating and fellowship. As such, there are many quilting guilds across our area. The Flying Needles Quilting Guild and Silver Threads are two guilds that have by-laws, officers, regular meetings and give donations to charities that help veterans, children in need, prison inmates and hospitals.
If not already in, might you add a stitch to the quilt of humanity?
COASTAL STITCHES
The shop, featuring state-of-the art quilting machines, is located at the Target shopping center in Destin at 809 Harbor Blvd. Store hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturday. Information on classes is available at coastalstitchesinc.com.
