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Kaye Frances Whittington

Quiltmaker, Owner

  Novi, Michigan, United States    

Great Lakes African American Quilters Network

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I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan; where I learned sew at an early age. As the eldest of eight siblings I was the only girl who wanted to learn how to sew. I would laugh at the thought that my mother could only sew on buttons, but my dad was a watchmaker and he learned to sew in the military. I quest that is where I got the bug!

After college I got married and moved to Ohio, while my husband completed his internship. It was there that I visited a local shop and observed the quilt samples. Having the skills to sew I figured that I could do this technique! I soon found out a ¼ inch is different from 5/8 inch; I began my first hand piece baby sampler. In that year Eleanor Burns of "Quilt-n-Day,” came to town to teach her Log Cabin quilt technique and I made my second quilt, a queen size log cabin quilt. Twenty five years later, I became a certified instructor for the Quilt-n-Day series. I was officially hooked on quilting!

In 1985 we moved to Oklahoma, where I became involved in guilds, a State Quilt Organization, and the Will Rodgers State College Educational Program, traveling to various towns teaching quilting and sewing. Moved to California got involved in quilting, and with others founded the Santa Clarita Quilt Guild, and representative for the Southern California Quilt Council. Moved back to Michigan and taught techniques for quilt shops and JoAnn Fabric stores. In 2008 I taught a group of retired women from Ford and General Motors Plant on how to sew garments and make quilts; who wanted to learn a skill after retiring. It was an honor to have my quilt “The African Vine” entered in the American Quilt Society Michigan show in 2013; I was inspired by Debra Madir Design.

Currently, a member of GLAAQN, GAAQG, The Plymouth Piecemakers Quilt Guild, charter member of the AQS and NQA.

As a proud grandmother of two daughters’ whom I begun to teach quilting I give private quilt lessons when I have nothing else to do! I am a Sunday school instructor, craft director for children and certified Event Planner.

When was the quiltmaker born?

05/26/1947

Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American

Educational background:

12 grade, 2 years of college

Religious affiliation:

Pentecostal

Occupation (if retired, former occupation):

Bookkeeper

Where was the quiltmaker born?

Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan (MI), United States

Where did the quiltmaker grow up?

Urban

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Atkinson

Spouse's/Spouses' name(s):

Whittington, Dr. Jeremiah (FACOG)

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From class

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 20-29

Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt:

Pleasure

Other reasons the quiltmaker makes/made quilts.

Learned how to quilt at a Quilt Shop in Austintown, Ohio

Name of quilting group(s):

Great Lakes African American Quilters Network (GLAAQN), Livonia Civic Park Senior Center, VP 2020-2023
Greater Ann Arbor Quilting Guild, Ann Arbor, MI, VP 1998-2001, layout show chair 1995-2024
American Quilters Society, 1992-2023
National African American Quilt Guild, 2021-2023
Brown Sugar Stitchers, Atlanta, GA, 2021-2023

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

yes

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