Covering all the angles

Stephanie Hatch's interest in quilts began with a family mystery.

"My grandmother had an autographed quilt on her bed, and I was fascinated, particularly by the fact that although it was rose and white, one square was all white, " said Hatch. "Being an inquisitive kid, I kept pestering her to find out why."

She discovered the quilt was made for a bride, whose signature was missing from that white square. "It wasn't worn away," said Hatch. "Someone had expunged it."

When she asked why, her grandmother replied, "That's for me to know and it will go to the grave with me."

Hatch, of Boxford, went on to become a collector, researcher, and expert on quilts. She is also the New England regional representative to the American Quilt Study Group, a national organization whose mission is "to preserve the story of quilt making - past, present, and future."

Along with Susan Stowe of Topsfield, Hatch is a guest curator of a major quilt exhibit at the Wenham Museum this Saturday and Sunday that brings together quilts from throughout Essex County.

The Invitational Quilt Weekend features more than 70 quilts, dating from 1770 to 1790, which come from the collections of the Wenham Museum and nine local historical societies, those of Andover, Beverly, Boxford, Cape Ann, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lynn, Marblehead, and North Andover.

"Lots of times the quilts are stored away and not exhibited, and this is an opportunity to bring them out," said Stowe, herself a collector, researcher, and quilt maker.

Samantha Grantham, the museum's collections manager, said the show is a great opportunity for local historical societies and museums to work together.

"I think we all struggle with too little time and space and money to do what we want. Collaboration is a way to reach an audience we wouldn't reach otherwise."

In addition to being open to the public, the exhibit is being visited by members of the American Quilt Study Group, which holds its annual meeting in Lowell tomorrow through Sunday. The Nebraska-based group meets in a different state each year. This is its first visit to Massachusetts.

"This is going to be a real treat for people coming from the West because they don't get to see things that were being made here," said Hatch.

"They'll be looking for styles and patterns that could be considered regional. And they'll be looking to see some things made before their part of the country was settled."

She added that the general public "will appreciate the colors, the patterns. They will enjoy the history and be blown away by the fact you can take a quilt and research it and learn about the different wars, about people of the time, and who influenced fashion. They will be surprised at the number of aspects."

Because quilts are often handed down through generations, "you feel a connection from one person to another person and back into history," said Stowe.

And, since many people had quilts as youngsters - often made by a loving relative - they evoke personal memories and family stories, said Hatch and Stowe.

"There is something very elemental about the comfort quality," Hatch added. "You've heard of comfort food; this is your comfort covering."

The Wenham Museum has a collection of some 140 vintage quilts, including full-size and small doll-bed quilts. The museum is also known for its doll collection.

Thirty-four of its quilts, along with two doll beds and doll quilts, recently returned from Japan, where they were part of an exhibit presented by Kokusai Art called "Old and New Quilts From Ancient and Modern Cities." Several will be featured in this weekend's event.

The invitational exhibit includes 27 visiting quilts, including an autograph quilt in a snowflake pattern made in 1845 and once belonging to Augusta Goodridge of Beverly; a red-and-white Winding Ways quilt made by the Boston Street Aid Society in 1881, from the collection of the Lynn Museum and Historical Society; and the Thousands Pyramid quilt, made by Elizabeth Plummer aboard the ship Maybelle during a journey to China in 1860, from the collection of the Cape Ann Historical Society.

When Hatch and Stowe began contacting local groups about the exhibit, some were surprised by what they had under their own roofs.

Brian Gregory, president of the Boxford Historical Society for three years, said, "I knew we had quilts on the beds [in the historic Holyoke-French House] but I didn't know we had such an extensive collection."

Boxford owns 24 quilts, three of which are in the invitational show.

Gregory said Hatch made a presentation to the board of the historical society, which is run by volunteers, and "we were all quite impressed. We didn't realize how unique [the quilts] were."

He said Hatch also told them what was needed to maintain the quilts and they were sent to an expert restorer.

Meanwhile, Hatch is still trying to solve the mystery of the bride's disappearing signature.

"I researched the signatures on the quilt and could find all these people related to me, but still had no clue," she said. Then, at a quilt show, she met two people who had similar family heirlooms.

"Sure enough, we were related," said Hatch. "But they had no clue, either. So, I guess it did go to the grave with my grandmother. But that doesn't mean you just give up and say 'that's it.' You never know."

Wenham Museum Invitational Quilt Weekend: "Three Centuries of Essex County Quilts" is Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mom & Me Quilting Bee: Traditional Doll Quilting Workshop is Saturday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 3 p.m. Appropriate for children 8 and up accompanied by an adult. Fee is $20, $15 for museum members. Preregistration required.

"Night, Night, Sleep Tight," an exhibit of full-size and doll quilts from the Wenham Museum collection, runs through Nov. 25.

The museum is at 132 Main St. (Rt. 1A). Admission to the exhibit is $12. Call 978-468-2377 or visit wenhammuseum.org.