Read Online Sister's Choice by Judith Pella - Free Book Online

square, that she had taken from Mama’s pattern box. “We are going to start with a nine-patch—”
    “But, Grandma—”
    “Now, Maggie, if this is going to succeed, you must promise you won’t argue with every instruction I give—”
    “But—”
    “What do you say, dear?” Her tone was gentle but firm. Of course Grandma knew Maggie’s propensity for debate and was trying to nip that in the bud.
    “Okay,” Maggie said, trying not to pout. She was an adult and must act like it if her grandmother was going to take her seriously.
    “You may think a nine-patch is simplistic,” Grandma went on. “But I have seen many quilts made with only the nine-patch that are stunning because of the placement of light and dark fabrics. The same is true of the Log Cabin block.”
    Maggie’s brow creased, but she tried hard not to protest. However, she knew a nine-patch would not impress Mrs. Stoddard.
    “Don’t worry,” Grandma assured, almost as if she had read Maggie’s thoughts. “We will only do one nine-patch. That will be the first block in the sampler we will make. Each block will teach you a new skill and will be progressively more difficult.”
    “Can I pick the fabrics? I mean, the colors that I like?”
    “Of course. What would you pick?”
    “Red, mostly, but also green—but I don’t want it to look like Christmas. Maybe blue—but not so it looks like a Fourth of July bunting.”
    “You could have different colors in each block but with some red in all to unify it. Let’s take a look in the scrap box to see what we have.”
    They brought over both Mama’s and Grandma’s scrap boxes. There weren’t many scraps of red in them, much to Maggie’s disappointment, but she was able to pull out several other colors that were plentiful enough and that she would like to use in the nine-patch. Much to her surprise many of these were browns and golds. She hadn’t thought of using these with red but found she liked the combination very much. As she and Grandma were spreading the pieces of fabric on the table and checking them against the template to make sure they would fit, Mama went to her sewing cupboard. Maggie’s jaw nearly dropped when she brought over a length of red calico material.
    “I bought this a while ago,” Mama said. “I thought I might use it but just haven’t gotten around to it. If you like it . . .”
    “Like it? It’s perfect!” Maggie exclaimed, almost, but not quite, speechless about her mother’s offering. It was a Turkey red cloth with tiny gold and brown flowers on it. “This accents the colors I’ve chosen perfectly.”
    “That is exactly the best way to choose colors for a quilt,” Grandma said. “Use one fabric you love and draw your color palette from it.”
    “Palette? Like an artist uses?” Maggie asked.
    “Exactly. I have seen many quilts that are truly pieces of art.”
    “Zack has said just that,” interjected Ellie, “when he saw some quilts. He compared them to works by famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci.”
    For a fleeting moment Maggie thought of creating a masterpiece like one she remembered Grandma had done of appliquéd vines and leaves and flowers surrounding a medallion of a large basket of flowers. Or like either of the wedding quilts Mama had made for her and Ellie. But she forced herself back to reality. If she could just finish a quilt and have it halfway presentable, it would be a great accomplishment for her. That would have to be enough to impress Emma Jean Stoddard.
    “Mama,” Maggie said, remembering herself, “thank you so much for the fabric. I hope I don’t mangle it up too much.”
    “You will make a beautiful quilt, Maggie. I know it.”
    Mama looked a lot more confident than Maggie felt.

SIX
    Maggie tried to hurry through her sewing lesson the next morning so she could finish her chores before Evan arrived. But her grandmother scolded her and questioned her dedication, especially after she’d had to rip out her nine-patch