ALL NEWS

A woman found an unfinished, 20-year-old quilt and complete strangers are helping piece it together

Oct 25, 2019, 5:59 AM

Shannon Downey took on the project, a queen-size quilt made up of 100 hexagon pieces -- 50 of them embroidered with a design for every US state and 50 stars.

(CNN) — Most people go to estate sales in hopes of finding a hidden gem of antique furniture or jewelry — for a bargain price. Shannon Downey goes for the unfinished stitching projects.

“I feel like their soul can’t possibly rest with an unfinished piece of art out there,” Downey told CNN.

It was at an estate sale in a Chicago suburb in early September that Downey, who considers stitching her life’s work, discovered Rita Smith’s creations.

“I walked into this house and there was this truly beautiful, completed, hand-embroidered, professionally-framed map of the US,” Downey said.

“I spent 10 minutes just devouring it.”

Seeing her fascination with the map, the woman overseeing the estate sale told Downey to check out a box the bedroom.

“I opened it up and discovered it was a massive quilting project that was just begun. Every bit of the project mapped out and in this plastic tub,” Downey said on Twitter.

“I sat on the floor and almost cried because I knew I had to buy it and finish it.”

“A massive … undertaking”

The project was a huge, queen-size quilt made up of 100 hexagon pieces — 50 of them embroidered with a design for every US state and 50 stars.

“While I embroider, I don’t quilt,” Downey admitted.

That’s where the internet came in.

“I thought I would put it on Instagram and try to see if people would help me finish it,” Downey said.

“Within 24 hours I had over 1,000 volunteers!”

After the names were taken, a spreadsheet was made, and mailing addresses were collected. Just a little more than a month after Downey paid $6 for the massive quilt, she was ready to send out all 100 hex pieces to her volunteers for embroidery.

“I stood there and put three stamps on every envelope,” Downey recalled.

“I was in the post office for probably two hours.”

“A ferocious crafter”

While Downey waited for her helpers to finish their assignments, her volunteers wanted to learn more about the woman who began this project so long ago. Through genealogy websites, the stitches found Rita’s husband, his obituary, and eventually her son.

“I spoke to her son and he was telling me that she was a ferocious crafter and would do upholstery, crochet, stitching… sort of everything,” Downey said.

“Eventually, she stopped to take care of her ailing husband,” Downey said the son told her.

Given the timeline of Rita’s life, the son told Downey that it’s likely the quilt was in limbo for more than 20 years.

“It’s gonna be a thing”

Once the designs are all stitched and the hexagons are returned to Downey, they will be assembled into the completed quilt. She’s given her volunteers a deadline of November 15.

From there, the pieces will be assembled and quilted into a finished product.

“We’ve got some 38 Chicago quilters lined up to handle the quilting phase of the project once we get all of the hand-stitched pieces back,” Downey said.

If everything goes according to plan, the quilt should be ready by the end of January.

“We all agreed we would love to see it in a quilting museum where the public can see it,” she said.

In the meantime, Downey — and everyone else — can follow the progress of the quilt by searching for the #RitasQuilt hashtag.

“An incredible community has sprung up around this,” she said.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the br...

Nick Perry

Baltimore bridge collapse puts the highly specialized role of ship’s pilot under the spotlight

The highly specialized role — in which a pilot temporarily takes control of a ship from its regular captain — is coming under the spotlight this week.

4 hours ago

Shopping carts are parked outside a Home Depot in Philadelphia...

MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

Home Depot buying supplier to professional contractors in a deal valued at about $18.25 billion

Home Depot will buy SRS Distribution, a materials provider for professionals, in a deal valued at approximately $18.25 billion.

5 hours ago

Killer Mike poses in the press room with three trophies he won at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on ...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Recent Grammy winners highlight Ogden Twilight Concert Series lineup

Hip hop star Michael Render, known by his stage name Killer Mike, fresh off of three Grammy Award wins last month, is one of several musical artists set to headline this year's Ogden Twilight Concert Series.

5 hours ago

"Burn Book," by longtime Silicon Valley reporter Kara Swisher is seen, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Sa...

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Telling tales about tech bros

Kara Swisher’s new book paints an ugly picture of Silicon Valley.

8 hours ago

pets...

Curt Gresseth

Don’t surrender pets to a shelter. Send in a pro to reverse bad behavior, says Utah trainer

An expert discusses controlling the unwanted behavior of pets.

8 hours ago

Exclusive video obtained by KSL NewsRadio shows Salt Lake hit-and-run in the Avenues neighborhood. ...

Eric Cabrera

WATCH: Exclusive video shows woman survives Salt Lake City hit and run

KSL NewsRadio has exclusively obtained footage of a Salt Lake City hit-and-run, where a woman was struck while out for a run in the Avenues.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

A woman found an unfinished, 20-year-old quilt and complete strangers are helping piece it together