TORRINGTON – Included in the rows of detailed and colorful quilts at this year’s Quilts Along the Platte show was a striped quilt with bright triangles on a neutral background and a cheerful sunflower binding. While it was displayed alongside works created by quilters with decades of experience, this piece was the work of nine-year-old Isabella Gyongyos.
Gyongyos' introduction to quilting came through the Goshen County Quilters’ Kids Quilt Camp, held this past June at Sew Addicting in Torrington. Quilt Camp gave her the opportunity to learn from local quilters and practice the skills necessary to complete a full quilt. It also provided veteran quilters with a chance to encourage the next generation and ensure the time-honored tradition of quilting continues.
Gyongyos' quilt, with its sunflower-themed binding and carefully arranged fabric strips, was constructed over the course of Quilt Camp with guidance from instructors and a little help from taller classmates who could reach the higher bolts of fabric. She described the process with precision: sewing strips onto white blocks, ironing between steps, and assembling the pieces on a design wall. Surprisingly, her favorite part was not the colorful front but the structural work.
“My favorite part was sandwiching it,” Isabella explained, referring to the stage where the quilt top, batting, and backing are layered together.
Quilting has quickly become more than a single project for Isabella. Drawing inspiration from her family’s two horses, Pinnacle and Jack, she plans to design a horse-themed quilt for next year’s exhibition. Beyond the technical skills, the discipline needed to complete a quilt reflects the nine-year-old’s focus, determination, and perseverance which are qualities which will serve her well in any pursuit.
Her mother, Kelsey, who also began quilting recently, has supported Isabella’s efforts from the start.
“She saw me working with my machine and just kept learning and trying new things,” she said. “She jumped right in.”
The shared pursuit of quilting has become a family bond, strengthened by hours of sewing, ironing, and selecting fabrics together. In fact, Isabella has decided her first quilt will be a gift for her mother. They both mention how invaluable the Goshen County Quilters have been in providing them tips and resources as they start their quilting journeys.
In a show filled with intricate, masterful works, Isabella’s quilt stood as a quiet but powerful reminder that traditions endure not only through expertise but also through fresh eyes and willing hands.
