Quilt artist, designer, instructor and author Linda M. Poole, graciously agreed to my recent request for an interview and I am delighted to present it to Block Central's visitors.  Her book, “Turkish Delights to Appliqué”, was published earlier this year and serves up a wonderful collection of applique patterns with an exotic flair. Linda's book has earned a top spot in my library, not only for the beautiful patterns but also for the warm and encouraging way that she writes about applique.  Her joy and passion for quilting shine through on every page.

How did you become a quilter?

I had always been a child with endless questions and energy, so two very smart ladies, my mother and my grandmother (her mom who lived with us) always seemed to teach and keep me busy with small projects and hand work. I learned to crochet, knit little crooked scarves, and embroider pillow cases, which seemed to be my favorite. I never remember the hesitation on giving me needles, threads and scissors at an early age. I was trusted, because I had the ambition and love of needlecrafts. It wasn’t until my late twenties that I walked into a fabric store and saw my first sampler block quilt hanging on the wall with a sign up sheet. I studied these blocks and new that I could do this. I signed up and with the knowledge I picked up from piecing simple blocks together, quilting has become my passion for a lifetime.

What was the inspiration for your book, “Turkish Delights to Appliqué”?

After catching the quilting bug, my mother became fascinated also, and when my husband and I moved to Pennsylvania, we lived closer to one another and I taught mom what I knew. We decided to attend a quilt Expo in Austria one year and I took some classes because I thought the experience of learning with International quilters would be interesting and a memory to never forget. During lunch break one day, I sat outside and noticed a girl in my class was sitting next to me. I said hello and her English was quite good. She introduced herself to me as Gunsu Gungor of Ankara, Turkey. From that day forward, we became the greatest of friends writing and emailing one another and sending each other gifts. I suggested we do a quilt exchange between my guild members and her girls. It went very well, but it was our Quilt Show year, so I suggested that her girls finish the blocks into small quilts and we would do the same.  I asked her to send the quilts back to me for our quilt show and I curated the first American-Turkish International Exhibit. But……her country funded her to come to America and attend the show. It was absolutely wonderful for her to see what it was like here in Pennsylvania with quilters and for them to meet her. Soon after, a certified letter from Turkish Ministry of Culture arrived to my home inviting me to teach at Turkey’s first Peace with Quilts Exhibit in Ankara Turkey being an American Representative amongst 11 other nations teaching. I instantly fell in love with this country and was inspired by the rich culture, history and art. The Iznik Tiles and pottery in the palaces were what caught my breath and gave me the ideas. Six months later, I returned to Istanbul, Turkey to teach and to photograph the tiles.


What advice can you give to quilters who may not be comfortable with appliqué?  

There was a time when I also was uncomfortable with appliqué. It was something I so very much wanted to do, but just couldn’t do well with certain techniques, until one day I took a class and the patience of this teacher somehow gave me the confidence that I could do this method with a glue-stick. My advice is to keep trying, there really is no one perfect way to do anything. DO what works for you. You have to be happy and comfortable with what you are making. If it isn’t joyous, why do it. I still to this day use many different appliqué techniques in a piece depending on my moods, but the glue-stick appliqué is my favorite! Oh…and ask someone to show you how to do something, sometimes the best of friendships are developed by just asking and giving!


Several quilts in your book are beautifully embellished. What are your favorite embellishments to use?

Thank you…some of my favorite embellishments range from tied dyed rick-rak from Walmart used on the quilt Dancin’ in the Moonlight , page 66, to pearl cotton for fancy stitch work, to Crystal Rhinestones by Creative Crystals.com, tassels, they always add great interest , to the sparkliest of beads and the shisha mirrors. I am always on the hunt to find interesting pieces to add to my quilts.I even take apart old costume jewelry that I find at garage sales to use for the beads and elements.


How do you choose fabrics for your projects?

I always gravitate to the one that catches my eye…..and then just start pulling out colors from the focus piece. Sometimes I have piles laying around the room, because I cannot decide, but your heart always goes back to the one that feels the best and makes you the happiest for the piece you are about to begin. I like to use hot and cold colrs together in a quilt. An example would be using a hot wild pink with a nice strong electric blue, but then surround these colors with some of the softer sides of the color wheel. I have days that I use wild prints and very alive powerful colors and then days that I love to play and create with the colors of the earth. Go figure! I think we all have 2 sided personalities, you know..the one that says, noooo stay with the softer color palettes and then the other one saying…oh go on…just go for it, be wild…what do ya have to loose?


In your book, you mention your quilt guild, the Milford Valley Quilters Guild.  How important has this group been to your quilting?

They have always been there for me from the very beginning. I had joined the guild one year after they formed and it was a smaller group than it is today. These are my lady friends that nicely told me  “Oh, honey, in quilting we bury the knots, let me show you how” always there to guide and nurture me. When I am with the members I never see the age differences. I am 41 and can have a lot in common with an 80 year old quilter. These are my friends that have held my hand, made me meals and took care of me when I had a hysterectomy. In return, I would do anything for them, anything. We all help one another in any time of need, and we truly enjoy each other’s company. I am lucky to have them in my life.


Your love for travel is quite evident in your book.  Where will your next trip take you?

If Ahhhhhhhhhhh,……. Internationally, I will be teaching at the Italia Quilt Festival this December in Modena, Italy. It is quite an honor to be asked to teach and lecture there..I am so excited! And as for the United States, I will be a little of everywhere, if your interested to have me teach ladies, just email or give me a call and we can arrange something!

Advertise on our site!