Take time to traverse the quilt trail
The Haywood County Quilt Trails project is bringing tourists to Haywood County with the colorful display of traditional quilting patterns.
The Quilt Trail joined several other trails in Western North Carolina in November 2010. That made WNC the largest concentrated area of quilt trails in the nation. The trails give tourists an opportunity to see rural areas that they would not have seen before. Vacationers are traveling to Clyde, Canton, Waynesville and Maggie Valley to see bright quilt squares while getting a taste of the heritage as they explore the county, according to the county Tourism Development Authority.
Haywood County has 14 squares, with about 9 more going up in the coming weeks. A walking quilt trail is planned for Downtown Waynesville.
HRMC gets involved with Quilt Trails project
Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice and Palliative Care has submitted a quilt square to be included on the Haywood County Arts Council’s Quilt Trails project.
The Haywood County Arts Council has joined other existing quilt trails in Ashe, Avery, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell and Watauga counties. The concept is based on similar projects in neighboring states, where quilt squares are painted on wooden squares from 2 to 8 feet in size and installed on barns, public buildings, shops and other appropriate buildings around the community.
The quilt squares represent a much-loved symbol of comfort, family, heritage, and community, and will provide new splashes of color alongside major roads and in the rural countryside for a free driving trail, according to Kay Miller, executive director of the Haywood County Arts Council.
Miller was joined by Sylva Mayor Maurice Moody and Dave Riggs, executive director of the Community Development Clubs of Haywood County, as judges for six quilt designs entered by HRMC Hospice and Palliative Care staff and volunteers Oct. 7.
Life’s Path, created by Hospice Team Assistant Mary Anne Yurko, was chosen as the design to represent HRMC Hospice and Palliative Care. The design features a sun illustrating the beginning of life, a flowing river with the ups and downs of life, and hospice providing the end of life comfort and care.
Second place went to the Rally Round design created by Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Linda Nichols. Rally Round is what folks in Western North Carolina do when a family member, friend or loved one is ill, Nichols explained.
Third place went to the Mountain Star design created by Linda Clark, noting that hospice staff and volunteers are true stars in helping patients and families deal with end of life situations. The other entries were Country Roads, Right Hand of Friendship and Kaleidoscope. The designs were submitted by hospice staff and volunteers.
Western North Carolina has the highest concentration of quilt trails in the state, Miller said.
Anyone interested in helping with the project should contact Linda Nichols at 828.452.8578, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
