Quilting, a method of sewing together two or more layers of material to make a thicker material, has been practiced for thousands of years. While the term “quilting” technically refers to the technique of sewing often-intricate patterns that hold quilt layers together, it is more commonly understood to include all stages of making a quilt, including design and patchwork. Originally a craft born out of necessity, quilting has become a thriving art form and often an integral part of creating and maintaining social networks and community. Sharon Tindall, of Centerville, has more than thirty years of sewing experience and has been making quilts for more than twenty years. Tindall specializes in early African American quilt patterns and in working with fabrics that are not typically used in quilting, such as Malian mud cloth—woven cotton fabric dyed by Bamana women using a process that uses tree leaves, teas, and mud. Sharon will share her talents and historical knowledge with promising quilter Nancy Chilton, of Fairfax.