Story and photo by Bethany Boysel,

Bluffton University Icon intern

For the last 34 years Marty Hostetler has been creating quilts of all types and sizes. Since Hostetler retired from teaching first grade in Bluffton, she has had more time to devote to her quilts. She has put together more than 50 quilts so far.

The total hours invest in a quilt is innumerable. Hostetler says if someone wants to start a quilt the quilter should first consider where the person wants to use it and how it is to be used. And for beginners, starting from a pattern would be more beneficial than trying to create an original.

Hostetler knew how to sew before she started quilting. When asked how long it took her to learn how to quilt, she said "I'm still learning." She also said there is a lot of math involved with quilting, but one does not need to be a perfectionist to be a good quilter.

Hostetler has had many "neat" experiences in the area of quilting. One being, that upon retiring she taught a children's art class. In this class she taught kids how to do quilt blocks. The best part of this was when the boys would say "this is fun."

Another is the Ohio Quilt Project taking place in the 1980s. The project was headed by a woman named Ricky Clark. The goal of the project was to find different quilts throughout the state of Ohio and catalog them.

They did so by taking pictures of each of the quilts they found and then putting them all together in a slide show presentation. After the show, the group put together a book of a select few from that specific area.

One of Hostetler's quilts was featured in the book Quilts in Community - Ohio's Traditions. The book described Hostetler's quilt this way, "it was made from Laura Ashley prints and hand-dyed cottons as a gift to my sister and a memento of her trip to Europe."

In 2001, Bluffton University put on the production "The Quilters" for the May Day celebration. This production takes place in the Pioneer American West. It features a group of shorter stories about the different stages in life. With each different stage in life there was a small section of quilt that was created to represent that section of the play.

In the end, all the pieces would come together and form a big quilt. Hostetler, with the help of Jane Kauffman, co-engineered the whole quilting project. For every section that was placed in the big one there was an identical piece that was constructed to be used on stage.

Hostetler said the project took "lots of time and was lots of fun." The quilt that was constructed for the show is currently on display in College Hall.

"I am helping to design a pair of quilts for display at Ebenezer Church; an imminent top for MCC for project day for 1st Mennonite. A longer term goal is also to design and make a Swiss-type traditional outfit." said Hostetler.

Bethany Boysel is enrolled in the Introduction to Feature Writing Course this semester at Bluffton University. Her instructors are Mary and Fred Steiner. This profile features Marty (Badertscher) Hostetler, Bluffton native, Bluffton University graduate, and retired Bluffton Elementary teacher.