Quilting

Angie Steffen

Randolph Times 

RANDOLPH — Two friends seem to be the last of a unique tradition. 

Rose Edna Rohde and Norma Novak, each 90, have been quilting together for decades at the Randolph Senior Center.

Rohde attended Country School #8, south of Randolph, and then St. Frances Catholic School. 

Novak attended District 62 in Cuming County and graduated in the eighth grade. Novak has been in Randolph for 20 years as she moved to Randolph as a widow.

She married Raymond Novak in 1949. They lived in Pender and in Fremont.

Rose Edna married Arthur Rohde in 1951. They lived south of Randolph and later moved into Randolph.

Rohde learned to quilt from her mother. 

“I did what she did. It was a good past-time,” Rohde said. “I don’t think it is work. Some people think it is work. It is fun.”

Novak said her mother always sewed with a thimble, but she doesn’t.

“Sore fingers is the hardest part of quilting,” Novak said.

She estimates she has been quilting for 30 years at the Senior Center. She and her sister, Maxalinda Reineke, liked quilting together, Rohde said.

“We visit and learn a lot from each other when we quilt at the Randolph Senior Center,” Rohde said. “We started just because we like quilting. People bring in their quilting and we will quilt for them. Some people tried it but don’t like it. I find it relaxing.”

Novak said she has been quilting with Rohde at the Senior Center for about 15 years.

“When I started quilting I was about 40 and lived in Bancroft,” Novak said. “When I started in Randolph I knew how it worked. I had already done small quilts for my grandchildren.”

Rohde said they have pieced a few quilts and tied a few quilts.

“I am not a good teacher,” Rohde said. “I have a daughter who sews but she doesn’t like to quilt.”

Rohde said she quilts at the Senior Center but also has a hoop at home for quilting. She said the advantage to quilting at the Center was getting to know people.

Novak also has a hoop at home and she said she likes to do cheaters’ quilts that require a person to match the pattern.

Rohde and Novak have both made quilting projects for grandchildren, including baby quilts.

“It is important to use a good fabric. Some people don’t always buy cotton and it is harder to quilt,” Rohde said. “I don’t like to have to mark the quilt.”

Some projects require a pattern and pieces to get right. Novak said you make mistakes and learn to get it right sewing together.

“My mother did a lot of crocheting,” Novak said. “It’s the amount of time you have. She taught me to crochet.”

Novak said she particularly remembers one quilting project which required putting eight layers of material together.

“The project was called stack and whack. I took lessons for that,” she said. “You have a pattern and cut through layers. Thank God for the cutting wheel tool.”

“You have to enjoy working with your hands for quilting and enjoy what you see,”said Novak, who has just made three baby quilts for great-great-grandchildren.

The duo is open to having others join them.

“We have offered people the opportunity to quilt with us,” Novak said.

There are many different types of materials to pick from, but Novak prefers one in particular.

“Cotton is my favorite material to use,” she said. “I made up my own frame. I began quilting as an adult. I made quilt pillows for grandchildren when I was in Fremont. I choose fabric for them based on what they like such as horses.”

It’s getting more difficult to find people who enjoy the work, Novak said.

“No one wants to learn quilting,” she said. “I used to do a lot years ago. It is something you can do to relax and still watch TV or other people can watch or help, and visit.”

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