Quilting is more than women’s work, as a Scottsville resident is proving.
What’s more unusual is that this quilter is a man, and his work is prize-winning.
Paul Dalton began quilting about 10 years ago, when a stormy winter kept the high school principal home from school, with nothing to do.
Quilting still fills Dalton’s spare time, since his wife has Altzheimer’s disease and had to move to a nursing home six years ago.
“My wife used to quilt, and one day I just picked up a needle and thread and found out I was good at it,” said Dalton, who has won eight blue ribbons for his quilts in county fairs. He also incorporates embroidery into the quilts.
Dalton, a Scottsville native, grew up watching his mother make quilts for his 10 brothers and sisters.
“Sometimes women come to me wanting to help with a stitch they are confused about. I just have to laugh and say I don’t know any formal stitching patters.”
Dalton has three prize-winning quilts, including an autobiographical design, one with colorful birds, and one featuring every state flag in America. Each is hand-sewn and complicated.
