The quilt is named . . Saratoga Lights.
Naming quilts is a challenge for me. The gold lights reminded me of the Saratoga Lights. If you’ve not from the east Texas area, you’ve probably never heard of “the light”. You can read about the light here and here and here. There’s a lot of info on the internet about the lights but I can tell you . . I’ve seen them . . quite a few times. Whether it’s a ghost (I don’t believe that but it’s fun to talk about) or some scientific explanation, we had lots of fun in the early to mid-80’s going out there and watching for the light. It’s pretty darned scary . . of course, I’m so scared of the dark and you can only see it after dark so that alone makes it scary for me. One time, the light was in front of us, so bright that it was reflecting off the hood of the car and all of a sudden, it was behind us!
It was about a 2 hour drive from our house and even as adults, we loved to go to our local high school football games, then drive near Saratoga, spend an hour or so on that dirt road that I think is about 8 miles long, then drive to Denny’s in Beaumont for breakfast and get home about 3 or 4 a.m. on a Saturday. There are so many stories about those lights and our former pastor even tells a story about an old house, apparently abandoned, not far off the dirt road. He was out there with a youth group from the church where he was youth pastor, probably in the mid-70’s. There was always a light on in the window in this old house. Never having seen a vehicle around, or any sign of life around the house, and being so sure it was abandoned, the kids decided to walk around and see what they saw. This old woman with long gray hair and kinda spooky looking herself, opened the door and yelled at them. Our pastor friend said those kids scattered through the woods and it took him hours to round them up again.
Anyway, the gold in this quilt reminded me of the dancing light on that road near Saratoga, TX so . . Saratoga Lights it is. Here’s the pattern. You’re not going to believe how quick this quilt is to make til you try it!
Angie says
Thank you Judy! You are so generous! The quilt looks wonderful! Maybe after the holidays. I have some civil war prints I could use. I ordered your new upcoming book too! What fun!
Carol says
Thanks Judy — love the pattern and I love the name. We have the Paulding light here in Upper Michigan that sounds much like your Saratoga light so when I get to this quilt it may end up with a different name.
Robin says
Great quilt and story!
Becky R says
I’ll be checking out the story behind these lights as this is news to me. I also ordered your new book as soon as I read it was available. I thank you so much for generously posting this pattern. I have some fabrics in mind for this pattern so looking forward to working on it after Christmas. Thank you Judy for your posts this year – I look forward to reading your stories! And thanks for the recipes too! That was interesting post about the cookies earlier this week.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, and to everyone reading Judy’s blog.
Peggy says
Thanks for the pattern Judy. I love the name of the quilt and the stories. I need to make a quick quilt to put on my Mom’s bed in the Care Center we just put her in on Dec. 2. This one looks like a winner.
pdudgeon says
i;ll be making this quilt after Christmas (or maybe in January!)using flannels i got on sale.
my colors are deep green in place of Judy’s dark blue ,
a light, tea dye beige where the white is
reds and golds as they are in the pattern
and the piece d’resistance………
wait for it……………..
Folk Art Christmas II for the print.
Beth Patrick says
thank you so much! great pattern! ( gotta see those lights, too!)
andi says
This will be my next QOV…although I need to get some of my tops on the longarm and out the door before I start anything else!
shannon says
I’m making this quilt for my dh for Christmas, but I started before you had the pattern ready. My blocks are 10″. My pieced setting triangles are probably different, too. Thank you for inspiring me once again!!
Dianne B. in England says
I really like that name. It has special meaning to me since I’m an East Texas girl originally and have seen those lights (or thought I did!). I’ve been to that same Denny’s a time or two, as well. 😉 I will be making this quilt for sure after the first of the year. Thanks for the terrific pattern! 🙂