Hailing from Beaufort, NC, Pepper Cory is a quilting powerhouse! She is an internationally renowned quilter, instructor, lecturer, author, blogger, designer (fabric, pattern & stencil), former quilt shop owner, and collector with a large online presence.

Black & White String Star Quilt Detail by Pepper Cory

Pepper Cory in the Studio

Detail of String Star quilt by Pepper Cory

Pepper Quilting (c.1978)

A little bit about Pepper, in her own words:

In 1972, I saw an antique quilt at a rummage sale, purchased it for 5.00 and on the way home fell in love. From that moment on, I wanted to learn to make quilts and sought out quilt makers, usually elderly ladies, who could teach me the art. Ever since, I’ve been collecting quilts, making quilts, writing books about them, designing needlework tools and sharing my love of quilting by teaching and lecturing.

For seven years (1976-1983), I owned a quilt shop called Culpepper’s Quilts, in East Lansing, Michigan. Teaching travels have taken me to 45 of the 50 states, plus Canada, England, France, Spain, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. Obviously, I love traveling!

Plaid Scrap Quilt by Pepper Cory

One of Pepper’s specialties is Southern scrap quilts, both making and collecting. Pepper explains that Southern scrap quilts, particularly from North Carolina, are a fascinating study in frugality, family life, and beauty. Studying vintage and antique quilts, you see techniques such as string quilting (narrow strips of saved fabrics sewn over newspaper) and Big Stitch hand quilting, along with traditional fabrics like feedsacks, denim, and plaids, common among Scots-Irish mountain settlers. Enjoy this sweet video below, where Pepper talks about what scrap quilts are important, share some quilts from her collection, and explains a bit of history:

Video courtesy of The Quilters’ Community, QuiltersTV Newsletter and Quilting Daily.

Appalachian Traditions Virtual Discussion

Pepper Cory was a panelist for our Appalachian Traditions discussion series. On April 27, 2020, she joined Sue Williams and Penny Prichard for a virtual discussion with instructors from our master-artist-led series on traditional Appalachian craft.
 
 
Originally Recorded:
Monday, April 27, at 4 p.m. EST
Appalachian Traditions: Basketry & Quilting
 
 
Panelists:
Sue Williams, TN, Basketry
Pepper Cory, NC, Quilting
Penny Prichard, NC, Quilting
 
This free, hour-long conversation provides a space for instructors in traditional craft to share their personal stories and discuss their creative process. We’ll explore the historic role of craft in Appalachia, examine its continued relevance today, and learn how practitioners are working to promote their craft and inspire the next generation of traditional makers.

View the recording below.

View a Gallery of Pepper’s Work

(Click on any image to start the slideshow)

Sashiko & Pinwheels Quilt by Pepper Cory

Pineapple Block by Pepper Cory

Detail of String Star quilt by Pepper Cory

Eclipse Quilt by Pepper Cory

Plaid Southern Scrap Quilt by Pepper Cory

Black & White String Star Quilt Detail by Pepper Cory

Detail of a Kasuri wall hanging made with indigo-dyed fabrics overlaid with asanoha (hemp leaf) pattern quilting by Pepper Cory.

Sashiko Wall Hanging by Pepper Cory

Sashiko wall hanging combines traditional navy-white sashiko quilting with ‘moon’ appliques over patchwork blocks. By Pepper Cory.

Carolina Lily Wall Hanging Top by Pepper Cory

Chinese Coins Scrap Quilt by Pepper Cory

Antique English Pleated Log Cabin by Pepper Cory

Sashiko Quilt by Pepper Cory

Taupe color scheme Churndash quilt. Machine pieced, Machine and hand quilted. By Pepper Cory

Starry Night sampler quilt. Twenty different star patterns–the front of the 1997 Oxmoor House calendar. By Pepper Cory

Star Swing. Quilt top. By Pepper Cory

Shadow Stitches Quilt by Pepper Cory

Puzzle Boxes. Quilt top–next to be quilted! By Pepper Cory

Meteor Shower by Pepper Cory. Combination of Drunkard’s Path and star blocks.

Lumberton Star inspired by a vintage quilt (purportedly made by a Lumbee Indian) in my collection–all hand made.

Links

Visit Pepper Cory’s Website

Pepper’s Quilting blog: Pepper at the Quilt Studio

Pepper’s blog about vintage and antique quilts: Quilt Flap

Pepper’s fabric line at Studio E Fabrics: Peppered Cottons

Cory Marie Podielski
About Cory Marie Podielski

Cory Marie Podielski is a freelance graphic designer, photographer, and writer for the John C. Campbell Folk School. She has been writing for the Folk School Blog since 2012 and enjoys interviewing artists, musicians, and craftspeople. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the banjo, dancing, printmaking, playing in clay, and assisting in Folk School bread baking classes. podielski.com