Jane Schenck Interview with Anne and Susan for www.pellonideas.com

Lucy and Ethel. LaVerne and Shirley. Mary and Rhoda. Cagney and Lacey. In the world of entertainment, these dynamic duos exemplify the adage two heads are better than one. In the quilt world, the same could be said of the quilt designers and teachers Anne Gallo and Susan Raban.

Anne Gallo and Susan Raban have been teaching precise machine quilting techniques for over 20 years. Their enthusiasm for their craft, and their extensive knowledge of quilting is evident in their hands on classes and lively trunk shows whether they are talking about their own work or an antique quilt collection. Anne explains, "Quilting is such a part of our American heritage. Someone who has never made a quilt can still appreciate the colors, fabrics, and sentiment stitched into every piece. It's very exciting to share our passion with others."

Anne and Susan teach contemporary techniques and are constantly on the lookout for products which will help make quilting faster, easier, and more fun. When Quilter's Grid was in development, they were asked to evaluate it, and were very enthusiastic about it. Susan says, "It's a great tool for beginners. It will shorten their sewing time and increase their accuracy. With all of the pieces ironed onto the grid, you can evaluate a design before it is sewn together. You can also avoid mistakes of picking up pieces in the wrong sequence or accidentally turning a piece in the wrong direction."

While each is an accomplished quilter on her own, Pellon had to ask:

Why do you work as a team?
It's more fun. As we collaborate, ideas just get better. When we teach, our different personalities are able to relate to all of our students needs. "She's the nice one. She's the patient one. She's the one to engineer a solution. She's the one to say no..."

Do you really work on the same quilt?
"Yes and no. We both choose the fabrics and the overall design. After that, Anne will do the cutting and pressing, and I will do the sewing," says Susan. "Even though our stitching is almost identical, this provides the greatest accuracy. In turn, working this way, we can get a piece done much faster than working individually."

When did you start working together?
We were founding members of the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA. I served as President of its Board of Directors, and Susan as Museum Director. In the early days of the museum, we taught classes to help the museum grow and have been teaching together ever since. We continue to support the museum as members of the Board of Directors and by working on the Antique Quilt Shows and Marketplace as part of the Lowell Quilt Festival, held every other August.

What advice do you have for beginning quilters?
Don't be afraid to try. Invest in materials you like and the right tools-- a rotary cutter, mat, ruler. Clean your sewing machine and put in a new needle. These "obvious details" are often overlooked. A class is a great way to start.

Anne and Susan's work can be seen in Pellon advertisements and here on the website. It has also been featured in numerous quilt publications as well as Country Living, Traditional Home, House and Garden, and Country Home.