Stitched by Eli McCann
Stitched is Salt Lake City humor columnist and attorney Eli McCann’s first novel, an homage in part to his mother’s friendships formed during her 40-year membership in the South Jordan, Utah, quilting group Common Threads. Its warmth, wit and heartfelt tenderness are reminiscent of humorists including Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, Fannie Flagg and Jean Shepherd.
The Ogden Quilter’s Association (OQA) has been meeting weekly for nearly thirty years and participating unsuccessfully in a hotly contested prestigious annual quilting competition during that entire time. Membership has dwindled to a scant six stalwarts all over the age of 60 and some not in the best of health. Stitched begins with exciting news from Chairwoman Betty Lou Dearden that the 2018 Western States Simpton Family Quilting Extravaganza will take place in Utah for the first time in the contest’s history. The winning bid wasn’t awarded to Ogden or Logan but rather to Smithfield, in that small town less than an hour’s drive from Ogden. It seems that if the OQA harbors any hopes of besting their long-time Logan rivals, they must recruit some new members in the months leading up to the event.
The theme for the competition is “I Wish I Knew How to Quilt You: Famous Forbidden Relationships.” Betty Lou and Marvin’s youngest son, Matthew, snickered at this during their weekly family dinner, explained the sly reference to Brokeback Mountain, then quickly dissuaded his parents from seeing the film. Matthew’s devout Mormon parents had been supportive of him since he came out five years earlier and display a Pride flag each June 1st. Due to his chronic migraines, Marvin had retired early, which put a strain on the family budget and increased demands on Betty Lou as his health worsened.
A Colorful Cast of Quilters and Unlikely Newcomers
The OGA members are good friends whose disagreements occasionally give rise to hurt feelings. Betty Lou is the well-organized backbone of the group even though her leadership is of recent vintage. A reliable worker bee, she is a lifelong temple-worthy LDS member who dutifully accepts work assignments from the Relief Society and their ward leadership. Betty Lou craves acknowledgment and appreciation from her family, fellow quilters and her church sisters. The other members are Lucy Jones, Diane Williams, Leera Smeeth, Alice Flagstaff and Candace Braithwaite. 80-year-old Leera can be cranky, judgmental and generally snarky but is decidedly gentle with her best friend and neighbor Lucy, who is becoming increasingly forgetful and confused. Nearly stone-deaf Alice is assisted by her chum Diane. The only remaining original members of the quilting group are Betty Lou and Leera.
Candace Braithwaite is financially the most successful of the group, having established a fabric store in a converted home in Ogden. Offering crafts and classes, Fab Funky Fabrics has expanded into five successful shops in different towns strung along Interstate 15, with the largest located in Salt Lake City (SLC). A natural-born and pragmatic leader, she maintains harmony at work and among the quilters. OQA bylaws were amended to allow her to continue her membership after moving to SLC. Previously unsuccessful in attracting interest, Candace ultimately manages to recruit two young gay friends from SLC to become the first men to join the group despite their lack of experience. Extraverted, brash and uncensored, Byron Grant moved to SLC at age 18, gravitated to Fab Funky Fabrics after being attracted by the name in the help-wanted ads, and has worked with Candace for 16 years, most recently as General Manager. Byron purchased a cute small bungalow where he knits, bakes and chats nonstop with his friend Rob during his frequent visits. Rob is an Oklahoma transplant, introverted, extremely shy and socially awkward but creatively artistic and a talented painter of delicate watercolors.
Stitching Together Friendship and Acceptance
Initially nonplussed by the idea of men in their sewing circle, the OQA warmed to it, particularly welcoming Rob for his knowledge of colors and whose creativity may help them design a winning quilt. Despite the men being initially reluctant to drive an hour to learn hand-sewing and quilting with a bickering bunch of old Mormon ladies, they experience a quickly developing camaraderie. The lead-up to the quilting competition is fraught with plenty of drama, obstacles and upsets as the group discovers that friendship handily outweighs blue ribbons and trophies in importance.
Stitched is filled with laughter and poignant moments as the OQA face challenges with failing health, financial difficulties and isolation to rally together. Eli McCann has captured the best aspects of small town living in this quirky and tender novel, a delightful treat hand-stitched with love and ready for gift-giving.
About Eli McCann:
Eli McCann is a writer, podcaster, and lawyer. In his monthly humor column for The Salt Lake Tribune, he writes about growing up with (and leaving behind) the Mormon faith, coming out in adulthood, and parenting a toddler. He co-hosts Strangerville, a storytelling podcast and live show, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, Newsweek, HuffPost, and the BBC. He lives with his husband and son in Salt Lake City, Utah.
