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Bob and Carol Lyon of Lyon Den Quilting in Powhatan, VA, began their life partnership in the 1970’s when they met while working in the aerospace industry. Bob was a facilities engineer and Carol was an aircraft coordinator. After getting laid off from these jobs, they moved to Virginia, to the old homestead where he grew up. At that time, he went to work in utility construction and she had a chance to try her hand at quilting.

“We had been in an auto accident and I was out of commission for about nine months,” Carol recalled. “Just enough time for me to give birth to my new passion, quilting. Cutting out material has never been one of my strong points, but I enjoy sewing the quilt tops.”

Now that she had her first quilt top, she wanted it finished. She said, “I started hand quilting and decided I would be long gone before it was ever finished. Next was the sewing machine fiasco. (God bless those that can quilt on their domestic machines. I made a horrible mess.) I was now looking at a whole bunch of quilt tops that would never be finished.”

A friend told Carol about longarm machines so she quickly read all she could about them in the quilting magazines.

“I bought a shortarm machine from A1 and was thoroughly hooked,” said Carol. That was when she discovered she loved quilting and not piecing. And while Bob was certain this was just something Carol would tire of quickly, it wasn’t long before she proved him wrong -- her purchase of a Gammill Classic without a stitch regulator was proof Carol was serious about quilting.

During one winter, while Carol was still working a job outside of the house, there were many rainy days keeping Bob at home. Not being one to just sit around, he asked if he could play on the quilting machine. So, he loaded some sheets and play he did. He practiced this way making quilts for all their kids.

It was soon decided that the Lyons needed another machine and a new APQS was purchased for Carol so Bob could work on the Gammill.

A few husbands have looked a little strangely at Bob for doing the quilting -- as if it is a “woman thing.” Bob answers like this: “Where else can I talk to ladies all day and not get into trouble for it?” Some of his lady friends even bring him treats.

Bob does about 80 percent of the panto work on the Gammill Classic. He also does the “Fussy Meanders” and regular meanderings. Custom work is Carol’s favorite and has really picked up.

“I have tried the computer driven machines but I just love doing it myself. That’s my artistic side,” she said.

The couple work in separate rooms and it seems to suit them best. They feel lucky to have two large rooms downstairs; each of them with their own studio.

Like everyone else, working and living together 24 hours a day, seven days a week can bring up a few difficulties. Bob is a “good old boy” from the south and believes in “utility” quilting. That’s why he is very good at the pantos. Discussions arise on the amount of custom quilts Carol does because these take up more time and time is money. “Less money is made when I do custom,” said Carol. “This is our only issue to resolve, my love of custom work.”

As a creative couple, when one of them is stuck on a pattern or thread decision, the other is always there for input. “Bob can come up with some odd thread choices that work amazingly well, while I stand there shaking my head,” Carol laughed.

However, Bob has the patience to work with the more challenging quilts. There are times it takes the two of them to work a quilt and the helping hands are greatly appreciated. Carol is the mechanic on their machines.

“When there is a machine problem, he gets a cup of coffee and supervises while I fix the problem,” she added.

Bob is admiring of his wife’s talents. He shared, “Carol does fantastic free motion quilting.”

Carol elaborates, “Bob doesn’t work with a stitch regulator and most people cannot see the difference in my quilting stitches and his. He has a very even flow to his quilting. Also, the ladies love the fact that a man is quilting their quilt. He is the one who has built the business up to what it is. Bob is a people person and has taken the time to bring in new business. Because of this, we can work out of our home without outside jobs, and we love it!”

Reprinted from Quilting Now, May 2007