MIDDLEBURG – For Marti Wright, quilting is something she fondly enjoys.

So much so that she founded her very own business, Sentimental Stitches, which Marti ran. T-shirts, eccentric patterns, you name it, Wright takes her time to stitch together a memory her customers will never forget. 

Seeing the result is her favorite part of her job. The intricacies that encompass what she does are a true highlight. 

“It’s because I love seeing the finished product,” Wright said. “I love it when it’s all pieced together because you're basically taking fabric, cutting it up into little pieces, and sewing it back together, which sounds insane.”

Her love for quilting came gradually. Until about two years ago, she said she didn’t even know how to sew. Wright said that her mother was an avid quilter and that the skills were never passed down to her.

But when she discovered classes at The Tilted Quilters, a quaint shop on Crystal Springs Road, she said that’s when she garnered a newfound passion. 

She borrowed a sewing machine from a friend and began taking weekly classes. Every Monday night, she would ‘sit and sew’.

“Once I got through that, I was hooked,” Wright said. 

Specializing in T-shirt quilts, she begins what she calls a time-consuming process, all from her home. 

Wherever she can find the space, she lays out her materials and starts by cutting off the arms and neck of each shirt. Putting a stabilizer on the shirt, she cuts out each of her squares, making sure each is symmetrical. By sewing each square and the accompanying sashing pieces back together, the quilt comes to life. 

Since starting, Wright has created many pieces for her local customers. In a partnership with The Tilted Quilters, when customers come to the shop for special quilting services, Wright answers the call. 

Wright has sewed many memory quilts, including one with button-up shirts and even a T-shirt quilt for the 35th Annual Bass Tournament, which benefits Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

The shop calls Wright their ‘poster child’– going from having no idea about even the basics of sewing to running her own thriving business. 

Wright said the first quilt she made at The Tilted Quilters was for her son, who passed away earlier this year. She said returning to where it all started brings her comfort. 

“I’ve needed the support that I get from the shop,” Wright said. “The camaraderie and the support I get from my friends because it's hard.”

In the future, Wright hopes to continue creating unforgettable pieces that encompass that same feeling of comfort.

Although she still refers to herself as a newbie, she’s excited about where her creations will lead her next. 

“I just hope to be able to provide a memorable and cherished product,” Wright said. “Something that people are going to want to hang on to… we want them to use it because quilts are meant to be loved.”