History of Quilting with Derinda Garrett

Ms. Derinda Garrett is a Master Quilter—her work is truly museum quality, although she would never claim the title herself. Most who know her simply call her “Miss Dee.”

I first met Miss Dee several months ago, and was immediately taken by her humility, candor, and gift for storytelling, as she shared the history and artistry behind quilting.

She is not only a quilter but also a historian, weaving family history and cultural heritage into every piece she creates. Our first conversation lasted four hours, and I could have listened for four more.

Miss Dee grew up in Poindexter Village on Columbus’s east side. She learned quilting as a child from her aunt, who quilted out of necessity. “Like our ancestors, we made quilts by hand out of old clothes, worn linens, and whatever material was on hand,” she
explained. “To pass the time, my aunt would tell me stories about our family while we worked.”

Today, Miss Dee’s quilts range from wall hangings to bed quilts and often include fabric scraps, family photos, meaningful fabrics, and t-shirts. “Each creation has its own story,” she says, “and like my aunt, I love sharing this craft with others.”

Miss Dee teaches quilting to the Sewing Sisters Quilt Guild at the Douglas Rec Center in Linden and is also a member of the Quilters With Much Attitude Guild at Gillie Rec Center in north Columbus—two of the few predominantly Black quilting groups in Central Ohio.

Her work has been displayed widely, including at The Gammon House Museum in Springfield, Ohio, where her Underground Railroad quilt has been exhibited since June 17, 2021—the day Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday. She has also exhibited quilts at Inniswood Gardens, the Ohio State Fairgrounds, the Martin Luther King Center, and Gillie Recreation Center.