Peddler’s Wagon in Parkville has been a popular gathering place for quilters for the past 38 years. The shop will close its doors for the last time next month as owner Teri Hahs officially retired.
Hahs was an elementary teacher in Lawrence for five years but in 1982 she decided that was not the career for her. She wanted to continue her family’s legacy and share her love of quilting.
“Bless every teacher on earth,” Hahs said. “That is a difficult job, especially now. I come from a long line of quilters, from my great-great-grandmother down to my niece who is a pattern designer and long-arm quilter. So with the help of my parents I decided to open the shop. They were sure I was going to starve.”
Her mother taught her to sew and quilt and although she has designed colors for quilts for shop samples and customers, owning a business left her little spare time for her own quilting and sewing.
When Peddler’s Wagon first opened staff made stuffed animals, dolls and other crafts like sweatshirt appliques, along with the quilting. With more tools to streamline quilting Hahs focused primarily on quilting, embroidery and penny rugs with wool felt.
“I often hear from customers that it is a shame everything is done on a machine,” Hahs said. “I ask if they have running water. Then I say isn’t a shame we don’t pump our water from a well. Machine quilting is an art.”
Twice a year there would be a market for quilt businesses and Hahs would buy the newest fabrics, patterns, notions and tools to ensure customers always had access to the latest colors and designs.
“They always had a beautiful display of quilts so realistic they looked like paintings,” Hahs said. “Unfortunately, the market was cancelled in the spring and has been cancelled for the fall because of COVID-19.”
Quilting is an art that has never gone out of style. Designs and patterns have continually changed and the craft is enjoyed by young and old alike.
The Tristan Quilt, made in Sicily, is one of the oldest surviving quilts in the world and dates back to the 14th century.
Quilting not only provides a calming hobby, (“except when the corners don’t line up,”) Hahs said. It’s a way for families to pass down personalized pieces of art from generation to generation.
“Mostly I will miss seeing my awesome staff everyday,” Hahs said. “We have become very close and made a great team. You cannot have a successful business without great people on your team. I had the best. Also, I will miss the loyal customers who feel like family after 38 years.”
Terry Hahs has operated Peddlers Wagon Quilts and Gifts in downtown Parkville since 1982. Haas will retire from the business next month.
DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen photos
Hahs made a signature quilt for each member of her family by collecting their signatures and embroidering each of their names on the quilt. She then made a wall hanging by combining signatures and quilt blocks.
“The signature quilts took the longest time to make,” Hahs said. “My favorite quilt is whatever quilt I’m working on. It’s always fun to start a new project, I made quilts for my family after my 20-year-old niece was killed in a car wreck. I collected sayings that would make them smile. I combined the sayings with quilt blocks. I feel smiling can help heal in a sad time.”
Hahs said people would come from all over the world to the quilting markets and she once met a woman from another country who made quilts by cutting fabric from the hems of clothing and curtains because there were no fabric shops to buy the cloth.
“Quilting is a great way to pass anything made from one family member to another.,” Hahs said. “Many people who are not getting out as much now are spending the time making quilts. It beats repeats on TV and no sports.”
Retirement will give Hahs the chance to spend more time with her family and friends, plus sewing, quilting, making home improvements and opportunities to travel to the Lake of the Ozarks.
She thought she wanted to work a couple of years more but ultimately, she said COVID gave her a gentle push to retire.
No one bought the store, but when she talked to other shop owners who have retired they told her that selling the inventory is the best way to do it.
“There are lots of quilters not only in Platte County but all over the country,” Hahs said. “If you travel and you are a quilter you plan your route between quilt shops.”
