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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

A new stop on the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail will lead quilt lovers and sightseers to Sew Charming in Clanton.

The store received its specialized quilt square metal art piece, making it an official part of the trail, last week.

After hearing about the trail a few years ago, Sew Charming owner Penny Smith decided to apply to be included a year ago. She said she wanted to be included because of the “passion for quilts” the business has, and because the long exterior wall of the building it moved into in July 2021 needed something colorful.

“It adds character to that side of the building,” she said.

Each stop on the trail is marked by a unique quilt square. Sew Charming’s is a variation on the Lone Star quilt pattern.

“Wherever it is hung it has to be visible from the road because people will travel around and try to find them,” Smith said.  “People go out and seek and follow the trail and look for the different quilt squares.”

Smith said they chose to have the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail artist paint their quilt square, rather than creating it themselves. Teresa Brickhouse painted the square for Sew Charming.

“We love it,” Smith said.

“It draws attention,” co-owner Emily Hand, Smith’s daughter, said. “Everybody that comes in says that they love.”

Visitors and locals alike are welcome to take photos with the quilt square.

According to the organization website, “The Alabama Barn Quilt Trail is an agricultural tourism project designed to promote travel and community pride by encouraging the public to explore our roads, farms, businesses and historic towns.”

A map of the trail is available at alabamabarnquilttrail.org/trail-map.

Sew Charming is located at 601 Seventh St. S.