Annie Lou Square

Ms. Annie Lou Square is a quilter from Alberta, Alabama, continuing a family legacy rooted in the Freedom Quilting Bee. She is named after her grandmother, Ms. Annie Lou Square, a founding member of the Bee in 1966. Although she never met her grandmother, who passed the year she was born, that connection remains an important part of her story.

Ms. Annie grew up in Alberta with the Freedom Quilting Bee as a central gathering place in the community. She often went with her mother and began learning at a young age by threading needles, one of the first skills she picked up. Being in that space shaped her early understanding of quilting and community.

She began creating her own work during the pandemic, when a loss of employment led her to turn to sewing as a way to support herself. With a background in garment production, including making ball caps and military uniforms, she brought those skills into her quilting practice.

Ms. Annie is especially known for her quilted bags, which she prefers to make in part to accommodate hand strain while continuing to sew. She works intuitively, allowing each piece to develop as she goes, and is drawn to denim and the range of color and texture it offers.

For Ms. Annie, the Freedom Quilting Bee remains an active and meaningful part of community life. She values it as a welcoming space and a living piece of history that continues to bring people together.

She takes particular joy in seeing how people respond to her work. Their happiness and appreciation for the craft is something she carries with her as she continues to create.