The Wareham Historical Society saw some UFOs on March 21 – that is, unfinished objects.

The term, "unfinished objects," is used by quilters to describe unfinished quilting pieces, and was heard more than once at the Historical Society's quilting talk at the Old Methodist Meeting House.

Busy Bee Quilter's Guild members Joan Goldfarb and Shirley Jones were on hand to discuss the history of quilting, and give some modern quilting advice.

According to Goldfarb and Jones' research, quilting started in 3400 B.C.E. in Egypt and the oldest known whole cloth piece was a linen carpet found in a cave in Russia. However, the practice didn't become popular in America until the 18th century, when a number of social events centered around the art, called quilting bees, started up in the plains areas. Quilting was also done as a way to fundraise for the abolitionist movement.

It was also during this time that "crazy quilting" became popular, the speakers said. The style refers to quilting blocks with irregular shapes and patterns, often done to reuse scraps of materials.

A shift in quilting happened a while after the sewing machine was invented. Though it took some time to catch on, the machines became popular in the 1930s and the sewing industry boomed from there. According to a 2010 survey by the Creative Crafts Group, quilt-making is a $3.6 billion industry with more than 21 million quilters over the age of 18, just in the United States.

Jones and Goldfarb also imparted some veteran quilting wisdom to the group, which included reusing quilts, not storing fabric in plastic, and actually using they quilts, rather than just looking at them – “they're made to use.”

Goldfarb also detailed the importance of labelling quilts, so future generation know who made it, when it was made, and for what purpose.

“Quilting is not only a hobby of beauty and practicality, it's also a map of history,” said Goldfarb. “It's an ancient art but it keeps reinventing itself.”

Goldfarb and Jones invited anyone interested in quilting to join the Busy Bee Quilter's Guild, which meets on the first and third Tuesday each month from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Wareham Free Library.

“We want people to come and we want people who want to learn,” said Jones.