The humble quilt -- long associated with rough-hewn backwoods cabins or Laura Ingalls Wilder books -- has finally come into its own.

In recent years, the modest but often quite beautiful coverings have been used by various factions as a simple metaphor for togetherness, a popular symbol of community or brotherhood or human existence itself.

In the late 1980s, for example, a gigantic patchwork quilt was stitched together in the US by the relatives and supporters of thousands of AIDS casualties, the result being an award-winning documentary on the effort and a panoply of similar exercises in numerous other countries (including Bermuda).

Currently, moreover, the quilt is serving as the analogical centrepiece of Jocelyn Moorhouse's cinematic meditation of love and relationships, "How To Make An American Quilt,'' which stars a veritable galaxy of Oscar winners and nominees (Anne Bancroft, Ellen Burstyn, Winona Ryder).

In Bermuda, which has a long and much-loved connection to the pastime, this quickly intensifying mania for quilting saw its apogee in last weekend's Quilt and Patchwork Show at the old Verdmont estate in Smith's Parish. Assembled as it was by the three-year-old Bermuda Quilters Guild, the appropriately situated show, which ran from Friday to Sunday, consisted of more than 100 samples of quilts or quilted accessories, most of which were lovingly hand-crafted by the stitchery's 23 members.

Among the highlights of the three-day extravaganza, which attracted a sizeable number of both quilt fans and curious novices to the historic Smith's Parish manor house, were a number of antique samples that the Island's National Trust -- it also owns and runs Verdmont -- provided.

Among these were a white-on-white First World War-era wholecloth quilt that came to the Island from Hetton-le-Hole in England's County Durham and an even earlier turn-of-the century covering that traces its roots to a certain Maud Hill of Bermuda.

A pair of antique scrap quilts whose maker was unknown rounded out the heirloom display items.

In terms of the stitchery's recent creations, the Christening quilt and other submissions of Ms Lynn Morrell, a much-praised expert in the crafts of quilting and patchwork, were particularly impressive, as were Ms Jacqueline Shipley's "Bermuda Quilt,'' Ms Marion George's "Memories'' and Ms Shina M.

Lyons' "American Rose.'' In particular, this year's Patchwork and Quilt Show saw the incorporation of a wide variety of motifs in many of the quilts, including sailboats (Ms Ann King), houses (Ms Karen Andrews), seashells (Ms Helen Lightbourn), cats (Ms Tricia Cooper) and bears (Ms Jean Gill).

Despite the overabundance of colour and fine-tuned handiwork, however, the unofficial piece de resistance of the proceedings was a large multi-patterned quilt that was raffled off at $2 a ticket in partial aid of the domestic abuse-fighting Women's Resource Centre.

In addition to contributing to that cause, the Guild was also hoping to boost its own ranks through the increased public exposure that the quilt and patchwork display has brought.

"If you are a beginner,'' quilt show attendees were told as they walked through the doors at Verdmont, "we would love to show you how to quilt. If you already can quilt, why not get together and quilt with our Guild? We range from beginners to people so talented that for them quilting is a career.'' Describing its members as "a friendly, relaxed group of ladies who meet just for the fun of it,'' the Guild congregates at least twice a month and performs a variety of functions, serving as both an informal resource centre (books, ideas, patterns) and general information exchange.

Among the activities that Guild members are planning for their upcoming season, which ends in March of next year, are the addition of patches to the Bermudian AIDS quilt (November 7), the creation of yet another quilt for a currently unnamed charity (January 2 and 18) and a pair of seminars on the Tahitian applique technique and so-called stained glass quilting (March 5 and 21 respectively).

So what, then, should any new members take along to the party? In addition to a $20 annual membership fee, "please bring along a mug or cup for tea or coffee, lots of enthusiasm and a love of quilts and quilting,'' a directive to new members indicates.

And what is the Guild's objective? "We would love to see new people.'' The Bermuda Quilters Guild, which was founded in 1992, meets from September to March on the first Tuesday and third Thursday of every month. For membership information or other details on the group, interested parties should phone Karen at 236-6235. The Guild costs $20 a year to join .

A PATCH OF BLUES -- Members of the Bermuda Quilters Guild display the large multi-patterned quilt that was raffled at the Patchwork and Quilt Show last weekend in partial aid of the Women's Resource Centre. The Guild is seeking to boost its membership.