Final answer:
Sewing metaphors in literature typically equate the careful crafting of stitches with the deliberate building and maintaining of relationships, suggesting partners should be attentive to the nuances of their relationship just as one would be when creating a quilt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sewing references in various texts, including the work of John Van Epp, often use sewing as a metaphor for relationships, indicating that partners should take care to build their relationship deliberately, just as one would carefully sew or knot a quilt. The metaphor implies that relationships, like fabric and stitches, need attention to detail and skillful work to ensure they are strong and lasting. This is especially evident in the dialogue from the play where the characters realize the significance of knotting a quilt, symbolizing the entanglement and complexity of human relations.