Colourful quilts with creative patterns filled the sanctuary of St. Andrew’s United Church as two quilting groups displayed their works for amazed and awed visitors.
KJ Quilters and Minto (United Church) Hugs showed off their creations during the Cabin Fever Quilt Show on Feb. 4. Seventy-five quilts of various sizes were laid across pews, tables, chairs and steps as the members featured the works they had made during the past couple of years.
For anyone who gave a freewill offering at the door, that money was donated to the church’s refugee fund. St. Andrew’s has helped bring in refugees during the last number of years, so the quilting groups thought it would be appropriate to support that initiative.
The show normally features just quilts from the KJ Quilters, but the group asked the ladies from Minto Hugs to join this year, explained organizer Karen Mundt. While most of the KJ Quilters’ creations are their own, the Minto group usually produces quilts for charitable purposes.
However, both groups — composed of eight and seven members, respectively — quilt because they love to do it, she added. Most of the work is made by hand, while some are made by machine.
The sanctuary — or main worship space — was abuzz with activity as residents moved from pew to pew to admire the work.
“Is this not beautiful? My goodness!” exclaimed visitor Fred Mathieson. “I think they’re beautiful works of art.”
Mathieson and his wife attempt to attend the quilting show every time it is held, he explained. While neither he nor his wife quilt, he pointed out artists don’t need to paint either to appreciate others’ creations. He remarked that the quilters put together their work with different patterns, each of which has its own identity.
“The people (who) make them are good people. I’ve never known a bad person (who) quilts. Think about that,” Mathieson deadpanned. “They’re all beautiful. When you can’t do any art, you’re obliged to appreciate the art the people make who can do it.”
“We need appreciators as much as we need quilters,” chuckled Mundt.
Something that once had a utilitarian purpose has evolved to become a work of art, which doesn’t happen very often, Mathieson added.
The quilters from Minto Hugs use donated fabric to make their creations, explained Debbie Richards. They then give away those quilts to anyone “in need of a special Minto hug,” which includes anyone who is ill, bereaved or facing health challenges. The quilts can be placed on beds or on the laps of people in wheelchairs.
Since 2009 the group has given away more than 130 quilts.
The group was delighted to participate in this year’s Cabin Fever Quilt Show, Richards said, especially since it is a warm and inviting show to display quilts. It’s also a great place for people to enjoy the beauty of the creations and of the building itself.
Richards had five quilts on display. She explained that she is indirectly affected every time she or the group gives away a quilt. During church services at Minto, every quilt is placed at the front and blessed, with hands laid on it and prayers said for the people who will receive them.
“We feel it makes an awful lot of difference. In doing that, you don’t remain unchanged yourself. You become a better person by reaching out to other people, in physical works but also in prayer,” she added.
Mundt had more than 10 quilts on display. She likes to quilt, she explained, since she likes the creativity aspect of it. She has always liked to sew and also likes to combine types of fabrics in different ways.
“And I’m retired, so it fills lots of time, (while) it’s a very social thing because we get together in groups,” she chuckled. “We quilt and eat and drink a little wine sometimes.”
Mundt also agreed that the quilts contributed to the beauty of the church.
