BONNYVILLE – A kaleidoscope of patterned fabric lined tables humming with sewing machines on Sept. 4 as the Tangled Threads Quilt Guild (TTQG) met at the Bonnyville Seniors Drop-in Centre to collectively work on their creations before a club meeting.
The TTQG was established in 1999 and remains active today with meetups happening twice a week, along with three-day retreats, special events, and meetings the first Tuesday of the month from September to June.
Newcomers are greeted at the door with warm smiles and hearty welcomes, and club president Gerry Spiess urges anyone interested to come on out and meet the endlessly friendly group.
“I’d say we have about 45 members. It is very social, and you don’t have to quilt. You can cross stitch, you can knit, you can do whatever,” says Spiess.
Zoeann Johnston pipes up from across the table, as she worked on the horse square of her barnyard quilt, “And we’re fun!”
Also nearby, Lynette Howatt adds, “And we’re crazy!”
The group spoke about the ambitious projects they have taken on, then changed their mind, inspired by another quilter, and sometimes they go off in a completely new direction. They laughed about how much usage their stitch rippers see, and how sometimes they will not get very much work done because the conversation is too juicy.
Howatt, hailing from Sherwood Park, spoke to the level of comradery the TTQG offers.
“We moved here last summer... We didn’t know anybody, and now I’ve got more friends here than I ever did in the city,” says Howatt.
“When I first started here, I was working on my cross stitching and then I brought my sewing machine and got started on my first quilt. Now I'm hooked,” says Gloria King. “And we’re always having lunch together or going for dinner.”
Spiess explains that the group is not only welcoming and fun to be around, but they also offer a wealth of knowledge and help to those interested in getting started in quilting.
“Everybody is always sewing everybody else's projects all the time,” says Johnston, with a laugh.
“All of us are willing to help - and it’s not only for beginners, even if you’ve sewn or quilted for years there's always someone who has done something differently and gives you ideas and inspiration. You get hints from everybody, all these girls - it doesn't matter who it is, they’ll help,” says Spiess.
The TTQG is also a group that provides service to the community, as many of the members offer their creations as donations to various causes.
For example, a gala quilt is collectively sewn by members and auctioned off at the hospital gala. They create Hugs 2U Bags filled with toiletries for those in the hospital, and they supply palliative care quilts, quilts to Victim Services, and quilts to raise money for a myriad of local fundraisers.
The TTQG offers comfort and support to the community in many ways.
“If somebody is interested, I think the best thing to do is to come and see us. Come see what we’re about. They you’ll know how to start if you want to start,” says Spiess.
