Stephen Vance, Staff
The Meaford United Church Women’s Group is celebrating a special anniversary this year – a silver anniversary. For the 25th consecutive year, the organization will host its popular quilt show, on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16.
Quilt-making enthusiasts from all around – Meaford, Owen Sound, The Blue Mountains, and even reaching up to Wiarton are submitting the pieces to be included in the show.
For the two days of the show, which runs from 10 am until 8 pm on Friday (April 15), and 10 am until 4 pm on Saturday (April 16), roughly 50 quilts made by local quilters will be on display in the church sanctuary, and to celebrate the special anniversary of the show there will also be a special display of some antique quilts, some as old as a century.
Organizers of the annual show had been gathering to quilt together at the church for many years before the first show was held 25 years ago. One day, one of the ladies suggested that a quilt show be held at the church. That first show included roughly 20 quilts made by members of the church. The quilt show has grown each year over its quarter-century existence: the very first show attracted approximately 100 visitors, while last year more than 350 attended.
In an era when most people visit the nearest big-box store for their bedding supplies, quilting could have already become a lost art if not for quilting groups like the one at Meaford’s United Church. Originally, quilting was an economical way to make warm bedding by reusing old materials and fabric remnants, while today many quilts are made from new material, and some never end up keeping anyone warm, but are used as wall art.
Many weeks, months, and even years can be spent stitching together a new quilt. Among the quilts on display this year will be a quilt made by the UCWG as a group that was five weeks in the making. In fact the top of the quilt was made by the daughter of a member, who lives in Whitehorse.
“It’s an art that we don’t want to see lost,” said organizers, who worry that the busy modern lifestyle with both parents working doesn’t allow for quilts to be made at home. “People have to wait until they are retired these days to learn how to quilt.”
While the quilts on display at the show are not for sale, those interested in a particular quilt can be put in contact with the quilt maker.
In addition to the displayed quilts, organizers say there will also be demonstrations of different quilting techniques for visitors to learn some new quilting tips. A $5 lunch will also be available.
The United Church Women’s Group quilt show is held at the Meaford United Church on Friday, April 15 from 10 am to 8 pm, and on Saturday, April 16 from 10 am to 8 pm. Admission is $5.
