Social Society of Quilters

Historically, quilting became a social endeavour as the women in the new Canadian communities gathered to stretch the tops onto frames and hand-quilt the layers together.

When many hands work together to complete a large project, the result is a sense of community and accomplishment as individuals share their stories and help each other through some of life’s challenges. This is the essence of quilting guilds and likely the impetus for their formation – learning to make quilts, sharing in the construction, making friends, receiving and giving comfort through life’s struggles and extending this to the community where members live.

A tangible example is that every Canadian guild donates finished quilts – baby to queen size – to social agencies to distribute locally or to international sites of trauma, for example, victims of Hurricane Katrina or Rotoplast International’s Wrap a Smile Project.

Another example of contributing to the broader community came with the project A Stitch in Time.

A Stitch in Time – June 21,1999 – Kootenay Advertiser

In 1999, five area quilting guilds participated in the project to create “period authentic” quilts for the RCMP Quarters at Fort Steele Heritage Town: Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Wasa, Moyie and Creston. Cranbrook’s creation was organized by Judy Beaulac, Judy Wright, and Peggy McGowan. It was a red and green Oak Leaf and Reel quilt pattern. This pattern gained prominence in the 1850s. The oak leaf symbolizes strength, dignity and longevity and the group felt the quilters of the era might have made this pattern for a North West Mounted Police Superintendent, such a the bachelor Sam Steele. The quilt was started in January 1999 and finished in May.

Quilt Conferences

The “intangible giving” between and among members had been described earlier. It is significant to the “personality” of quilters and quilt guilds, how this generosity extends to any quilter, anywhere. The chatter in a quilt shop is like a popular cafe where friends are sharing stories over coffee. Multiply this type of chatter a hundredfold and that’s the sound of fellowship at a Regional Quilt Conference. Cranbrook joined the “Kootenay Quilt Conference” roster in 1986. Each of the East and West Kootenay guilds (now 11 in the East, 6 in the West) took turns hosting a yearly regional conference from 1986 until 2002 when they voted to “split”. 

At that time, there were over 200 attendees. As most of the agenda is guilds showing the work of the past year, there wasn’t enough time in a day. The split saw the guilds on the host’s side of the Kootenays sharing with attendees from both the East and the West. A further split occurred in 2005, where each side now holds a conference every two years. Cranbrook hosted in 1989, 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2020, which was cancelled at the final hour due to the Pandemic, and finally in 2023.

So, as the last act of this 1985-2023 guild era, the Cranbrook Guild hosted the East Kootenay Quilt Conference at the Heritage Inn of the South’s ballroom. The guild booked the “conference” facilities to minimize the work for members. A committee of four planned the event (Susan Little, Ivy-Lynne Stein, Vicki Easton and Kate Fedorchuk), the members took on the jobs of the day, and the hotel staff did the rest. In the past the site was often a gymnasium or community hall. The members of the host guild made muffins, even lunch, and manned the coffee stations. Sometimes a community group, like the Scouts, were hired to set-up the tables. The guild members did the rest and the take-down. Much like at our Quilt Shows, the last act was sweeping the floor.

In June 2023 the Guild hosted a wildly successful conference. Expecting maybe 75 participants, registration was closed at 130. Our guild members still did a lot of work: some were speakers, some took care of registration, one contacted and helped the vendors set up, some manned the free table, others sat back and enjoyed the day as the hotel staff took care of the refreshments.

The din in the room was almost electrifying. Two of our most senior members, Shirley White (88) and Dorothy Hinton (91), were among the throng and the oldest quilter in attendance was a member of the Moyie Guild, Joan Zerk, at 94.

Nine guilds shared ideas for guild activities and restarting after the Covid shutdown. Invermere and the HooDoos attended for the first time, so they “observed”. Most guilds, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Golden, and Wasa were grappling with the aging of the members, and an ebbing of enthusiasm. Fernie, Creston, and Moyie seemed to have a younger membership.

Our area representative from CQA/ACC, Barbara Williamson attended. Our members, Wendy Hogg and Barb Olson described their journeys using the techniques of Jean Wells and Helen Goddin respectfully. Endy Turner, from Batik Corner, shared her culture’s Batik-making. CBIRH talked about preserving guild history. The participants boisterously bid at the auction of PHDs (projects had done…and not likely to be completed) and notions, and a “free table” where quilters passed on their used stuff was emptied.

The Vendors were local quilters with businesses. The conference was “nothing fancy”, and chaotic at times. And none of our members had to sweep the floor. In 1989, 80 attended and we passed a profit of $20.28 to the next host. In 2023, we passed on a profit of $1,023.39. The Creston Guild will host in 2025.