Teesdale Quilters
THE biennial exhibition was held in Gainford Village Hall last month in somewhat high temperatures.
It was a joy for all the members to hold this exhibition as the 2021 show had been cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. This meant the show celebrated of the creativity of our group of quilters, over the last four years.
Gainford Village Hall is a sizeable venue, but in the event we had more quilts to show than there was space to exhibit. Some quilts were displayed on the staircase, on tables and chairs.
Members had made a significant pile of charity quilts that are being donated to local branches of the Salvation Army for distribution to families in the area. As usual we ran a Visitors’ Choice for best quilt in the show and it was won by Lesley Sanderson who was presented with the Margaret Foster trophy.
More than 200 visitors enjoyed the show, commenting on the huge variety of quilts. For many, this was the first time at a quilting show since 2019. Despite visitor numbers being lower that in 2019, it was good to welcome back many old friends and familiar faces. People caught up with their news whilst enjoying tea and cakes.
The exhibition included a sale of work table, the ever-popular bag tombola, a book stall and a Name the Teddy Bear stall.
There was a table-top sale of curtaining fabric pieces, threads and patterns to raise cash for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
The fabric stall run by the Quilters Cupboard (www.the quilterscupboard.co.uk) a speciality craft fabric shop in Willington, was as popular as ever.
Teesdale Quilters raffled two quilts made by all members of the group, to raise funds for St Teresa’s hospice in Darlington.
Deborah Gibbs, the community fundraiser came along to draw the winning raffle tickets. The two winners are both thrilled with their quilts.
Deborah thanked the quilters for the money raised, adding: “We can only keep this vital service going because of the work that people like yourselves do in raising money on our behalf.”
The funds raised at the exhibition help charities and Teesdale Quilters will be making donations to St Teresa’s Hospice and the Great North Air Ambulance. A donation will be given to Gainford Parish News which is a vital community publication.
Teesdale Quilters would like to thank all those who made the exhibition possible and to the generosity of the people who came to see the show. We are always keen to recruit new members. Experienced and inexperienced quilters are welcome. If you are interested, please contact Liz on 07990 947868 or Michaela on 07880 892064.
