Community Threads quilts community memories
Community quilting group takes donations of materials from community to create quilt
Community Threads is seeking participants to join their community quilting group. They are also looking for donations from the community.
Community Threads is a group that has been meeting at the Kutztown Community Library since January 2018. The goal is to create a 78”x 80” quilted collaborative art piece using fabric and buttons donated by the people of the community.
Donations with family ties and history are suggested. For example, a tie worn to a wedding, an old prom dress, or fabric from an old apron can be used to create the elements of the quilt. Sewing in scraps of fabric that reflect the history of the region and the people who live in it help connect the community.
M. Camille Eaton Romig, from Huffs Church, started the project to get close to those in the area. “I was trying to figure out how to interact with the community. I wanted to show that the library was a neutral space to make connections through a quilting project.”
Based on the “slow stitch” method of sewing, people who participate take their time with each section of the quilt. “When your hands are busy, you can’t look at Facebook and Twitter. You waste a lot of time on things that aren’t important,” commented Patt McCloskey, a Kutztown member of Community Threads.
“You solve a lot of problems while sewing. Sitting down, sewing fabric, and concentrating on something else helps the other problems in your life get figured out,” says Marcia Rymer, another member of Community Threads.
All experience levels with sewing and quilting are welcome to attend meetings.
The design of the quilt is based off the “double helix” found in DNA. “Everyone brings their own DNA and story with them,” Romig says.
The group is hosting a speaker on May 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. Stacy Hortner will discuss the role of stitching in women’s lives in the 19th and early 20th centuries and show samples of her traditional and contemporary embroidery and quilting.
Community Threads is looking for donations of fabric and embellishments as well as more members to help contribute to the quilt. Members plan to reach out to local Girl Scout troops, nursing homes, and other organizations to promote the project and encourage more people to participate and become part of the story. The group plans to display the finished quilt at the Kutztown Community Library, local schools, rotary clubs, and many more upon completion.
This project is made possible through the “Project Steam” grant provided by Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts. Additional money was given by the Berks Art Council.
Community Threads meets every Monday at 4:30 p.m. in the Kutztown Community Library. Check out the Community Threads Facebook Group for more information. The Kutztown Community Library is located at 70 Bieber Alley, Kutztown.