Sew good: Quilting group reaps benefits for both charities, themselves

The Quilting Queens of Edmonton is trying to help charities cover their cost by sewing and selling quilts. CTV News Edmonton's Matt Woodman reports.

All year long, the quilting queens of St. Andrews, as they’re known, have been preparing for the upcoming Saturday.

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They meet at the church on 148 Street every Tuesday morning, forming an assembly line for baby, crib, lap and bed blankets.

Formally called the St. Andrews Quilting Group, the sewists have been meeting for decades, first gathering to turn clothes into bedrolls for men working on the Distant Early Warning line during the Cold War.

Since then, various charities have benefitted from an annual quilt sale in October.

“We do take a few days off over Christmas – but not over summer,” Lynne Tedder, the coordinator affectionately called “boss” by other members, told CTV News Edmonton in a recent interview.

On average, the sale of crib blankets, lap blankets, and bed blankets yields about $10,000. This Saturday, the sale’s profits will be donated to the Jessica Martel Memorial Foundation, which helps domestic violence survivors. The blankets range in price from about $50 to $750, depending on the size.

“My favourite part is seeing people come to the sale and going, ‘Oh, look at that!’” Tedder said.

“And I tell you, when we have stuff for the Oilers, they almost get into a fight over it.”

‘It’s good for me’

Although the quilters recognize the social impact of their work, they’re aware of the benefits they’ve reaped, too.

“It’s a good cause, but selfishly, it’s good for me,” said 100-year-old member Joyce McRory. “It’s good to belong to the group. It’s good to keep my hands moving. Sometimes, I have to think – that’s good.”

McRory credits the group for supporting her while her husband had Alzheimer’s.

And on her 100th birthday, they surprised her with cake and a party.

“We never did get back to quilting. We just sat, we talked and laughed,” McRory said of the party.

Most, if not all of the members, have a similar story.

For Tedder, it’s the memory of the quilters attending her sister’s funeral service.

“They didn’t know her, but they showed up for me,” she said.

The club welcomes new members.

“Younger people: join us. We are aging out, so it’s nice to have somebody who are in their 60s or 50s,” Tedder said.

“Come on a Tuesday and talk to us. We do not teach sewing. They have to know how to sew themselves. We show them what we do, and if they’re interested, fine, join us.”

The sale on Saturday runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

St. Andrews United Church collects fabric donations all year long. Drop-offs can be arranged by calling the main office.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matt Woodman