Piecemakers stitch community together
Piecemakers Judy Hamilton and Clara Clark at the 2023 quilt show. (Photo courtesy of Amber Lawrence)
The Bigfork Piecemaker’s Annual Quilt Show will take place Friday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and Saturday, June 22 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bigfork Elementary School.
The guild’s 40-some quilters range in age from their 20s to their 90s, but are all able to come together for their craft and their community.
“Quilting just really brings people together, and it creates tradition, and it definitely is a symbol of comfort,” said Piecemakers president Amber Lawrence. “I think there’s just a community that naturally builds from that. I think by promoting that and teaching the next generation, it’s just one of those things in our society that can create beautiful memories and heirlooms for families.”
The Piecemakers have many projects, including making Navy baby quilts for the newborns of crewmembers on the U.S.S. Montana. In the past they have made fidget aprons for the memory impaired and eyeglass protection pieces for surgical patients at Logan Health. They also help at home. When there is a fire, housing or other issue affecting their local community, they provide quilts for comfort and relief. At Bigfork High School, the Piecemakers teach quilting as part of Family and Consumer Sciences.
This year there were 19 applicants for the Piecemakers scholarship, which goes to a Bigfork High School graduating senior each year. The 2024 raffle quilt, designed by Janet Hoyt, was pieced by the Piecemakers members and quilted together by Nancy Janikowski. The proceeds of the raffle will go towards the scholarship fund and community quilts.
Raffle tickets are available for purchase at the event, drawing is June 24. Entry fee is $5 or a non-perishable donation for the food bank. For more information, visit bigforkquilters.wixsite.com/bigforkquilt.