Quilters from across the northern Plains and Canada will be in Thief River Falls on Saturday to learn more about their art form.
The Thief River Falls Quilt Guild is hosting a Quilt College featuring a variety of classes for quilters of all skill levels. Quilting is an old-fashioned art that remains popular with people of all ages, and people are eager to learn old and new techniques, said Adele Rosencrans, co-vice president of the Thief River Falls Quilt Guild. Past Quilt Colleges have drawn about 150 people, she said.
The age of the members in the Thief River Falls Quilt Guild, which numbers about 75 people, spans from teenagers to retired seniors in their 80s, she said. This year, the Quilt College offered a kid's class which quickly was sold out, she noted.
The Guild decided to offer the class because members noticed that entries in quilting classes had declined at county fairs and thought that offering a class was a good way to encourage children to learn the art form, Rosencrans said.
Quilting is a tradition and part of the heritage of people who live in cold climates, Rosencrans said.
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"It's homey. It's that warmth. It's the desire for people to create things on their own.... It's that Norman Rockwell feeling of a cup of hot chocolate and a good book."
Quilts also are a warm, personal gift people can give to others, Rosencrans said.
Sharing the warmth
"I think we all grew up with our favorite quilt on our bed that our grandmother gave us," she said.
The Guild makes dignity quilts, which are used to put over the bodies of deceased people, quilts for the first baby of the year and for fundraisers.
"It's such a good, good feeling to give one away," Rosencrans said.
Patty Olson, who will teach a quilting class at the Quilt College, also enjoys giving quilts to family and friends. She made her first quilt about 35 years ago when she was in high school, and has made about 50 since then.
"My kids have all gotten quilts. I have seven grandchildren, and they've all gotten quilts. I have made them for Relay for Life...I've done them for church auctions."
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Olson also likes to decorate with her quilts and has them hanging in her office and home, she said.
"I like the elements of the fabric in the decorating of my home."
Quilting also is a social event, Olson said.
"It's the camaraderie of it, all these quilters who come together with the same common interest."
The Quilt College will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls. Information: adelerosencrans@gmail.com
Reach Bailey at (701) 787-6753; (800) 477-6572, ext. 753; or send e-mail to abailey@gfherald.com .
