GREENE – A group of thirty-five women, young and old, gathered to enjoy two days of quilting and camaraderie at the Berean Bible Church in Greene this weekend.
“This is our fifteenth year,” said Linda Franklin of Whitney Point, who started the local quilter’s weekend in 1996 with the help of friend and fellow quilter Judy Krisko.
The gathering, known as Sew & So On, gives participants the chance to work on existing quilts or start new projects around a central theme, while sharing techniques with their fellow quilters. This year, “Celebration” was the theme, as the quilters and other crafters present marked the group’s anniversary.
Every year, usually on Super Bowl weekend, they gather on Friday morning at the Greene church and quilt until Saturday evening, sharing meals and enjoying the friendships fostered over the years.
“We started out with ten,” Franklin said, remembering how in the early days the participants would stay overnight at the church, rising early on Saturday morning to share breakfast before sitting back down to their sewing machines.
In the beginning, much of the weekend was focused on basic quilting techniques, with Franklin, the most experienced quilter, playing the role of teacher. She herself had been introduced to quilting during a similar weekend long event, and longed to offer others the opportunity to do the same. Many of the same women are still involved, she said, and have now surpassed even her skills.
In those early days, everyone worked on the same project, but now participants feel free to work on a project of their choosing.
“Every year there’s been a theme,” said Donna Whitbeck, who helps decorate for the event. Past themes have included “Quilt ’til the Cows Come Home;” “Hats Off to You;” and “Hen Party,” where the quilters incorporated hens and roosters into their work.
In honor of the gathering’s 15th anniversary, examples of work from each of the previous years was displayed prominently around the walls of the church’s gym. These stunning and intricate quilts served as inspiration for the women working at the long tables lining the space, sewing machines humming.
Most of the participants are from Broome and Chenango counties, Franklin said, although they have had women come from further afield including Pennsylvania and Florida.
Because of space constraints, participation is capped at 35. She said she has no problem filling it each year. In fact, there are as many as 10 people on the waiting list at any given time.
This year, the group welcomed two new additions, one of whom was McKay French of Greene. French, a first-time quilter, said she found the weekend fun and relaxing.
There is a spiritual aspect of the experience as well, according to Franklin.
“One of the purposes of this was to share Christ with everybody,” she explained.
Franklin, who is 70, said she considered making this year’s event the final Sew & So On gathering, but the enthusiasm of the group has inspired her to keep going.
“They are just full of ideas,” she said, of the younger members of the group.