Patchwork Pals to display ‘All Things Fiber’ at CCAC in October

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

If you walk into the Charles City Arts Center this month, brace yourself for an explosion of color.

The Patchwork Pals Quilt Guild in Charles City, currently about 32 members strong, is traditionally featured at the CCAC every other October. The display this year is entitled “All Things Fiber” and will feature quilts of all sizes, and much more.

“We’re really focusing on all the different things we use to make quilts, all the materials,” said Collette Schmidtke, who is vice-president of the guild. “Some of the quilts are embellished with wool, some with buttons. We thought that ‘All Things Fiber’ really covered the gamut of all the materials and the extras that people will see.”

Schmidtke said the exhibit will include wool-work, large quilts, lap quilts, table runners, rugs, clothing, bags and embroidery work. She said there will be a wide range of styles and techniques, so “people will get to see a lot of different types of pieces.”

“There is going to be a lot to see, and hopefully the viewers will get some good ideas and be inspired to maybe join us,” she said.

The CCAC will host a reception for the quilters this evening (Friday) from 5-7 p.m., with face masks required to attend.

“It’s always fun to see the responses our quilts get at the reception,” Schmidtke said. “This is a good pastime, a good hobby and a lot of fun.”

One must be a Patchwork Pals Quilt Guild member to have a quilt in the show, and Schmidke said all the guild members are encouraged to show something they’ve created, regardless of experience or skill level.

“Some of our new quilters will have their work on display,” she said. “We encourage everybody to put something in. It’s so nice when newer quilters feel confident enough about their skills that they are willing to share them.”

Now in its 15th year of existence, the Patchwork Pals Quilt Guild holds meetings the first Monday of each month, except for January and July, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Charles City. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. and consist of food and fellowship, a program, a business discussion and a “show and tell” so that members can show others the work they’ve done.

The guild is always looking for new members, and anyone interested in joining is welcome at the monthly meeting.

“We have programs every month that give us insight into new techniques, new tools for quilting and new ideas for fabric,” Schmidtke said.

Patchwork Pals contributes many projects to community service. The group made masks during the pandemic for the hospital and local nursing homes, as well as pillow cases for the Ronald McDonald Houses in Rochester and Iowa City. What was left over went to a shelter in Mason City.

The group also regularly makes “quilts of compassion” for people with stress in their life such as a fire, illness or loss of a loved one. They make quilts for first responders to give to accident victims, bags for the pregnancy center, bags for the library, walker bags for the nursing homes and Christmas stockings for Foster children.

Several Patchwork Pals members are also members of Floyd County Quilts of Valor, which is an organization of quilters who are part of a larger national nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring veterans with a handmade quilts. In addition to having a lot of crossover membership, Patchwork Pals has contributed fabric and other materials to Quilts of Valor projects.

“At some point, we kind of max out on all the quilts that we can enjoy in our own homes, so it’s fun to make quilts for other people,” Schmidtke said.

Schmidtke also said that Holly Conner at Stitches in Charles City has always been a big supporter of the guild, and has at times donated fabric and other materials.

“We do need to recognize Holly. She does a lot of good things for the guild and is very supportive,” Schmidtke said. “She is always very generous.”