Three years ago, Kathleen Kelly was first introduced to quilt kits.
“I fell in love with it. I’ve been quilting ever since,” said Kelly.
In fact, she has gone one step further — organizing all-day quilt retreats to bring together others with a love of quilting and crafting.
Her latest quilt retreat was held at the Bradford legion on Tuesday.
From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., quilters and sewers brought their projects, sewing machines, measuring tapes and pins, and worked together, providing advice, expertise and assistance.
It was an updated version of the quilting bee — complete with snacks, lunch and dinner.
“This is just a way to get friends together, quilt, and raise money for the legion,” said Kelly.
The $50 participation fee went toward a renovation fund for the replacement of the roof at the legion hall.
The idea was to complete a project during the 12-hour retreat.
“That’s always our dream,” said quilter Shirley Stalford, who makes “charity quilts — quilts for hospital patients, Children’s Aid (Society), women’s shelters, wherever needed,” as well as quilts for babies and grandchildren.
Lori Korstanje came all the way from Cambridge to meet up with her sister Jill Beisher and work on a quilt for her granddaughter.
Beisher, who lives in Utopia, brought her own Singer Featherweight sewing machine — and years of experience.
In fact, all of the participants helped Korstanje lay out her quilt.
“It takes a team,” she said. “They’re my quilting sisters.”
The retreat attracted sewers as well as quilters.
“There’s fun little different things that people do,” said Kelly, showing the totes, quilted potholders and bean-bag iPad holders crafted by the participants.
“You’ve got like 100 years of experience in this room.”
