Maricopa guild puts quilting passion to good use

If it’s true that quilts hold the fabrics of our lives, then a group of Maricopa women are making memories each and every day.

Maricopa has its own quilters’ guild, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts. The group is a sisterhood; as charter member Laurie Richards says, “It’s about making new friends who share the same interests.”

The traveling aspect comes from members bringing their current projects to the sew-ins, which are held the first Friday and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lutheran Mission House. There 10-12 quilters usually set up tables for cutting, sewing and crafting either personal projects or ones for charity. A business meeting is also held at Maricopa Community Church on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

In November 2007 the group’s charter members joined the Arizona Quilters Guild. Currently the sisterhood has 25 members, from novice to experienced quilters.

Debra Callaghan, originally from Montana, has been in Maricopa for only two months. She found the guild online and has made new friends there. “For me it’s a sharing of passion,” said Callaghan.

Several members also belong to guilds in the Valley that sew for Arizona Blankets for Kids or Project Linus. Both charities provide quilts for premature infants and children who are seriously ill, traumatized or have special needs.

In 2008 the Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts donated 130 comfort quilts to the Maricopa Police and Fire Departments for children involved in incidents of abuse, fire or accident. That project is ongoing, and quilts are also contributed to the Celebrate Life Family Support Center.

Currently, the quilters are working on making approximately 100 Christmas stockings to fill with personal items for the men and women serving in the military in both Iraq and Afghanistan during the upcoming holiday season.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts always welcomes new members although membership in the Arizona guild is also required. Donated fabric is always appreciated for the group to use for its charitable projects.

For further information call 520-568-4484.

Photos by Joyce Hollis