Charlene Chambers of Kagawong created her first quilt while on maternity leave for her first daughter around 47 years ago, as a gift for her mother. She was bored and needed to do something so took a night course in sewing where she saw a quilt pattern and thought she would give it a try. Starting out she hand pieced the blocks, but her parents soon loaned her a treadle machine which had been converted to electricity. She did hand quilt it once it was together.
After moving up to Manitoulin Island in 2012 she went to her first meeting at the Happy Quilters with Barb Bright, and from there she was introduced to the Island Quilt Guild. The only quilt that Charlene entered into competition was with a group of quilters for Canada 150, which won an award at the local level. This allowed the quilt to be presented at the National Quilt Show for Canada 150.
She says she enjoys quilting just for the pleasure it gives her, as well as being able to learn new techniques and meet talented people. Her favourite type of quilting is standard and paper piecing, although she also loves landscape quilts and of course doing hand quilting. The best tip Charlene has for new quilters is to have lots of patience, and not be too hard on yourself when first starting. Enjoy the experience as it is not a race, take pleasure in creating your quilt.
A special memory Charlene has about a quilt is the one that she made a few years ago with paper pieced cranes on it. Paper piecing refers to sewing fabrics to a paper foundation to stabilize the quilt block due to unusual geometric shapes, small pieces or odd angles on a bias. The pattern was created by a lady from Australia who used to watch her niece make origami paper cranes while her niece was waiting for her cancer treatments. The aunt took the paper cranes and made a mobile from them, and then she created a paper piecing pattern for the cranes. She stipulated that if anyone purchased the pattern that part of the proceeds was to go to the local cancer centre.
Charlene has chosen to share her Bargello wall quilt entitled “Oh Christmas Tree” measuring 56 x 56 inches, which she made in 2010. She hangs it for display every year for the Christmas season. A Bargello quilt is one made of strips of fabric sewn together, most often to create the appearance of movement.
If you would like to learn more about paper piecing, Bargellos, or other types of quilting why not come out to the Island Quilters Guild monthly meetings which are held at the Community Centre in Mindemoya on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm. For more information you can phone or text Kathrine Grant at 519-495-0309, or email Deborah Grant at dgrant098@gmail.com.
