Quilters from across southern Saskatchewan gathered on May 9 to share techniques, preserve history, and celebrate the community that binds quilting guilds across the Prairies.

Hosted by the Prairie Hearts Quilters’ Guild at the Timothy Eaton Centre, the “Gathering of the Guilds” welcomed approximately 150 participants representing quilting groups from communities including Regina, Saskatoon, Weyburn, Assiniboia, Strasbourg, Govan, Brownlee, and Moose Jaw.

The one-day event featured guest speakers, historical presentations, trunk shows, vendor displays, raffles, and quilt showcases aimed at both experienced quilters and those looking to expand their skills and knowledge.

Arlene Thompson, treasurer for the Prairie Hearts Quilters’ Guild, said the event serves as an opportunity for quilters from different communities to connect while continuing the guild’s broader focus on education and mentorship.

“So we had an agenda focused on sharing information, encouraging one another, and showcasing different ideas and techniques,” Thompson said. “A guild is really about helping people learn more about their craft, so we share techniques, ideas, and knowledge with one another.”

Thompson explained that the Gathering of the Guilds is held during alternating years between the guild’s larger quilt shows and has become one of the organization’s major community events.

“We’ve been holding these gathering events for a number of years,” she said. “This is one of the larger events we’ve hosted.”

Throughout the day, attendees explored displays featuring quilting styles ranging from modern “scrappy quilts” to carefully preserved heritage pieces dating back more than a century.

Quilting historian and researcher Adrienne Forsyth guided participants through the evolution of quilting in Saskatchewan using antique and reproduction quilts connected to Prairie families and communities. Her presentation highlighted how quilts carried stories of migration, hardship, family life, and community across generations.

Among the pieces displayed was a Crazy Quilt dating back to 1903, believed to have either been made in Saskatchewan or brought west by settlers before Saskatchewan became a province in 1905. Another featured quilt traced connections to a Moose Jaw family that arrived from Ontario in the early 1900s.

Forsyth also discussed the importance of preserving and documenting quilts for future generations.

“This really shows the importance of labeling quilts,” she said while describing one inherited family quilt whose creator could no longer be definitively identified. “I don’t know who actually made this quilt.”

The presentation also explored Canada’s wartime quilting efforts during the Second World War, which Forsyth said saw hundreds of thousands of quilts sent overseas to displaced civilians.

“Researchers estimate that Canada sent about 400,000 quilts overseas, mostly to Britain, for people who had been displaced after being bombed out during the war,” she said.

Another highlight of the event was a trunk show presented by Karen Mundt, who shared a series of personal quilts while reflecting on the memories, creativity, and emotional significance woven into each project.

“At one time, I knew what all those little things meant — my family of origin, my sisters, my daughters, my grandchildren,” Mundt said while describing a quilt inspired by life’s journey.

Alongside the educational programming, organizers also raised funds for Hope Ministries while providing attendees an opportunity to browse quilting supplies and connect with vendors specializing in fabrics, patterns, and sewing materials.

For many attendees, however, the gathering’s greatest value came from connecting with others passionate about quilting and textile arts. Thompson noted that quilting guilds continue to play an important role in preserving creative skills and community connections, a legacy reflected by the attendance of Prairie Hearts Quilters’ Guild co-founder Marj Nicolle, whose decades of involvement helped shape Moose Jaw’s quilting community.

“It’s really about sharing and showcasing what people are creating,” Thompson said.

To learn more, visit PrairieHeartsQuilters.com.

Aaron Walker

Reporter

Moose Jaw Express