The art of quilt-making continues to grow in popularity among young people thanks to computerized machines and mentors who are passionate about imparting their love of the craft to a new generation.
One of those mentors is Elora quilter Peggy Nagle, who was inspired by the children’s quilts she saw on display at the Machine Quilter’s Exposition in New Hampshire.
Nagle, an adult instructor at the conference, last year suggested a new category – one that recognized teachers for the success of younger students, encouraging long-time quilters to bring children into their fold.
“For a lot of us, who are good quilters, we could teach other people because that’s the future of the industry, to teach young people to quilt,” she said. “So I said, if you recognize the mentor with a ribbon or something, I think you’d get more entrants.”
The organization agreed with Nagle, and in January she took three area girls under her wing with hopes of showcasing their work in the April competition.
All three girls won in the Kids Can Quilt! computerized category.
Allison Tomlin, 7, placed 1st for her quilt “Dogs”, Sophia Shamaoun, 12, was awarded 2nd for “Birds and Flowers”, and Jillian Tomlin, 10, received an honorable mention for her project “Singing Hummingbirds.”
Shamaoun said the most challenging aspect of the project was naming her quilt, and all three girls agreed choosing the fabrics was their favourite part of the process.
Nagle couldn’t be more proud of her apprentices and said she heard many spectators at the competition gushing over the girls’ eye for colour.
“I was standing where (the) quilts were hanging and several people came around and said, ‘I love that fabric! And look how well she’s picked out all the one’s to go with it,’” Nagle reflected.
Each girl submitted two quilts: one hand-guided and the other computerized.
Nagle was recognized at the event in New Hampshire for the outstanding work of her pupils, but for her, the experience was about more than getting a ribbon.
“I love seeing the light bulb go on. I love it when they get it,” she says.
“They were very quick to learn, especially in the computerized area … a lot of times when I’m teaching adults I’ll be asking them questions about what to do next, and they’ll pause, but the girls just knew right away.”
But it doesn’t seem like the girls are done quilting just yet. Already they’re preparing to start quilts for the fall fair – a more daunting task as they’ll be required to piece, quilt and bind the projects without assistance from Nagle.
However, Nagle has no doubt they’ll be successful.
“It was a pleasure to teach them. They were so quick, so into it … and when we were done, I missed them,” she said.
