Everyone loves a beautiful homemade quilt. Roundup is home to two quilting clubs, one of which is "The Cross-Country Piece Makers" group. Mimi Evans and Annie Shirley started the group years ago. The quilting groups gather once a month at the New Life Assembly Church to enjoy their craft, and socialize. Some of the quilters get together in smaller groups as well. The "Cross-Country Piece Makers" help out with the Quilts of Valor. They have also donated quilts that they called "soldier quilts", also quilts for displaced children, and a little heart hanger quilt piece called "hearts for hurts" for those who are hurt. The group has given many quilts within the community.
One member of the "Cross-Country Piece Makers", Sharon Brewer, is a dedicated quilt crafter. Originally from Melstone, Sharon became a widow, and at sixty, was set up on a blind date with Duane Brewer, that turned into a happy marriage. Sharon was unfamiliar with the Roundup community. The quilting community helped Sharon get acquainted with locals after moving here.
Sharon's passion is quilting. She loves the craft so much that she has her own quilting studio where some of the ladies meet. She has quilts that she displays throughout her house for each season. There are four quilts she currently has ready for binding. When she changes the sheets on her bed, she switches out the quilt on her each time. Sharon has a "long arm quilter" which is a very large machine that sews the three layers of a quilt together, the top, the batting, and the backing. The top is where the "piecing" is done. The piecing takes the most time, and is the where the quilter has the most fun. The patterns and colors are all different. There are endless combinations of how a quilt can look. Sharon has several quilts going at one time. She currently has a table runner, a quilt, and several that are ready for binding.
The long arm quilting of a large quilt can take up to three hours with her machine. The piecing, done with the pattern, cutting, and sewing each piece, can take up to a year. Finally, the binding (the edges) is done by hand, and that is the finishing touch for the quilt. Some quilts can be purchased in kits, some quilts are done as a monthly mystery pattern, and the quilter has to wait each month for their next pattern to come for the next piece of their quilt.
While quilters love the hobby, the companionship and friendships that are built through the groups are priceless. The big group meets the third Saturday of each month at the New Life Assembly Church on Horsethief. Sometimes there are twenty-five to thirty members there. People who want to learn to quilt should attend the big group. "This is a place for newcomers to come if they are interested.", Sharon says. "They meet at 9am, and bring your lunch because sometimes the quilting goes on till 2 o'clock."
Makes about 20 quilts a year.
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