The warmth of a hand-stitched quilt on a cold winter’s night is a universal comfort. Many of us have watched our mothers, grandmothers, and others at their sewing machines, piecing together scrap quilts, intricate patterns, works that were utilitarian, gifts, or celebrations of memories. Into each stitch the skills, patience, and pride of its maker are evident. Holy Cross Anglican Church’s 2nd Annual Quilt Display celebrated such craftsmanship in a stunning display. Held on Thanksgiving weekend during the Eastport Peninsula Agricultural Exhibition, crowds attended from across the province.
Draped over 135-year-old pews, against a backdrop of locally hewn logs arching toward the sky, the new and the very old came together. Showcasing the talent in our area, visitors were awed by the beautiful fabrics and patterns, and the attention to detail. On-point log cabins, Hunter’s Stars, intricate appliqués, vintage quilts, and so many more all had a place in the chancel. Each beautifully created piece told its own story; a chronicle of temperatures throughout the year; a show of support for the people of Ukraine; a gift celebrating a niece’s individuality and spirit; a technique learned from the Siddi women of Northern India; and a memento of a family trip. A series of quilts sewn by the Anglican Church Women (ACW) represented hope and faith, with their untied knots holding the layers together waiting for the prayers to be held for its recipient.
But the heritage pieces captured the essence of generations of quilt-making. Eyes softening in reminiscence, the gentle touching of the fabric; the emotional response was evident. Pieces made in the 70s from Breeze laundry detergent towels; wool-filled comforters with wool shorn and carded from their own sheep; and tops sewn from recycled flour sacks and curtains all told the stories of frugality learned in lean years, others, the generosity of spirit in wartime.
One such quilt, stitched by the women of the Eastport Peninsula in the mid-1930s, served as a fundraiser for local soldiers during the Second World War. Each block contained a small triangular pocket designed to hold a fifty-cent piece. Donors who contributed a half dollar had their names entered into the raffle to win the quilt, while the funds supported those serving abroad. This 85-year-old quilt, representing our history and the generosity of the people of the Peninsula, hung proudly as a centrepiece to the Quilt Exhibition. The spirit of the Fifty-Cent quilt continues today. Holy Cross Anglican Church’s outreach supports local, provincial, and international initiatives, including an ACW scholarship at Holy Cross School Complex, Alongside Hope, and the ACW prayer quilt ministry. Proceeds from the Exhibition enable our church community to support these and other Holy Cross Church ministries.
The age-old tradition of learning to sew at mother’s knee still continues, although new technologies make the learning more accessible. What has not changed is the desire to come together in community and fellowship. This labour of love in the stitching of quilts remains a thread in the fabric of life on the Eastport Peninsula.
