Written by Donna Hanmer
Beartown Patchwork and Quilters held a mini exhibition at St Peter’s Church in Congleton on Saturday 21st October, to share their amazing and varied creations with the public. The exhibition featured some of the quilts that the group members made as part of a Round Robin or “Shoebox Challenge”, a fun and charitable project that they carried out over last winter. A couple had been enlarged into Q4CL quilt ( for details of the charity that provides ‘quilted hugs’ to young people leaving the care system, see an earlier post). The group have made over 60 Q4CL quilts so far this year!
St Peter’s Church is a Grade I listed Georgian church that stands on the site of a medieval chapel. The quilts were hung from the balconies, creating a colourful and cosy atmosphere. There was tea and coffee available, with donations going to the church.
The exhibition drew a steady flow of visitors throughout the day, who admired the quilts and chatted with the group members. Several group members were present throughout the day to guide visitors around the exhibition and to share their experiences of being part of Beartown Patchwork and Quilters. The exhibition also gave a glimpse of the upcoming Ruby exhibition, which will celebrate the group’s 40th year, being held 28-29th June 2024 in Congleton town hall.
The group also sold some of their smaller items, such as cushions, bags, and children’s gifts, to raise funds for their activities and materials. These items were all made by group members, and offered a great way take something home as a memento of the day.
