Members of the Flying Needles Quilt Guild showcased their work at the Shalimar Library on Friday, Oct. 16, during “Quilt, Wine and Friends,” an event celebrating the artistry and history of quilting.
Twenty-four quilts will remain on display at the library through Nov. 2.
Leann Caravello, the library’s program coordinator, reached out to the guild to organize the event.
“Visitors who have walked through the doors have been amazed by the quilts,” Caravello said.
Diane Roberson opened the event by highlighting the guild’s mission and its commitment to community service. Last year, guild members donated more than 2,000 handmade items to 12 charities.
- “We focus on children in the foster care system by donating Christmas stockings, quilts, pillowcases and our newest initiative donating walker bags to one nursing home,” Roberson said.
Roberson also spoke about modern quilting, which emphasizes bold colors, graphic designs and innovative techniques. Those techniques use negative space to enhance the overall look of a quilt and highlight its main design elements, creating balance and visual interest.
Donna Gross presented the guild’s Underground Railroad quilt and discussed the longstanding belief that quilt patterns may have served as coded messages to help enslaved people find their way to freedom. One well-known example is the Monkey Wrench pattern, which, according to legend, signaled the need to gather tools and supplies for the journey north.
Ten quilt artists then shared their work, giving visitors a closer look at the creativity and craftsmanship behind each piece. Linda Weiss showcased two quilts that earned “Best of Show” and “Viewer’s Choice” ribbons at previous shows.
The artists also discussed a variety of techniques, including fussy cutting, stack ‘n whack, needle-turn appliqué and paper piecing.
The guild also featured its patriotic opportunity quilt, a fundraiser that supports the Quilts of Valor program. The fundraiser helps the guild meet its goal of making 100 Quilts of Valor each year.
- The national Quilts of Valor Foundation awards handmade quilts to nominated veterans and service members affected by war, offering comfort, gratitude and healing. For more information or to nominate a veteran, visit www.qovf.org.
Quilters and the public will have another chance to celebrate the craft at the guild’s Emerald Coast Quilt Show, “How Does Your Garden Grow,” March 5-6, 2027, at the Rigdon Center in Fort Walton Beach. Quilters are encouraged to enter their work, and the public is invited to attend.
For details, visit www.flyingneedlesquiltguild.org.
