QUILTERS' COLOURFUL AMBITION

Louise Hallman - Louise Hallman • Published 29 Jan 2008 15:00

SICK and vulnerable children and adults are being brought warmth and comfort thanks to a new voluntary organisation.

Comfort Quilts Scotland was founded to 'give a hug to anyone who needs one'.

Keen quilter and group chairwoman Rhona Thomson set up the group in her Bonhill home last year and now wants to expand across the country.

Since their modest beginnings with 13 members, the group now boasts 35 members.

Members have provided quilts for children at Yorkhill in Glasgow, Robin House in Balloch and even youngsters in Oban.

They currently have 60 quilts ready to donate to children with terminal and life-limiting illnesses at the childrens ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley.

Besides providing quilts to the sick and vulnerable, Comfort Quilts Scotland hope to teach novices the skills needed to produce these quilts and introduce them to this 'addictive hobby'.

They welcome everyone, not just quilters, but also knitters and sewers, and rely on members to donate their own fabrics.

Many quilts are produced during 'Quilt-a-thons', where participants pay a small entrance fee and quilt, sew and knit the blankets all day, with entertainment and food to keep them going.

Rhona said: 'We liked to make the Quilt-a-thons a little competitive with teams of two and three quilters competing to make the best design of the day.'

After a successful Quilt-a-thon in October, the group is now holding another at St Michael"s in Dumbarton on Saturday March 1.

Whilst so far all the quilts have gone to children, Comfort Quilts Scotland has several quilts waiting to go to the CrossReach nursing home in Dunoon and in the future it is hoping to donate to groups such as women"s refuge organisations.

Rhona added: 'Sometimes these women have to leave home with absolutely nothing and we want to show them that someone does care.

'We would have loved to have helped those affected by the recent floods in Aberdeen, but that was before we were set up,' she explains, demonstrating their desire to be a nationwide project.

Through the Quilters Guild of the British Isles, the group have made links with quilters as far afield as Wick.

The group received initial help from Kaleidoscope Fabrics in Bearsden, which provided them with sponsorship and reduced-price fabrics.

They have since received great support from the Loch Lomond Quilt Show who will be providing them with a stall at their four-day event in May.

Anyone wanting to get involved in the upcoming Quilt-a-thon or wishing to find out more about the group should contact Rhona Thomson on 01389 601657.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 29 Jan 08

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