Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
Stitchers from all over western Nassau County come together to create quilts from the heart. The Country Star Quilt Guild formed in 2015, sewing together community, charity, and friendship one quilt at a time for a decade.
“You meet a lot of wonderful women who are more than willing to share the knowledge that they have and their skills with you,” said Lynette Talak, the guild’s vice president.
With around 60 members, the group gathers on the second Monday of the month September thru June. They gather at The Anchor Church at 7 p.m. for quilt education. The meetings feature lessons on quilting techniques, fabric history, and finishing methods. Guest speakers sometimes present on quilting traditions from around the world or showcase antique quilts.
Sit and sews are held at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Fridays every month at the Callahan Masonic Lodge, where anybody can work on quilting projects.
The nonprofit organization currently supports three charities. Small lap quilts are made for the Pinky Promise Foundation. The group makes pillowcases for the children’s hospital through Ryan’s Case for Smiles and The Nest.
In addition, the group contributes to the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national organization that covers service members and veterans with comforting quilts.
The guild’s generous work is supported in part by an annual fundraiser, which is a group-made quilt that’s raffled off in the fall. Members come together to design, piece, and finish the quilt, and proceeds go directly toward their charities.
But for some members, it’s not just about the service.
“It’s the socialization, the women, and learning new things,” said Talak. “My mother used to (quilt), but she passed away before she could teach me. So I joined so I could learn how to do it.”
She hopes more young people will discover quilting and the guild. “Younger folks with boxes of old T-shirts, that’s a great way to start,” Talak said. “T-shirt quilts are so popular right now.”
For those interested in joining or learning more, the guild invites the community to stop by a sit and sew or attend a Monday evening meeting. It costs $30 a year to be a member of the guild.
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned quilter, there’s a seat at the table – and likely a quilt in the making.