BEMIDJI BONDS: A pattern of togetherness

Both Margaret McNea and Helenruth Schuette say they could spend an entire day at their sewing machines.
The two have a deep love for quilting, and through the Headwaters Quilt Guild, have found a way to help others through their hobby.
The Headwaters Quilt Guild consists of 70 members who meet on a monthly basis working to promote the appreciation of quiltmaking, sponsor and support quilting activities for charity and to gain knowledge of quilting basics, including techniques, patterns and history.
McNea and Schuette are the co-chairs of the organization.
Before each meeting, the guild holds an open sewing time for a variety of different projects.
“In the past, we have made blankets for Project Linus (for sick children) or someone may teach a class,” McNea said.
The group has used the time to sew aprons for volunteers in the home arts building during the Beltrami County Fair, sewing pillowcases for local organizations or quilts for the dialysis center at local hospitals.
The group recently made 20 quilts for the national Quilts of Valor organization, “which would like to see every military person receive a quilt, retired or active, the families of those who have died in service,” Schuette said.
Before they donated, the quilts were displayed at the 2015 Quilt Show, a biennial event hosted by the group. The show featured more than 200 quilts made by both guild and community members.
Each monthly meeting ends with Show and Tell, where members can show off their recently completed projects.
“It’s to inspire other people in the organization to do some quilting and it also shows how you can put different colors together and get a different outcome. You can take three quilts with the same pattern and they look so different, just by the choices of the fabric,” McNea said.
Besides working to help the community through the organization, both McNea and Schuette agreed that the group is a great resource when one needs help figuring out a challenging quilting technique.
“You ask a question and somebody knows the answer and can show you. That’s how I learn, I can read it but it’s easier if someone shows you, I’m a visual learner,” Schuette said.
Another benefit is the friendships created.
“I certainly enjoy the friendships that I have made,” McNea said. “Visiting with the people in the organization, they love to share their ideas. It’s just so much fun.”
The Headwaters Quilt Guild meets at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at Neilson Place with the open sewing session beginning at 3 p.m.