Sharing passion benefits others

By Petrina Wright | Posted: Friday March 8, 2024

Twenty vibrant patchwork quilts in a multitude of eye-catching designs and patterns will soon find a warm welcome in the homes of Southland families in need.

Family Works was gifted the quilts last week (Feb 28) from long-standing donor ET Patchwork Circle to pass on to families being supported by the service.

Family Works director Judith McInerney met with members of the group recently.

“We always knew the quilts were made with love but meeting members of the group in person, seeing them in action and hearing from them why they do this for our families was special,” she said.

“Many of the children we work with will not only be warmer this winter, but they will be surrounded by a quilt made with love.”

ET Patchwork Circle is an Invercargill-based sewing group formed three years ago.

ET Patchwork Circle member Linda Marshall said the group was named in honour of their founding member Errolyn Taane who was their inspiration to continue her work after she passed away.

The group initially made quilts to give to Colombian refugee families upon resettlement in the city. Now they donated quilts to clients of Southland charities and community groups, including Ronald McDonald House, South Alive, NKMP, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and of course Family Works.

Fabric for the quilts is donated by the community.

Linda said they had created more than 300 patchwork quilts for the community in the past three years.

Their motivation?

“We just love sewing,” she said.