A Brief History
The South Shore Stitchers was created in the fall of 1985 by Peggy Della Porta of Upper Township. She felt there were many people in the area interested in quilting to start a local guild.The club grew quickly and in 2004 reached over 100 members.The purpose of South Shore Stitchers is to preserve the heritage of quilting, be a source of information and inspiration, and be a gathering point for people with a common interest in quilt making.
Meetings are held at the Tuckahoe United Methodist Church, 112 State Highway 49 in Tuckahoe, on the second Monday of each month.Visitors are welcome. Doors open at 6:00 pm and the meeting begins at 6:30 pmQuilt Shows
The South Shore Stitchers Quilt Show is held every two years during mid-October over three days at the Upper Twp. Community Building in Cape May County New Jersey. The next show is scheduled for Oct. 18th, 19th, and 20th, 2024.- For information contact the Guild email: southshorestitchersguild@gmail.com
Comfort Quilts
The group completes an average of 12 quilts each month.
The group averages from 13 to 17 members attending each month. About 120 individuals participate throughout the year. Almost all of the fabric is donated.Alma Flippen organized the first workshop at the library. Then, in 1994, Merry May started workshops at the Church in Tuckahoe.Workshops have been held ever since, making at least 100 quilts per year.The Comfort Quilts are given to police departments for aid in domestic situations, Shore Memorial Hospital, Health Care and Home Care organizations, fire departments, nursing homes, and anyone who needs one.Monthly workshops: Crazy Lady Stitching is part of the guild. They meet on the fourth Monday of the month from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Linwood Library. They work on their own individual projects and help each other as needed. They share fabrics and trims. They stitch together and socialize. Come join us for a fun time of stitching and fellowship.
Events
April:
April meeting we had several hands-on projects for our 2026 Quilt Show's Boutique Table. We made: crocheted candy canes, Sushi Pin Cushions, a Snowman ornament with a powder puff, Hearts-a-Ticking kits (with Buttons!), and Pumpkin Pin Cushion. Thank you to our volunteer instructors, as well as to those who stayed to make the little projects. We hope to see some of them at our Boutique Table at the Quilt Show! (Hint, hint!)May:
Be sure to sign up for the May Collage Quilt on Monday, May 12 with Lynn Wheatley. You only have a few more days, and you will want to review the Supply List. Lynn is a trained instructor for Laura Heine. To see some of the designs and to pre-order either the patterns or kits, please visit Fiberworks-Heine.com The workshop is $40 for members, $50 for non-members, and you do NOT need to bring your sewing machine. Irons and SMALL ironing pads will be helpful, as well as extension cords and surge strips. And don't forget to bring your lunch. Contact Laurann Cacioppo to sign up.We'll have a second workshop in May at the Petersburg (Upper Twp) Library on Wed., May 21 from 9 am to 1 pm. The project will be a no-slip tea towel. Contact Laurann to sign up, or sign up at the May meeting.June:
Our June meeting will include the introduction of the new Quilt Show Challenge, so don't miss it!! Even non-sewers can participate in this one; just saying.We are including a Boutique Table Pattern of the Month in our Virtual email, so please look for it and actually MAKE it if you can, to donate to the Boutique Table. If you want to get started early, here is the link for this month's project: https://weallsew.com/cat-zipper-pouch-tutorial/ This can count towards your required six Boutique Table items.
Tips & Resources:
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Hanging Sleeve:
Hanging a quilt is a great way to display it, but you should protect the quilt by hanging it properly. Nails,
staples, and tacks cause rusting and tearing, and put stress on the fabric. A popular hanging method is to slip
a dowel or curtain rod through a sleeve sewn to the backing. This distributes weight and strain evenly across the quilt width. Any quilt that is 60” or more wide needs a hanging sleeve for the quilt show. The rod from which the quilt will hang is 94” wide. If your quilt is wider than
that, make your sleeve about 92-93” wide and center it. This way your quilt will hang flat. If your sleeve is more than 93” the quilt will hang with gathers.
To make a sleeve:
1. Cut a fabric (muslin works well, or match your backing fabric) strip 9" wide and as long as the top edge of the quilt. Piece strips as needed to achieve desired length.
2. On each end of the strip, turn under 1⁄2”; then turn under another 1”. Topstitch to hem both ends.
3. With wrong sides facing, fold the strip in half lengthwise. Sew the long edges together with a 1⁄2” seam allowance, leaving the ends open.
4. Press seam allowances open, turn and open the tube. Press the tube flat. On the back side, press in another crease 1" down from the top crease.
5. With the tube against the backing, center the sleeve just below the binding and pin. Hand-sew sleeve
to backing along bottom crease. No stitches should show on the front.
6. Remove pins and fold the top of the sleeve along the second crease. Hand-stitch the second crease in
place on the backing. (See diagram). This “pleat” allows for more fullness to accommodate the bulk of the dowel and the quilt will hang flat on the front side.
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We had an amazing quilt show this year, and we couldn't have done it without your support! Thank you so much for being a part of it!
For more information and to see pictures, please click this link.
Things Our Guild Members Have Made.
