Inside Del Rio's Amistad Quilters

June 16, 2008
By Stacy S. Jensen
Special to LIVE!

They piece things together -- whether it's a small scrap or a large strip of fabric. The Amistad Quilters use their talents, special techniques and imagination to create quilts for themselves, family members and friends. Many times these "fabric-aholics" make quilts for strangers and charities that offer comfort through a quilt made with loving hands.

"It's an art we thought was dying, but it's coming back with a vengeance," Sara Castle said. Most of the members of the Amistad Quilters are veterans, but novices are welcome, including men.

Castle began quilting as many women did. She was trying to find an answer to "What to do with the fabric scraps?" The scraps were from sewing her children's clothes.

Amistad Quilters formed in the 1980s. Founding member Marguerite Chanslor said the group decided to form to teach and meet on Saturdays, "so the working girls could come." The group has grown a lot. The membership changes as people move away.

"Most of these are all new," she said looking around the meeting room at Central Church of Christ. "It varies. We get new ones and they bring friends. That makes it nice."

Chanslor moved away about seven years ago. Today, she sells quilts at her store Quilts, Etc. by Marguerite in Terlingua. She specializes in quilts made in Big Bend Country including those made by members of Amistad Quilters.

Chanslor is able to return to the group in June and December. She began quilting after her husband retired. She is always quilting now. "I'm just busy all the time."

The focus of the meetings has changed through the years. Castle said they used to sew together. Now there are "mini lessons," a show and tell segment and a potluck lunch. Some members do hand piecing and others use machines.

The group is a mixture of women from Del Rio and Brackettville areas as well as some "winter visitors."

Joan Freeman lives south of Dallas. She typically is a winter visitor, but has stayed longer this year. Her mother gave her a quilt top and she took classes to learn how to quilt. "I'm kind of slow. I finished three this year," she said. Freeman said she quilts every day. Her husband is a fisherman, "so I have time."

Virgie Burke of Del Rio makes special quilts representing each holiday to be donated to a newborn at Val Verde Regional Medical Center. She's a member of the hospital's auxiliary. She's working on her Fourth of July quilt.

The retired nurse said she joined the quilters group this year. "I just fit right in," she said. Burke has earned the nickname "rebel," because she doesn't always color in the lines. "I don't follow patterns," she said. She may use a basic pattern, but she changes it up to meet her needs.

Burke, who came from a quilting family, likes the way the group shares ideas and sometimes holds classes.

Lesley Jones of Fort Clark makes quilts for charity. Some years she makes 40. At the June 14, 2008 meeting, she had a strip quilt, which was formed with small strips of fabric. "It's very simple," she said as she works on tacking it on the back. "This is one of my first ones to tie."

She donates her quilts to an agency that helps young mothers. Some don't have anything to wrap their babies in for the ride home from the hospital. "I've always done some type of social ministry in my church," she said. "I just feel like that's something I can do for others." Jones said she would love to see a child wadding up one of her quilts and enjoying it.

Jones began quilting a few years ago. A friend in her RV club moved to Fort Clark. Members of the 400 chapter of the Holiday Ramblers would make six-hour quilts and donate to charities. Jones said many in the group donate quilts to hospitals, nursing homes and charities.

Alicia Reymer of Brackettville has been quilting for more than 10 years. "I come here to join the girls," she said. "I started with them." She makes most of her quilts by machine. She learned to quilt when she retired, because she wanted to do something for herself. "This is the most relaxing thing for me. It's therapy."

"I quilt almost every day. Even if it is just 10 stitches," she said. "It's an addiction." Reymer makes about 20 quilts a year. She sells some of her creations, but it is hard to let them go. "They're like my children. You love them for so long, you don't want to (part with them)."

Castle has a studio at home and has a machine to do the quilting. She helped with the group's quilt that recently won awards at the Marathon Quilt Guild Show. The group effort won the people's choice award and first place for appliqué. Chanslor will sell it at her store in Terlingua. Proceeds will be donated to the Central Church of Christ, which allows them to meet at their building once a month. Members made individual blocks for the quilt.

Virgie Burke of Del Rio is a retired nurse. This Fourth of July quilt will be given to a baby born at Val Verde Regional Medical Center. She makes a quilt for each holiday, which is donated by the hospital's auxiliary. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy S. Jensen) (click image to enlarge)

The Amistad Quilters group worked on this award-winning quilt together. Holding the Cowboy Trail pattern are, from left, Elsie Turbeville and Virgie Burke. Turbeville said the group will sell the quilt and donate fund to the Central Church of Christ, which allows them to meet at their building once a month. Members made individual blocks for the quilt. The quilt won people's choice and first place for appliqué at the Marathon Quilt Guild show. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy S. Jensen) (click image to enlarge)

 

 Castle said she has made more than 600 quilts over the last 10 years. She also teaches people to learn to quilt. Quilting is a misnomer, she said, because a person really pieces the fabric together. Quilting finishes the quilt.

Castle said quilting is a very addictive habit. "All of us are fabric-aholics," she said. Visit their homes and you'll find fabric stacked up like their own personal fabric shops.

Amistad Quilters will have a quilt show at the end of the year. For information about the group, call Castle at (830) 313-0097 or e-mail her at saramcastle@earthlink.net.