Members of the Chester PieceMakers Quilt Guild heard from some special guests during their November meeting: six students from Lake Almanor Christian School offered a presentation on a quilt they had made during their Life Skills class. Under the direction of their teacher, Pame’ Bates, also a guild member, the students each spoke about their group quilting experience.
Bates explained that the students’ project was motivated by the concept of giving back. The students voted in October on what project to make for an auction supporting their school. “Giving is part of our mission here at the school and whatever we can give helps support our school,” said Bates. They chose to assemble a gift basket as well as create a quilt.
Students in the Life Skills class learn how to follow step-by-step instructions for making specific items, said Bates. “Sewing on the quilt helped teach the students that making sewn items can be time-consuming and complicated,” she said. “They all universally loved the design and piecing of the top.” Though the students did not like how long it took to complete the quilt — over two months — they were proud of the finished product, she said.
Students said that they felt some of them were better at sewing and cutting than others, according to Bates. However, she said that laughing over having to take squares apart and redo them was an example of “learning with a positive attitude.”
The students learned more than simply sewing skills during the process of working on their quilt project. Among the comments Bates reported from students: “The quilt process helped me pay attention to detail, that making items takes patience,” and “Sewing teaches us about how to follow a plan to achieve the desired result.” After experiencing the process of quilting, the students are now interested in making other items.
In order to prepare for their presentation to the PieceMakers, students wrote a paragraph on their quilting experience and analyzed the process. They then conveyed their reflections to guild members during the meeting. Bates said students felt that speaking at the meeting improved their “confidence and presentation skills.” “They want to go back to PieceMakers and bring some of the items they have crocheted, sewn and perhaps the pajama pants we are currently sewing in Life Skills,” said Bates.
In making their quilt, the students used fabric that was donated over the years. Bates contributed thread and a sewing machine. “We always can use fabric donations,” said Bates, “and the guild offered to support us in that manner if we make another quilted item.” To donate fabric, email Pame’ Bates at [email protected].
The Chester PieceMakers group has been active for over 25 years. It currently has 55 members. Those who are in the area meet the second Monday of every month except December at the Almanor Recreation Center at 101 Meadowbrook Loop in Chester. The next meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 8, 2024. All are welcome. Learn more about the guild at https://www.facebook.com/groups/658864017648610/.
Lake Almanor Christian School is a private school in Hamilton Branch. Learn more at http://lakechurch.life/our-school.
