A stitch in time

by Mary Ducharme  (February 2014)

“Thank you so much for the beautiful bright and cheery lap quilt you gave me while I was in the Barrie.”. . . “the quilt not only brightens up his hospital bed but the whole room.” …”Bob has it on his legs now on the recliner chair.”

Grateful memories, untold moments of quiet comfort, enjoyment and friendship are part of the legacy of the Barrington Quilters.

Documents from the organization recently donated to the Archives records seven and a half decades since the quilters began as a unit of the Red Cross in 1940. They were formed to make quilts for the soldiers of World War II. After the war, the quilters continued to meet in their homes until 1964 when the quilters moved to the Old Convent in Hemmingford and continued their work for twenty more years before returning the quilting bees to the homes of the members.

Quilters have a passion for their craft, plying miles of tiny stitches, transforming scraps of fabric into beautiful creations. Around the quilting frame they become fast friends – sharing lifetimes of hardships and joys and humour. Several organizations are among the long-time beneficiaries of the Barrington Quilters, among them the Montreal Children’s Hospital, the Barrie, The Welcome Hall Mission, the Hemmingford Fire Service and the Ambulance Service. As an example of the extent of the contribution, cash receipts from a quilt raffle during the annual Firemen’s Breakfast often generate over a thousand dollars.