Community

The Chambersburg Quilt Guild offers something for everyone! Members can choose to participate in any or all activities that help individuals grow in the art of quilt making. Many of our projects involve giving back to the community.

Activities

Challenge

Participants use the same starting idea given by the committee to make their own creations. The challenge could be a theme, a color, a pattern, or a method. The finished pieces are revealed at the May meeting.

Christmas Exchange Block

A Christmas Block is decided on by the committee. Kits with directions will be available for sale for a nominal fee. All completed blocks turned in by the December meeting will be given away in a drawing for all who participated.

Christmas Tea

Everyone participates in our annual event planned by the Tea Committee for fellowship and fun at the December meeting.

Friendship Block

Each year the membership honors the outgoing President with a set of signature blocks. Kits contain two blocks so the extra will be given away in a drawing at the May meeting.

Secret Quilting Friend

A Secret Quilting Friend is assigned to each member who signs up for this activity. Each month the secret quilting friend brings a quilting gift as designated by the committee. They might include an extra treat or remember a birthday. Benefactors are revealed at the May meeting.

Mystery Quilt

Participants follow step-by-step instructions to complete a quilt top, not knowing what the result will be until the very end. This is done every other guild year beginning in September of an even year. The finished pieces are revealed at the May meeting.

The Raffle Quilt

The Raffle Quilt is an annual major fund-raising project for the guild. The committee selects a design, prepares kits and distributes kits to volunteer members for individual construction. Completed blocks are assembled and the completed project is quilted. All members are asked to sell tickets as well as help sell tickets at various events through the year. The quilt is then raffled off. A portion of the proceeds go to a community organization or charity selected annually by vote of the membership. As of 2024, $47,100 has been donated back to our community. The remainder of the proceeds goes toward workshops and education for our guild members.

Round Robin

Participants make their own center block which is passed each month to another member for the next segment. Members will not see their own blocks again until the big reveal in May. This is done alternate quilt years beginning in September of an odd year.

Quilt Show

The Chambersburg Quilt Guild produces a lovely quilt show every other year. There is no charge for this event. This is our opportunity to share quilts and the art of quilt making within the community. We display between 100 and 150 quilts and other quilted items. We encourage you to come and enjoy this functional and stunning art form. There are quilting demonstrations, a boutique table and raffle quilt ticket sales. This event is a great fundraiser for the guild so that we can have wonderful programs throughout the year.

Bus Trip

A bus trip to a quilt show in Pa. and nearby states is sponsored by the Guild. Details are announced at the meetings and in The Bee Line.

Retreat

The Guild sponsors two retreats a year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. They are held at the Byers Conference Center in Roxbury, Pa. The basic package is from Friday through Sunday afternoon with 4 meals provided, but there are various options to start your stay as early as Tuesday or just come for the day. This is a great opportunity to meet members, get to know them better, devote time to quilting and have a great time. Select the Retreat option on the website for additional information.

Other Activities

Demonstrations

The Chambersburg Quilt Guild has set up quilting demonstrations and displays of completed quilts at local events.

Area Clubs and Sewing Get-Togethers:

Our members participate in several clubs meeting in the Chambersburg area. Click here to see a list of clubs with meeting and contact information.

Applique/Quilting Bee Club:
Meeting at: Menno Haven Northgate Building
Contact Person: Mim Huffman
Meeting Day/Time: First Monday of the month, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Club Description: Appliquers and quilters work on their own and/or a group project. The former daytime Quilt Bees merged with the Applique Club. This is a time for sharing techniques and the latest notions to help make applique and quilting easier.

Second Tuesday Book Club:
Meeting at: Grove Family Library
Contact Person: Cindy Kramer – kwiltn@comcast.net
Meeting Day/Time: Second Tuesday, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Club Description: Read and discuss varied books, which are suggested by the club members. You do not have to belong to the CQG to join. All are welcome. We usually meet for lunch at 12:30 PM, then go to the Grove Library to talk about the book that was read, though we don’t all read the book. This is open to anyone interested. Please let us know so we can send you the book list and restaurant details.

K.I.S.S. – Keep It Sew Simple:
Meeting at: Various locations
Contact Person: Mary Diner
Meeting Day/Time: varies
Club Description: K.I.S.S. is a gathering held in the Gettysburg area at a group member’s home for friendship, sharing, and working on individual projects. Attendees are welcome to share techniques and skills. Everyone brings their own project. Get togethers vary from month to month. Communication is by Facebook or email.

Quilts of Valor Local Chapter:
Meeting at: Various locations
Contact Person: Terri Klear
Meeting Day/Time: varies
Club Description: The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. Everyone is invited to bring your sewing machine and sew QOV Quilts for our service men and women.

Sewing get-togethers such as for National Quilting Day in March and Make a Difference Day in October are used to make quilts or items to be donated.

Charities

Baby Quilts

Children’s quilts are made by members and donated throughout the year. These quilts are given to various organizations and distributed to those in need. They are made with care and sized 36” by 40” (toddlers), 40” by 60” (Elementary), or twin size (middle & high school). Quilts must be quilted, not tied. Quilts and crocheted or knitted blankets will be donated to Adams County Project Linus. No wool, please.

Doll Quilts

Doll Quilts are created by members for “Toys for Tots” and distributed by the Marine Corps during the holiday season. Size is 18” by 18”, however, they can be larger, and they can be square or rectangle. Approximately 100 or more are created and donated by our membership each year.

Committees

Nominating

This committee chooses nominees for office for the following year and presents them for approval by the membership at the April meeting with installation in May.

Sunshine Committee

The Sunshine Chair sends cards and coordinates the distribution of Sunshine Quilts.

Projects

The Franklin County Quilt Documentation Project was a 5-year collaboration between the Chambersburg Quilt Guild and members of the Franklin County, Pa. community. The Guild undertook this multiple year project to document quilts made before 1950 and currently residing in Franklin County. Sites were set up to register, document histories and photograph quilts for the publication of a book. This book, “Quilt Treasures of Yesteryear” was completed and published in 2009. A committee formed from the membership, the board and the documentation committee met to recommend disbursements of proceeds from book sales. A total of $14,800 was given to organizations within our community. We gifted approximately 60 books to libraries, secondary schools, historical societies and museums in the area. Use contact page to email for more information about this publication