newsminer.com

Braving 40 below temperatures, Fairbanks area quilters descended on Chena Hot Springs Resort last weekend for the 20th session of Quilting in the Snow.

Loaded down with sewing machines, fabrics, sewing tools and UFOs (unfinished objects), 59 quilters made their way to the end of Chena Hot Springs Road for two days of quilting, eating, and soaking in the hot springs — a tradition that began in 1989.

What draws quiltmakers to the isolated resort in the dead of winter is a passion for fabric and mixing with others who share the same fervor for the needle art.

Each year, quilters take over a large section of the resort’s main building. They set up long tables and snake extension cords over the thick, richly patterned carpet to power sewing machines, irons and portable lights.

By late afternoon Friday, the whir of sewing machines filled the air, overcast with laughter and chatter as the women enthusiastically kicked off a weekend of joyful sewing.

Why do quilters abandon hearth and home, lugging tons of equipment back and forth?

“It’s the camaraderie,” said Barbara Doogan, who has organized Quilting in the Snow for the last eight years. “I don’t get much done, I’m too busy socializing.”

“It’s the only time we get to visit. There are no distractions; no husband or work calling you up to bother you.”

Doogan’s view is shared by the women in attendance who paid $250 apiece to share in the weekend event.

“There’s something about the energy of the group that makes mundane things like ripping out a seam more pleasant,” explained Julie Scott. “Someone makes a joke and you go on.”

But conversation isn’t always relegated to quilting.

“This is the first year we talked politics,” said Scott, referring to the women quilting in her area inspired by the presidential primaries. “Usually we don’t talk about politics and religion, but this year it’s so interesting.”

•••

Throughout the large work area fabric abounds in colorful explosions — stacked on tables, spilling out of bags and baskets. The multi-toned hues and diverse designs are as varied and unique as the quiltmakers themselves.

But quilters aren’t limited to grandmas.

A random sampling turned up women of all ages, from all walks of life. As different as they are, they all share a common thread — quilting.

Teachers topped the list, both working and retired, as well as a coterie of nurses.

Other occupations ranged from a speech and language pathologist to bookseller, youth therapist, bus driver, financial consultant, interim dean, pharmacist, customer service manager, financial officer and human resources consultant.

Four ironing stations and an equal number of cutting tables overlaid with gridded cutting mats were placed strategically around the room’s perimeter. In one corner a large round table overflowed with favorite snacks provided by the quilters.

Doogan keeps an eye out for open rotary cutters, a fabric-cutting tool similar to a pizza slicer, and policed tables with Band-Aids at the ready. Whenever she saw a quilter who had carelessly left a rotary cutter blade unlatched she handed out a Band-Aid.

“I figure if they don’t need a Band-Aid now, they will soon,” she said.

Throughout the day, quilters took breaks whenever the spirit moved them — some to cross-country ski, others to take a nap, soak in a hot tub or keep an appointment with the resort’s masseuse.

Sub-zero temperatures didn’t phase the hardy quilters. If a plug-in wasn’t available they’d brave the cold and start up their vehicle from time to time to keep it from freezing up.

Intermingled among the area women were a few out-of-towners hailing from Chicago, Los Angeles, Wisconsin and the nation’s Capitol.

Lt. Col. Kit Ryan, now caring for “wounded warriors” in Washington, D.C., was a member of the Cabin Fever Quilters Guild when she was stationed at Fort Wainwright, before being shipped out to Iraq. This is the second year the Army nurse has returned to Fairbanks for Quilting in the Snow and to see old friends and quilting buddies.

Ryan said she enjoys quilting because it has nothing to do with the Army or nursing. “And like anything else in life, if you do it right all the pieces fit when you’re done,” she added.

•••

Each day of the quilt-in had special classes available for those who wanted them.

Friday night started out with a small project. On Saturday, quilters had the choice of making one of two quilts.

“Twenty Something” — made up of 20 different fabrics, is a simple pieced block quilt chosen in keeping with this year’s 20th anniversary theme.

A Mystery Quilt, another popular choice available each year, was led by Jamie DeVries.

“It’s just fun,” said DeVries. “All the steps come sealed in an envelope. Even the instructor doesn’t know what it looks like.”

Saturday morning participants were handed the first clue and proceeded from there. By the end of the day, if they stayed on task and worked through all eight clues they completed a lap-sized quilt top.

DeVries enjoys seeing the results. Although the pattern is the same, each quilter uses different fabrics producing a unique quilt.

Sunday morning’s project was a handy tote bag that could be made in three size, but participants are under no obligation to take any of the classes offered.

Independent quilters kept busy sewing personal quilt projects, while others plied beading or knitting needles to while away the time.

On Saturday evening a couple of Japanese tourists happened upon Janet Jacobs laying out an elegant wall hanging — block by block — on the floor of a nearby sitting room. Soon she had an audience of half a dozen excited Japanese women who had ventured into the main quilting area.

Needlework has no language barrier. As the foreign visitors waded around quilters’ tables heaped with half-done projects, quilters graciously returned their interest with smiles and nods of their own as they showed off their current projects.

•••

The five dozen women attending Quilting in the Snow are but a fraction of the number of quilters in the greater Fairbanks area who support three locally-owned quilt shops as well as several chain stores.

The beginnings of a quilting subculture in the Interior dates back to 1979 with the formation of the Cabin Fever Quilters Guild, which sponsors Quilting in the Snow.

Guild members make quilts for their families, as well as donating quilts to various non-profit organizations around town to raffle off as fundraisers, and to comfort individuals who suffer house fires and abuse victims.

Throughout the weekend quilters indulged in the hot springs’ indoor pool, Jacuzzis and outdoors rock lake to melt the kinks out of backs, wrists, fingers, and arms gained from hours of power sewing.

“My favorite thing is to be in the lake, floating on my back with the temperature at 25 below and watching the stars,” said Doogan who has attended 19 of the 20 Quilting in the Snow sessions.

The weekend getaway is a bright spot in the middle of the dark winter. It’s a time of renewal and restoration within the comforting folds of quilts.

Dana Bowne spent the majority of the weekend hand-sewing colorful fabric leaves onto a wall quilt, a third in a series of seasonal wall quilts of her own design. Quilting friends talked her into signing up for event.

“I really had a good time. I’m definitely planning on going again.,” she said.