Scraps of fabric are not often seen as components of art. However, when stitched together, they become a creative testament to the spirit and history of America.
The Delectable Mountain Quilters Guild will celebrate their 30th anniversary, and the history of quilting at a “bed turning” on Thursday at the Steamboat Springs Community Center, located at 1605 S. Lincoln Ave.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
The bed turning will feature quilts that have been made and collected by members of the DMQG. There will also be a presentation of the still developing history of quilting.
The guild, which currently operates as a 501(c)3, was formed in 1994 with the goal of preserving “the tradition, culture and history of quilting and to promote the knowledge and understanding of the art of quilting through continuing education.”
Founder Beth Soderquist, along with 45 other individuals from throughout the Yampa Valley, formed the organization. By 1999, their membership had grown to over 100. After rotating meetings throughout Steamboat, Hayden and Craig, the guild moved their meetings to the Steamboat Community Center in 2008. The early days of the guild featured events that still endure as part of their operating principle.
The group has worked with other regional organizations and businesses, including the Colorado Quilting Council, local schools, Tread of Pioneers Museum and Casey’s Pond. Their works have also been displayed at Art in the Park, the Routt County Fair and in the capitol building in Denver.
DMQG Publicity Chairwoman Maria Bidgood has been interested in arts and crafts since her youth. Her curiosity eventually developed into a love for sewing. Her skills were put to good use, as she would create gifts for loved ones as opposed to purchasing them. One day, after seeing that there was a local quilters guild, Bidgood attended a quilting class where she “fell in love” with the process.
She recalled how she inherited a box of fabric scraps after her mother-in-law passed away. Those scraps would come to be a doll quilt for Bidgood’s daughter, and though it was not technically perfect, it came to hold immense memorial power for her.
Since joining, Bidgood has worked extensively with DMQG and became its president in 2014 and 2015.
Bidgood explained that quilting is as old as the United States itself and that its origins were rooted in necessity. For American pioneers, they had to be frugal and use every piece of fabric that they had.
“The worn out dress became a couple of patches in the blanket that the mother would make,” Bidgood said. “It was a great way to recycle.”
In 1976, the bicentennial of the founding of the United States saw a reemergence of the popularity of quilting as Americans sought to reconnect with the colonial roots of the nation. Shortly thereafter, quilting groups began to once again come together. These groups mirrored the “quilting bees” of the early colonial era, when women would come together around a stand or rack and create a quilt collectively. These events served as socialization opportunities in addition to an artistic outlet.
Bidwell explained that over time quilting “became more of an artform” with the development of different styles of quilts including modern quilts, art quilts and traditional quilts which feature certain patterns that sewers follow.
“It’s expanded to all sorts of outlets for the artists,” she said. “There are a lot of variations in the quilting world nowadays.”
In addition to quilting bees, both modern and colonial quilters would host “bed turnings.” This event, which was generally hosted by married women, would revolve around the host piling a variety of quilts on her bed and turning them down one at a time while talking about each quilt, its history, the fabric and how it was made.
The DMQC event on May 16, which is the group’s first bed turning, is inspired by such events of the past.
The quilts that will be on display will include antique quilts, as well as those created by the guild over the course of its history.
For Bidgood, the event holds immense power, as those who present their quilts share sentimental stories of how each individual patch came to be. These precious souvenirs form a woven memory, both individually and collectively, of years past.
“You can relate to the fabric as you are telling the story,” Bidgood said. “Fabric is addictive if you talk to some of the women who are in our guild.”
Through the bed turning and similar events, the guild hopes to build their presence in the art community of the Yampa Valley while also forming an awareness of the historical and artistic significance that surrounds quilting.
“These quilts are artforms in themselves,” Bidgood said.
The diversity of the group has grown to include more young people. Members are joining to celebrate their love of sewing, quiltmaking, and because of what Bidgood calls the “camaraderie” that the group has. She hopes that next week’s bed turning will contribute to the revival of quilting in the area while growing membership, showcasing skills and promoting education.
“We are very welcoming,” Bidgood said. “They love to see what other members have done so they get encouraged to continue sewing.”
For more information, contact Bidgood at 970-819-4790 or by emailing bcbidgood1@gmail.com.
