Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild

The guild is actively involved in various outreach projects providing comforting quilts and quilted items to many in need in the local community. Examples of past and present projects include lap quilts for the Carleton Home, placemats for the Meals on Wheels Program, pillowcases for the Northern Tier Children’s Home, table toppers for the Shared Home, cage comforters for the local PSPCA, and Project Linus quilts for local children in need.

The Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild Youth Sewing Group was formed by the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild in an effort to pass on the art of sewing and quilting to the youth of Tioga County, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. It met once a month on the third Saturday of the month at the Masonic Lodge on Kelsey Street in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania for three and one-half years.

Along with a group of volunteers from the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild, the MLQG Youth Sewing Group was led by Moddy Maneval, Youth Outreach Chairperson for the MLQG. She was assisted by Susan McConnell. The group is non-profit and totally sponsored through the generous donations of guild members and other members of the community.

Since the group was formed in April of 2005 it grew to a membership of twenty children between the ages of seven and seventeen, with an average attendance of twelve at any given meeting.

Members of the MLQG Youth Sewing Group were taught the basics of using a sewing machine, accurate measuring, rotary cutting, piecing and quilting. The group completed numerous small projects including notebook covers, drawstring bags, Christmas stockings and pillows. In addition, several members completed full sized quilts of their own.

Besides learning the fundamentals of sewing and quilting the MLQG Youth Sewing Group also participated in outreach and charity projects. In September and October of 2005 the group worked together to make three full size quilts that were donated to victims of Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi and Louisiana. The group also regularly donated crib size quilts to Project Linus, which supplies handmade quilts and blankets to hospitalized and needy children in Tioga County.

When a guild member is facing a long-term illness and treatment, guild members volunteer to make her a “hug quilt” to keep her comforted during the illness and to let her know that her MLQG quilting sisters are sending their thoughts and prayers to her for a speedy recovery. The Outreach Chairperson coordinates the work of guild members who make 6 1/2-inch heart blocks which are then put together into a quilt.