The Vaal Triangle Quilters Guild has been in existence for over 25 years and currently boasts two founding members who recently received awards from the South African National Quilting Guild.

Trienie Krugel and Elsa Brits have won numerous awards nationally and internationally for their quilts and have played key roles at the National Guild Committees ensuring that Quilters in South Africa stay up-to-date with the international trends and that the rest of the world get to see the amazing talent in South Africa.

The quality and standard of quilts made is extremely high, but local meetings are filled with laughter and excitement to see what has been created from pieces of material.

Ideas and techniques are lovingly shared, so no matter what level of knowledge you have, you are made to feel welcome and special.
Outreach programmes.

Fifty pillowlike dolls and teddies were made to bring comfort the Lewenslig Sentrum for handicapped adults. The center provides training, stimulation and care for mentally handicapped adults. Many of them have been abandoned by their family and live permanently in their home.

“It was a humbling and heart-warming experience to see their smiles on receiving their very own unique dolls,” says Vaal Triangle Quilting Guild Chairlady Ronel Fick.

The SAP Family and Child Protection Units in Vereeniging also face a difficult task daily. It was felt that their office could be made more comfortable for victims. Therefore new couch covers were donated, and cheerful quilts were made. The Quilters also help make dolls, jerseys and teddies that can be given to victims.

The quilters also did not forget about the elderly in our community.

They decided to make special “fidget blankets” for dementia patients that fit onto their laps with all kinds of tactile and sensory attachments that will help calm them and give them something to do.

Fifty colourful fidget blankets were donated to the Jeugland Old Home.

“Our eyes filled with tears and our hearts with empathy as the blankets were handed out. Some patients clutched them ever so closely hopefully experiencing the love with which they were made,” says Ronel.

The words of Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations: “To educate girls is to reduce poverty”, also hit home for the quilters.

“In South Africa many teenage girls miss school as a result of the lack of personal sanitary supplies. Organizations are working hard to change this situation for our girls and we applaud them,” says Ronel.

The Quilters felt that the girls needed a pretty but discreet little bag to put their sanitary supplies into. Quilt Sew Shop together with Juki sewing machines, donated material and made sewing machines available to the quilters to sew these little bags.

This resulted in 500 beautifully made little bags, specially packed with sanitary ware. Judy Roux who is also involved in teaching primary school children how to use a sewing machine, has been taking these little bags to schools in the Vaal Triangle. They have been greatly appreciated.

Quilt guild meetings are held once every third month.

For more information on the Vaal Triangle Quilting Guild contact Chairlady Ronel Fick at ronel.cp.fick@gmail.com