"Needlers" Award Quilt

L to R: Kathleen Y. RNQG guild member from Medway, Pat Scafidi Raffle Quilt Winner from
Milford and RNQG President Lisa Steinka from Franklin upon presentation of the Raffle Quilt at The Quilt Tree quilt shop in Medway, where the winning ticket was sold.

Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild (RNQG) announces Pat Scafidi of Milford as the winner of the 2022/2023 Raffle quilt “Blue Plate Specials”! Pat purchased her winning ticket at the new Quilt Tree Quilt Shop owned by Beth Blackman in Medway.

RNQG members gathered at the shop to present the quilt to Pat. Raffle Quilt Chairperson Carol C. of Dover pointed out artistic and design elements of the quilt to Pat and her friend Mary. Medway RNQG member Kathleen Y. explained how the quilt was collaboratively made by 35 members of the guild using favorite and meaningful fabrics from their stashes, and pointed out the square that she created with the story behind some of the fabrics.

Guild president Lisa Steinka. of Franklin thanked Pat for purchasing raffle tickets and expressed gratitude to Beth and all the other quilt shop owners for highlighting the quilt in their shop for a month over the previous year - it is this support and community network that assisted the guild in having a successful raffle quilt fundraiser.

Pat shared that her sewing journey started at a 4H club in Medfield, where she lived as a child. She makes and gifts many quilts to this day and was looking forward to going home and putting the new quilt on her bed to enjoy; as a quilter she appreciates all the time and love put into a quilt like this. She is a proud mother to four children and seven grandchildren and is going to consider who might be the fortunate one to inherit this quilt someday. The presentation of the quilt to Pat occurred on the eve of a milestone birthday, which made it all the more special. Lisa  wished Pat a Happy Birthday and many years of health and happiness with this community made quilt.

Blue Plate Specials was designed by Laura Rosenspan, a vibrant member of the Sharon arts community as well as a docent at the Fuller Craft Museum. The Dresden Plates were sewn by many of the guild members. Abby S. of Sharon pieced together the piano key border. The quilt top was laid out and assembled by Sue C. of Norfolk, Venera E. and Laura, both of Sharon. The quilt was machine quilted by Diana R. Annis of Norton, a nationally known long arm quilter. The binding was made and sewn onto the quilt by Carol; Terry G. of Sharon finished the hand sewing of the binding to complete the quilt.

Over the prior year the quilt has been highlighted at many local town days from Canton to Norwood to Walpole to Medway and has hung for a month at quilt shops on Cape Cod, Franklin, Canton, Medway, Walpole and more. The guild is grateful for each person who bought one or more tickets; together your contributions have helped the guild emerge from the pandemic strong enough to move forward with its mission to preserve the tradition, culture and history of quilting and to promote the knowledge and understanding of the art of quilting. The guild’s philanthropy includes donating an average of 100 comfort quilts per year through local social service agencies, as well as supporting the New England Quilt Museum, providing a scholarship to a graduating senior from a high school in our member network and a donation to that senior’s public library for the purpose of purchasing books about art.

RNQG has been in existence since 1983 and is currently 80 members strong, representing 35 towns around southeastern Mass. Guild meetings are the third Wednesday of each month from September through June at 7:00pm in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Walpole. Reference rnqg.org for specifics and consider joining the guild in its 40th year to start or continue your quilting journey.