Conferring at a recent meeting of a quilters’ group at the Pioneer RV Resort’s recreation center are, from left, Marlene Anderley, a full-time RVer originally from Belle Plaine, Minn.; Joan Kolp of Arlington; Pat Lina man of Douglas, Wyo.; Judie Seavert of Rosholt, S.D.; and Nancy Wood of Doniphan, Mo. Staff photo by Dan Parker
Each winter, for more than 20 years, a group of women have gathered regularly at Pioneer RV Resort to work at the craft of quilting and enjoy some fellowship at the same time.
“And get together and gossip,” joked member Pat Linaman of Douglas, Wyoming.
The Pioneer Quilters Club has 12 to 15 members, several of them Winter Texans, who meet each Wednesday in the RV park’s recreation hall.
They bring their sewing machines, stitch together quilts and exchange tips on how best to create something that’s both practical and attractive.
“I’ve learned a lot from these ladies,” said Joan Kolp of Arlington. “A lot.”
Sometimes, accomplished quilters have given classes at the meetings.
Members range widely in experience. Some have joined without ever having sewn a quilt before.
“I enjoy the creativity,” said member Kay Fisher of Toledo, Ohio. “I did crafts but never did any sewing before this.”
The members have various reasons they enjoy quilting.
Taking part in a recent quilting group meeting at Pioneer RV Resort are, from left, Loretta Henk of Caldwell, Nancy Wood of Doniphan, Mo., and Judie Seavert of Rosholt, S.D. Staff photo by Dan Parker
“To me, it’s like putting a puzzle together,” said Loretta Henk of Caldwell. “You cut out the pieces and put them all back together, and that’s a puzzle, to me.”
Several things are key to making a good quilt, according to Pepper Pendzinski, group member who lives in Port Aransas.
“It’s picking fabrics that work well together, picking a pattern that suits the fabric and picking something that you like to look at,” she said.
Group members aren’t in it just for themselves.
Each winter season, they create a quilt to be raffled in the spring. Proceeds go to charities the following Christmas. In December, they donated $300 to the Port Aransas Emergency Services Toy Roundup.
Over the years, they’ve donated quilts to police (who in turn give them to those in need) and to nursing homes.
“I think this is the most wonderful group,” said Judie Seavert, of Rosholt, S.D. “I’ve been coming here for three years, and I’ve met the most wonderful women and learned so much.”
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