Program: Wood Place Bookworm Quilters
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays
Age: adults
Contact: Kathy Shoemaker, 573-796-2446
Began: 2011
Goal: To share ideas and learn new skills in a casual, social setting
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Tuesday afternoons at the Moniteau County Library @ Wood Place, the second floor is abuzz with sewing machines and scissors.
In the mornings, the Bookworm Quilters and Sewers group is often busy catching up on each others' projects and families.
The quilting group has been meeting for several years, but formalized into weekly meetings at the library about five years ago, said organizer Kathy Shoemaker.
When she retired from teaching, she began meeting with a quilt group in Jefferson City but soon discovered other newly-retired women were interested in getting together in California.
The first group project was a log-cabin pattern quilt. Then, they learned other quilting techniques together on other projects.
Soon after deciding to meet weekly at the library, the group decided to donate an annual quilt to the library for fundraising.
"The library did not charge us for the space, so we decided to do a quilt," Shoemaker said.
The donated quilts are displayed in the main library downstairs and have raised from $500 to $950 each, she said.
Recently, the Friends of the Library have promoted the quilt at locations outside the library, helping to draw more donations, Shoemaker said.
The group also has coordinated nearly 80 quilts, donated to area veterans through the Quilt of Valor project.
About a dozen ladies bring their individual projects each Tuesday to the upstairs room, while also working on group projects as they develop. The library also provides the group with a closet for some supplies.
They are nearing completion of their latest wall quilt for the library, featuring books and cats.
Although they must pack up their projects from home, and sometimes bring in their own sewing machines, members agreed they enjoy the social nature of the group.
"We'd lose the camaraderie, if we stayed at home," said Judy Boyle.
The quilters share projects and ideas and often help each other solve problems and learn new techniques.
"I didn't know much about quilting when I first started," said Carolyn Vargas.
Currently, Pam Liebi is working on a quilt for her daughter's wedding. When she has encountered trouble spots - including choosing complimentary colors, the group has helped her through, she said.
The group has enjoyed teaching a couple of youth sewing skills this summer.
"I really like using a sewing machine," said Erin Knoll, 10. She was inspired by the birth of a grandson to some family friends and wanted to learn to make a quilt.