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Shirley Quilters meets from 7.30 p.m. until 9.30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at Shirley Methodist Church, Eldon Avenue, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, where we always welcome new members and visitors who would like to come and join us.  

Among our group we have some very talented people, not just quilters but embroiderers and they bring an additional aspect to our quilting.

Saturday workshops are held on a regular basis.  Guest speakers present talks and demonstrations on various aspects of patchwork and quilting,  Mini workshops are part of the annual programmeand are often held during the evening meetings.   The programme for 2009 is being planned and dates and events will be added to the website once confirmed.

Shirley Quilters has a new Chairperson, Linda, who took over from Barbara in July 2008.  Barbara had held the position for five years and had a considerable influence during her time as Chair.  Linda teaches patchwork at  local Quilting shops and will bring a different perspective to the Group.


About us - how we began                

Shirley Quilters was born out of an idea of like-minded ladies who, having taken beginner and intermediate evening classes for patchwork and quilting, then found there was no advanced course.  They enjoyed sewing and chatting and decided to hold a meeting to discuss the way forward.  On forming Shirley Quilters it was decided our aims would be to:  promote, encourage and increase ability, skill and appreciation of patchwork and quilting and to organise teaching events and bi-annual exhibitions.  Advertisements were put in a local residents association magazine and local libraries in the hope of attracting people to come and find out more about the Group. 

The first meeting of Shirley Quilters was held on 18th January 2000, when 45 people turned up, a very large percentage of them having no experience of quilting at all!  In that first year absolute beginners were taught a block a month, which was a heavy burden for those leading the group.  In the first two years numbers fluctuated and at one point dropped to 16 people.  We now have a steady membership of 30, plus a few who come as and when they can.

2001 saw us settling down as a Group and we began to invite well-known quilters to come along and share their ideas and show us different aspects of patchwork and quilting.  At the same time we started to organise workshops:  some led by outside teachers, others by members of our Group.  We have learnt we can be self-reliant and do not always need to look outside our group to have a fun and productive day.

2002 saw us put our name on the quilt map with our own exhibition.  We were able to demonstrate to quilters and non-quilters alike what a creative and productive bunch of people we are!

Please come back and visit our site again, we plan to change our Quilt Show on a regular basis.