Often seen as solitary acts, a group of Capreol ladies have banded together to crochet, knit and sew various pieces together, creating a social club based at the Capreol Heritage Centre.
They’ve also dedicated their craft toward aiding charitable organizations throughout the Greater Sudbury area, sending blankets, mittens and other creations to those in need, including seniors, sick kids and infants.
On Saturday, the organization of approximately 20 members hosted their first-ever Capreol Quilt Show as part of Capreol Days, during which the Capreol Heritage Centre’s interior was lined with not only their works, but those of artisans from other such organizations in the region.
Outside the building was parked Eileen Thompson’s largest creation, the Quilt-Mobile, which she has been tooling around in to help promote the show.
It only took her a couple of days to patch together members’ partially-completed quilt creations to cover her vehicle’s panels with quilts.
The ladies’ charitable bent dates much further back than the Capreol Needlework Club forming approximately 15 years ago, with member Brenda Crites Slaughter fastening scarves and other items to light poles in Sudbury in the mid-’70s.
Thompson has long taught the craft to others in Capreol, and members donated quilts, scarves, mittens and various other items to family members and charitable organizations
“We’re really happy to do this,” member Marilynn Sorel said.
Member Virginia Langis said the Capreol Needlework Club has been around for long enough now that they’ve become well-known in the community, and people regularly donate yarn and material to them, which they use to create items for charitable organizations.
“We help each other,” she said. “If we come into a problem, there’s always someone who can help them.”
Although the group is made up entirely of ladies, Langis said they’d also welcome men, if they showed up.
The group meets every Tuesday at The Heritage Centre in Capreol, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
While their Capreol Quilt Show on Saturday was their first event as an organization, they regularly join other organizations’ shows throughout the year in Greater Sudbury.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
