Quilting is an important Appalachian folk tradition and way for stories, dreams, and visions to be handed down from generation to generation. At quilting circles, people work collectively toward a shared goal, to create something beautiful and whole out of many parts. More than just a shared workspace, quilting circles are warm places to cultivate community stitch by stitch. People sew and craft, but also chat, brainstorm, and plan for more times to connect.
In West Virginia, we have paired this storied craft with climate advocacy by launching the “Quilting for Community” project. In collaboration with local quilter and Sierra Club member CJ Sews, Sierra Club will host bi-weekly events all through the winter at the local Retail Lab fit with multiple sewing machines and quilting materials. Together, community members will cut, piece, and sew upcycled fabric and unused scraps together to create a large, community quilt.
We hosted our kick-off event in January and people showed up! Fifty-six people attended our social hour on a wintery Wednesday at a local art exhibition space, The Co-Op. The night was cold and dark, but inside was warm and full of bright ideas on how to fight climate change using joyful means and our individual hobbies and interests. We sat side-by-side to watch Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s great TED Talk on “How to Find Joy in Climate Action” and dreamed up ways to pair the activities that bring us joy with the work that needs to be done.
The kick-off was only the beginning. Moving forward, now through March, we will work as a group to complete our quilt. All are welcome, experienced and new quilters alike. Our goal is to have the “Log Cabin” style quilt complete by Earth Day, so we may take it on the road and display it across the state at schools, libraries, community centers, and other key points of local connection. At our stops, we will share all we have learned through the quilting process, talk about caring for our planet and WV community, and continue to build onto our fabric.
It is our hope that through the Quilting for Community project, West Virginians form new friendships and find joy in fighting climate change together. Whether you are reading from near and far, may this inspire you to gather inside, or outside, with friends and neighbors and take joyful action together.
Whatever your skill, hobby, or interest – be it sewing, sculpting, making music, writing, or painting – there is a place for you in our quilting circle. Everyone has something to bring to our communal fight to protect our treasured landscapes, public health, and energy affordability.