The ‘Shut-in Stitchers’ of Arohata Women’s Prison have been developing their quilt making skills for more than 14 years. Thanks to volunteers from Wellington Quilters Guild, this activity has gone from strength to strength. June Nixey tells us the story.

Wellington Quilters Guild was formed in 1990 by women with a passion for making quilts and an equal passion to pass on these skills. Since the Guild’s inception, quilts have been made for and donated to both the Wellington Women’s Refuges.

Shortly after I became President in 1993, our committee discussed the potential for distributing our community quilts to other organisations, including the prison. This progressed to considering the possibility of teaching quilt making at the prison.

Following discussions with programme staff at Arohata, agreement was reached to deliver an initial six week quilt making class, using domestic sewing machines already at the prison and an assortment of other supplies.

After three weeks of delivering the classes to six women, we realised we would like to continue the programme, buoyed by demand from the women and support from the prison. The women called themselves ‘Shut-in Stitchers’ that first year as being apt for them.

Quilters all over New Zealand donate their surplus fabric and, while we do our best, we cannot guarantee a Shut-in Stitcher will get her first choice of colour.

The first quilts made are basically simple squares, but later many women went on to make very complicated designs. Many people and other quilters have praised our quilts at our Club meetings. This also helps to show how the donated fabric is used and acts as a reminder that we can always use more.

There are many lessons to be learned in making a quilt: to use a sewing machine; to cut and sew accurately – or to unpick it if it is not right; to have patience and perseverance; to measure and plan; and to sew with a needle and thread. Not all of these come easily, but it is a great thrill to us and them when they achieve something to be proud of.

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