聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Tanya Robertson of Carlyle's Sew & Sews says the response of the local quilting community to the tragedy involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team is just like that of thousands of people from throughout Saskatchewan and beyond.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淓verybody wants to do their part,鈥� says Robertson. 鈥淵ou feel so helpless in a situation like this and you want to do something. And this is the way I can help - by making a quilt and hopefully, providing a bit of comfort to someone who really needs it.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Robertson is one of many quilters from Saskatchewan who is responding to a 'Quilters Call to Action' issued by the Saskatoon Modern Quilt Guild which made its way to quilting communities via Facebook (see post below).
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淐orrine Hewitt of Hanna, Alberta sent it to me,鈥� says Robertson. 鈥淎nd as soon as I got to work, I started cutting, getting fabrics with the team colours (green, dark green, white, gold and black) to use and to donate.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚'll be going up to Saskatoon in a few days, so by then, I hope to have finished at least one quilt,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o I'll be taking that. And two bolts of green and yellow backing have gone to Humboldt already.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e already have three customers working on full quilt kits for this project and I know more quilters from our local area are at work on quilts in the team colours, too,鈥� adds Robertson. 鈥淪o I'm planning a trip to Saskatoon in early May to deliver those.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 聽Robertson says of the response to the 'Quilters Call to Action': 鈥淓verybody I've talked to has no direct personal connection to this tragedy, but everybody empathizes and feels that connection and we all want to help.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭he call was for 200 quilts,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I think - just from the initial response - there will be more quilts that make their way to Humboldt than that. But they will find a home, because there's always a place for a quilt.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淗opefully, the outpouring of love will help the community on their journey of healing.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听 聽Quilters Call to Action: Quilts for Broncos
听听听听听听听听听听听 On Friday, April 6, the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team was on their way to a playoff game when their team bus was in a collision with a semi-truck trailer in rural Saskatchewan. The incident and aftermath has rocked our province and communities across Canada.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Some say that there are six degrees of separation that connect every person in the world. I think it's safe to say that in Saskatchewan, we are connected by one degree of separation. We are a province in shock and mourning.
听听听听听听听听听听听 As quilters and makers we are able to show love and appreciation by pouring our hearts and souls into handmade items. These items are meant to show love, give comfort, and are a tangible reminder that we care.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The local quilters of Humboldt and Melfort will be making a player's quilt for each of the 29 players/staff or families of players/staff that were on the bus.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Saskatoon Modern Quilt Guild is honoured to support Humboldt's local quilt store Haus of Stitches and Prairie Patchwork Quilt Guild in making 'Quilts for Broncos.'
听听听听听听听听听听听 The call for quilts comes for others impacted by the events, including: billet families, first responders, EMT, RCMP, Fire, Broncos staff/board members and others impacted in the communities of Humboldt and Tisdale.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The current estimate is that they will need 200 quilts. Quilters are encouraged to make blocks, quilt tops or finished quilts.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The deadline for blocks/tops/quilts is Friday, May 18. All information is on the website at: .
