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People often ask us how we structure our quilting classes at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. In some ways it’s the same as a class in a quilt shop. Instructors explain the basics of cutting strips of fabric with rulers, rotary cutters, and mats. Students learn to thread a sewing machine, sew quarter inch seams, and follow a pattern. In other ways, CCQ classes are very different. Prison security rules require that we count every pin, needle, and rotary cutter blade before taking them in to class. We pass through a metal detector before entering the dining room where class is held. And there are restrictions on the color of clothing we can wear, such as no blue jeans. Our goals are similar to quilt shop classes, but with some differences. We want our students to become proficient in quilt-making techniques. But we also strive to teach patience, perseverance, problem-solving and the importance of quality work. We work to nurture our students’ self-confidence and self-esteem, attributes that we hope will enhance their success at living in the community after release from prison.

Three CCQ instructors entered quilts in the recent Stitches in Bloom quilt show at The Oregon Garden in Silverton. Mary Ann McCammon, who teaches in our Thursday afternoon class, entered her art quilt “Blue is not my favorite color,” pictured at left. Mary Ann made this quilt in recognition of the limited choices experienced by incarcerated women who are required to wear navy blue tee shirts, blue sweatshirts, and blue jeans, all boldly labeled with the word “inmate.” The quilting program at CCCF is an opportunity for women to learn life enhancing skills — and they get to choose the colors for their quilts. Dee Burson, an instructor in our Tuesday evening class, won a People’s Choice award in the art category for her “Pachyderm Posies” quilt pictured at left. Although Dee has been sewing/crafting/quilting for 30+ years, this was her first attempt at an art quilt and her first submission to a quilt show outside of her guild. We think it’s pretty impressive! Nancy Dudley, an instructor in our Tuesday morning class, won a People’s Choice award in the the traditional quilt category for her quilt titled “The Flowers that Bloom on My Quilt Tra La.” We regret that we don’t have a picture of Nancy’s quilt to post here. Stitches in Bloom is an annual event featuring beautiful quilts, vendors selling quilting wares, lectures by featured artists and demonstrations by quilting vendors. Additional information can be found on the Oregon Garden website. Mark your calendars for next year’s show on January 22-24, 2016.

Quilts made by women incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility will be on display at the Canby Library during the months of March and April. The exhibit will also include quilts made by instructors in the Coffee Creek Quilters program. Instructor-made quilts will be offered for sale as part of our fundraising efforts. On April 23rd an instructor in one of our classes will make a presentation about our program at the library. The talk starts at 6:30 pm. The quilt shown at left is typical of a first quilt made by one of our students. Each student makes three quilts in weekly two-hour classes held in the prison dining room. The Canby library is located at 292 N. Holly, Canby, OR. Please check the Canby Library’s website for their hours.

We were pleasantly surprised to find Coffee Creek Quilters featured in a new book titled Quilters Questions: A book of Curious Queries. This book includes open-ended questions that probe feelings and opinions about quilting related topics such as quilter identity, motivation, sewing friends, quilt designs, etc. For example, here’s question #3: If you could host a quilting party with three famous people — living or late — who would be included? Why? And here are the last two questions: 299. Have you ever donated quilting fabrics or books to a prison quilting program? 300. Since 2002, the Coffee Creek Quilters have taught quilting classes to incarcerated women at a correctional facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. They even offer a 14-page guide from their website on how to start such a program. Have you ever volunteered to teach quilting at a local prison or correctional facility? Quilters Questions was written by Kyra Hicks and is available from Amazon and other booksellers.

Yesterday several CCQ members showed our appreciation for the support we receive from Montavilla Sewing Centers by bringing a lunch to share with Montavilla owner Brett Moore and his staff. Montavilla has been a huge in-kind CCQ contributor for the past few years. The company services our classroom sewing machines for a highly discounted price. Montavilla also services the donation machines we give our students when they’re released from prison. Montavilla sells Janome, Viking, Pfaff, and Baby Lock sewing machines and sergers at four locations in the Portland area. They also offer repair and maintenance services, classes for kids and adults, and workshops to improve sewing and quilting skills. For more information about Montavilla’s products and services, please visit their website.

Coffee Creek Quilters instructors sewed 163 pillowcases this holiday season for donation to the Sleep Country Foster Kids program. This has become an annual tradition that parallels the donation of quilts made throughout the year by students in our prison quilting program. In addition to pillowcases, Sleep Country accepts donations of pajamas, shoes, clothing, school supplies, coats, and toys. Cash donations are also welcome. Sleep Country started the Foster Kids program in 2005 with the goal of improving the lives of thousands of foster kids in the Northwest. The program makes it possible for foster youth to take part in healthy and productive extracurricular activities, gain independent living skills, and even go to college. For more information about the Sleep Country program, check out their website.