The Islay Quilters

Welcome to the  Islay Quilters website!

Who Are We?

The Islay Quilters are a charitable organisation run by volunteers. The group makes a quilt to raffle every year and donates the money to local charities in Islay and Jura. This year the local causes we are supporting are the Islay and Jura Nurseries.

We have also been involved in making quilts and other projects with local Primary schools and have made the magnificent wall hanging that hangs in the Columba Centre. We are also planning several pieces in conjunction with the island’s WW100 commemorations in 2018.

We have a workshop in Islay House Square where we also have a shop which sells haberdashery, materials, craft equipment and, of course, quilts and hand-made, items made by our team of quilters.  All this is run by volunteer members and the profits are channelled back into the “Islay Quilters”.

Activities now include card making, knitting club and beginners’ patchwork.  Our charity quilt keeps us busy – look out for the latest!  Among our recent projects is a hanging for the “Finlaggan Visitor Centre” which is well worth a visit.

For any queries,  please use our Contact page.

WW100

“In chosen ground on Islay’s shore those gallant men are laid, and by the kindly Highland folk their lonely graves were made. When tales are told of other days and sorrows that have been, May we then tell theirs and keep their memory green”                                                                                                                           (Anon)

It has been a privilege as quilters to help in the remembrance of the  this event – we were  asked to make flags representing each of the states that lost a soldier from the troops ships SS Tuscania and HMS Otranto, these ships went down off the coast of Islay 1918.

  • EPSON MFP image
  • EPSON MFP image

thanks to the people of Islay and many others both in the UK and else where in the world, our flags  arrive and were ready for the 4th May where they were seen at an exhibition in Port Ellen and later in the year carried for the service at Kilchoman cemetery in October 2018.

Continue reading “WW100”

The Shop

Centrally located in Islay House Square, our shop showcases our wide range of quilts. We also stock a wide range of other products, including cushions, fabrics, gifts, knitted products and accessories to help with your own sewing and quilting!

Our fabrics
Wool and knitting accessories
A range of quilts for sale

Islay Quilters is focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction – we will do everything we can to meet your expectations. We also hold reqular workshops in our shop – keep checking social media and our Blog pages for up to date information.

Fabric

We stock a wide range of fabric for all occasions, take a look below at our ranges – we regularly update our stock and can find something for every taste and project.

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We also welcome all commissions, large or small.  Please get in touch to discuss your requirements – you can get in touch using our Contact form.

Opening Hours and Location

Our team of volunteers open our shop at the following times:

Monday to Friday: 2pm to 4:30pm

Saturday: 11am to 4:30pm

Find us at Islay House Square, Bridgend, Islay, PA44 7NZ

 

Charity Quilts

Every year, the Quilters create a quilt for charity to be raffled at the Islay show. To date we have raised over £12,000 for local causes!

This year’s design is a striking and colourful piece with Islay at its heart. Tickets are available for just £1 from The Shop in Islay House Square, from members, or on Show Day itself. It’s a fantastic opportunity to own a piece of Islay history, as well as raise money for local causes.

2017 Charity Quilt
Our stunning 2017 Charity Quilt

The Idea

When the Islay Quilters were formed, one of the ideas that seemed to be in everyone’s mind, apart from learning new techniques and having fun, was to make a quilt each year to raffle for a local charity.  This is now something that we have done every year (except 1997), raising very welcome and useful sums of money to help local Islay and Jura charities.

The pattern for the charity quilt is chosen by all the members of the group and is always a majority decision.  Group members bring along a pattern they like and they are laid on the table for discussion.  Over the years we have tried many different types of patterns, ranging from hand-pieced tradition to machine-pieced contemporary.  We all have our own personal favourites!


1993

Blue Quilt

1994

Un-named

1995

Grandmother’s
Garden

1996

Irish Chain


1998

Tumbling Blocks


1999

Pontiac Star

2000

Basket of Flowers

2001

Fence Rail


2002

Boat Quilt

2003

Tree Quilt

2004

Dresden Plate

2005

Sampler Quilt
 


2006

Jazzy Triangles


2007

Baltimore Quilt


2008

Log Cabin


2009

Celtic Wholecloth


2010

Crazy Patchwork


2011

Boxes within Boxes


2012


2013

Hanging Garden

2014

S-bends

2015

Abandoned Hexagons

2016

Flowers of Scotland

2017

 

 

Lighthouses and ships of Islay

2018

 

 

Below shows the list of recipients of money we have raised over the last ten years:

 
  • 1993 IDEAs £350
  • 1994 Comman Nam Parent £100 & Resusci Annie £100
  • 1995 Islay Hospital Radio £20, Marie Curie Nurses – Islay/Jura £200
  • 1996 Islay Hospital Radio £100, Arts Association £100, Marie Curie Nurses – Islay/Jura £50, Gortanvogie £50, Islay Museum £50
  • 1998 MacMillan Nurses – Islay/Jura £150 & Marie Curie Nurses – Islay/Jura £150
  • 1999 Islay Hospital Infusion Pump £500
  • 2000 Isle of Jura Residential Care Home £400
  • 2001 Rhinns Playgroup Association £400
  • 2002 Islay High School Trip – Costa Rica £500
  • 2003 Bowmore Boys Club £400 & Port Ellen Cyber Café £400
  • 2004 Islay High School Trip – Ecuador £400 & Islay And Jura Advice Centre £400
  • 2005 Rhinns Youth Group £400 & Swimming Pool Association £400
  • 2006 Islay & Jura Sick Children’s Fund £350, Islay High School Overseas Project £350
  • 2007 Isle of Jura Residential Care Home £100, Islay and Jura Primary Schools £500
  • 2008 Scottish Ambulance Service – Islay £500
  • 2009 Gortanvogie £500
  • 2010 Islay & Jura Sick Children’s Fund £500
  • 2011 Swimming Pool £400
  • 2012 Islay Junior Gaelic Choirs £600
  • 2013 Gortanvogie £400
  • 2014 Girlguiding Islay and Jura £400
  • 2015 Islay Boys Football Club £400
  • 2016 Sandpiper Trust £1200
  • 2017 Islay Scouts and the Ella Edgar Dancers

Contact

Please contact us about our charity quilts, commissions, our shop, or anything else. We look forward to hearing from you.