Quilters are continuing to prepare for the Canaan Quilt Show taking place at Grace Community Church on Saturday, April 25. The show, which is presented by the Alice M. Ward Memorial Library in Canaan and the Canaan Historical Society, will feature locally made and historic quilts from Canaan, Stewartstown, Pittsburg, Colebrook, Lancaster, Littleton and Quebec. The show begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 12 noon.

“One of the beautiful historic quilts is from local quilter Jane Palmer’s great-great-grandmother,” said Library Director Craig Varley, “and we’re exhibiting it alongside a complete reproduction made by Jane herself. We have quilts made by grandmothers and quilts found in trunks. We had a donation of a lovely old quilt from someone in Massachusetts whose mother used to live in the North Country. We also have newly made quilts from local quilters. The response has been fantastic. It’s very exciting.” The library is also presenting two hand-quilting workshops by Canaan quilter Janie Burke in Alice Ward Library. The first, for young people, is on Friday the 24th at 12 noon. The second, for adults, is after the quilt show at 2 p.m. on Saturday. A potluck will follow at 5 p.m. on Saturday, also in Alice Ward Library. “So many people have offered to bring food that may we have quite a feast prepared,” said Varley. “What’s great about this is it’s all arranged by volunteers, all done by our community, and it highlights the true history, the artistry and the stories behind so many of these great quilts.” The library will be taking photographs of all of the quilts and, along with descriptions of the quilts by their makers (or trustees), combining these into a bound book to be held and circulated at Alice Ward Library.
Places on either of the workshops can be reserved by calling (802) 266-7135.