Quilting in Utah - KSL TV article Utah quilters connect with their pioneer heritage while volunteering

 Quilting is a pretty big thing in Utah.  Many of us learned from our moms, grandmothers, or great grandmothers or even aunts.  Most of us know the stories of the pioneers and how they used every last thing they could, and through the things they taught us, we have cherished those stories.  KSL did an article and talked with Virginia Lee about how we have been influenced by our ancestors.  I know that I have personally been influenced by my ancestors. 

I hope that you enjoy reading this article or watching the video of it.

https://ksltv.com/local-news/utah-pioneer-quilters/800486/

SALT LAKE CITY — As pioneers settled the Salt Lake Valley, they brought with them more than grit and determination — they carried traditions that stitched communities together. One of those traditions was quilting, a skill that has not only endured but flourished in Utah.

In fact, Utah’s quilting guild was the first of its kind in the country. Today, quilting is far from a lost art. It’s a vibrant, meaningful practice that connects generations and serves the community.

Inside a bustling room filled with fabric, thread, and laughter, Virginia Lee reflects on her journey.

“I was a seamstress,” she said. “And then I started piecing fabric. It saved my life.”

Quilter Virginia Lee says quilting became a type of therapy for her. (John Wilson, KSL TV)

For Lee, quilting became therapy — a way to find peace and connect with the women in her family who came before her. She held up a quilt made of blocks her grandmother stitched decades ago.

“My grandma made all these blocks,” she said. “She was a giver.”

Lee’s ancestors crossed the plains themselves, and she often thinks about those pioneer women — and the warmth and resilience they passed down through their quilts.

“I’ve found quilts that are called ‘utility quilts.’ They made them to stay warm,” she explains. “The ancestors taught us that we can do things with little.”

That spirit of resourcefulness and generosity lives on in the Holiday Quilt Show and Auction, chaired by Judy Reese.

Utah quilters connect with their pioneer heritage while volunteering. (John Wilson, KSL TV)

“These are women who want to give to the community, and they have a talent,” Reese says. “We usually raise over $250,000.”

Held every other year, the auction features around 70 hand-quilted pieces, each one stitched with care and purpose. But for many, the friendships formed are just as valuable as the quilts themselves.

“Everybody comes because they feel such a deep connection to quilting and also to the cause,” Reese said.

Shauna Butler, a board member since 2002 and past president, agrees.

“It’s great. I’ve made such dear, close friends,” she said. “It makes you feel a connection to your ancestry and your past.”

The group welcomes anyone — whether seasoned quilters or curious beginners. And as they gather month after month, they continue a legacy of warmth, creativity, and community.

“What a difference quilts make to people,” Lee said with a smile.

Learn more about pioneer quilts and the stories of the women behind them in an exhibit at the University of Utah.