‘A labour of love’: Meet the Sask. woman who makes quilts by hand

DELISLE, SASK. — Georgette Ehr is a storyteller.

And while other storytellers may craft their narratives with pen and paper or through spoken word, her medium is the humble needle and thread.

She’s been quilting since 1995, creating more than 100 quilts for family members and friends through the years.

Though she uses a sewing machine to piece them together, the actual quilting is done entirely by hand.

Ehr said quilting by hand rather than with a machine allows her to take her hobby on the road. She has brought projects along for long road trips, and even brings quilts onto the boat during summer months. While her husband fishes, she quilts. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

It’s an art form that takes a healthy dose of patience. Hand quilting takes time — often as much as nine months to a year for one piece.

“It’s very relaxing,” she said of the labour-intensive process. “I really enjoy it. It’s a slow process. It’s a labour of love.”

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This quilt, entitled ‘My Mother’s Garden,’ was designed by Ehr to pay tribute to her mother’s love for gardening. It received the second-place award for hand-quilting at the 2006 Regina Prairie Piecemakers’ Quilt Show. (Submitted)

The patience required for hand quilting allows Ehr to not only create something beautiful, but also to weave personal meaning into each piece. For her, every quilt is more than just a work of art — it’s a story waiting to be told.

“I was always told that a quilt has a story,” Ehr said.

“Like a quilt I made for my husband and I. We spend a lot of time on the water in the summer. The peacefulness, the water lapping against the boat — it’s all part of the story I’m trying to express.”

Georgette Ehr’s quilt for her husband, called ‘No Hurry, No Worries, Life Simplified’ was selected to be displayed at Quilt Canada 2018 in Vancouver B.C., as well as the International Quilt Festival 2018 in Houston, Texas. It also won a second-place award at the Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild 2019 Quilt Show. (Submitted)

Each quilt she creates is personalized, often with a hand-picked selection of fabrics chosen for the recipient’s preferences.

“I really like to think about the person and their life,” Ehr reflected. “I’ll ask them about their favourite colors or style, sometimes their interests — like a country theme, or florals.”

This careful attention ensures that each quilt feels uniquely tailored to its owner, making it a meaningful gift they can treasure for years.

Ehr writes a story to display alongside her quilts at quilt shows. For this impressive display of hand stitching in ‘No Hurry, No Worries, Life Simplified,’ she wrote, in part: “Sky and lake blend through the varied hues on this expansive canvas; the glorious sun extends her reach as the early morning blush fades away.” (Submitted)

But hand quilting, as Ehr has come to understand, is about more than just careful stitching and thoughtful design. It’s about embracing the imperfections that come with the human touch.

“I used to worry if I’m trying to stitch — especially a straight line — and a stitch is a little crooked,” she said. “I used to unpick it. But I have learned over time that they’re not noticeable, you know, if I keep going. And once it’s done and washed, I can’t find the mistake. So I don’t worry about it.”

Ehr made this quilt, which she calls ‘Serenity,’ for her daughter. She said it is meant to evoke a peaceful, calming and stress-free feeling when wrapped in its embrace. This quilt was honoured with the first place award for hand quilting, as well as the Viewer’s Choice Award at the Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild 2023 Quilt Show. (Submitted)

In fact, Ehr believes every quilt should carry its flaws with pride.

“There’s a few times when piecing a fabric, it’s hard to tell what the back is and the main, the front side, on some pieces. Sometimes a piece has gotten in backwards. And I think that’s perfect. I think most quilts have, or should have, a fault in them, and it shows it was made by a human.”

This acceptance of imperfection is mirrored in how Ehr views a quilt’s purpose. She believes a quilt should be used, not tucked away in a closet.

“You know, when you die, it shouldn’t look brand new, still in a box,” she said. “So use it.”

The quilts she lovingly creates are meant to be touched, lived with, and passed down.

Ehr handcrafted this dignity quilt as a gift for the assisted living care facility in Hawaii, where her sister and brother-in-law spent the last year of their lives. A dignity quilt is used to cover the body of a loved one who has passed away and is being moved from their home to the waiting funeral car, honouring them with love, dignity and respect as they leave the building for the last time. (Submitted)

As her family continues to grow, so does her quilt collection. Since she first picked up the hobby, Ehr has made quilts for each of her children, siblings, nieces and nephews. She’s even begun crafting quilts for her grandchildren, ensuring they, too, have a lasting keepsake of love and warmth.

Through each quilt, Ehr is telling a story.

And, just like any other great story, her quilts will be cherished, passed down, and remembered for generations to come.

Ehr has been making quilts since 1995. She is one of only a handful of people in the area who quilts by hand — a labour-intensive process. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)