Community-Led Engagement

Conducts fiber arts demonstrations and exhibitions at community venues, historic sites, schools, and regional festivals such as the Clothesline Festival and Finger Lakes Fiber Festival to promote public appreciation of weaving and fiber arts.

Hosts monthly daytime and evening meetings featuring lectures, presentations, and member gatherings on fiber arts topics such as textile traditions, conceptual weaving, and mathematical principles in design. Includes study groups and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Maintains and lends a comprehensive library of nearly 1,000 books and resources on weaving and fiber arts, accessible to members at the Weaving and Fiber Arts Center and through a lending system at First Baptist Church in Rochester.

Operates a dedicated fiber arts center offering studio classrooms, open studio access with looms and equipment, foundational and specialty courses in weaving and fiber arts, and an extensive resource library for members and the public. The center is located at Piano Works Mall in East Rochester, NY, and has been expanded twice since 2010 to accommodate growth.

Hosts an annual Holiday Sale each November as a major community event and fundraising initiative, providing members with a venue to sell handmade fiber art goods. The event includes live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and draws public participation. The organization retains 25% of sales to cover expenses and pays associated sales taxes.

Offers year-round fiber arts instruction for adults and youth at all skill levels, including in-person and online classes, foundational courses, and intensive workshops in techniques such as doubleweave, color theory, and multicolor weaving. Hosts 2–3 in-depth workshops annually led by regional or national fiber artists.

Awards scholarships to members to support the study and practice of weaving and fiber arts, enabling skill development and creative growth. Awarded at least six scholarships across two reporting years.

Creates comfort quilts for individuals in need and conducts raffles (e.g., selling tickets for $5 each) to support the Comfort Quilts project. Produces an annual fundraising quilt, with proceeds benefiting a selected charity, and sells limited-edition lapel pins based on the quilt design.

Conducts monthly in-person meetings from September to June, featuring business sessions, social time, guest lectures, and member-led programs; some meetings offered via Zoom. Meetings include hospitality services such as coffee, tea, cookies, and occasional salad suppers, supported by a Hospitality team and member contributions of baked goods.

Provides in-person and virtual workshops on specialized quilting techniques such as walking foot quilting, hand applique, and improvisational Dresden Plate piecing, taught by recognized experts. Workshops include hands-on instruction and are open to members and non-members for a fee when space allows.

Maintains a lending library with over 400 books and magazines available to members, established in 1992, to support ongoing education and engagement in quilting crafts.

Produces an annual quilt show featuring approximately 200–300 quilts across multiple styles, including traditional, modern, and fiber art, along with guest speakers, vendor booths, sewing demonstrations, raffles, and docent-led discussions. Also organizes public quilt displays at festivals with Viewers Choice Awards and sales of mini- and throw quilts.

Plans and hosts events such as bus trips to regional quilting shows, including the American Quilters’ Society Quilt Week – New England Show in Hartford, CT, to foster community and engagement among members.

Hosts book sales offering gently used quilt and craft books at reduced prices and sells quilting supplies, sewing machines, and limited-edition memorabilia such as lapel pins during annual shows and public events.

Creates and donates comfort quilts, fidget quilts, adult bibs, drawstring bags for menstrual supplies, and other textile items to local charities and individuals in need, including hospice homes, battered women's shelters, child care organizations, and community groups. Since 2001, the club has donated over 4,000 quilts, with approximately 400 distributed annually; in 2024–2025, these were valued at $60,000.

Funds charitable causes by creating and raffling an Opportunity Quilt biennially at the Genesee Valley QuiltFest, directing proceeds to community organizations and youth outreach programs. Also provides direct financial support and materials to external programs, such as a 2009 donation to Compeer Inc. for a quilt workshop serving individuals affected by mental illness.

Organizes large-scale public quilt exhibitions such as the Genesee Valley QuiltFest and an annual quilt show featuring over 600 quilts and 60 vendors, attracting more than 3,000 attendees. Events include fundraising components like the Gift Gallery and silent auctions, and have been held since 1936 at venues including the Rochester Museum and Science Center and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Offers ongoing educational opportunities in quilt-making through monthly workshops (September–June), mini-workshops, multi-day technique classes, and lectures led by local and nationally recognized quilt artists. Programs are open to members and non-members, some offered at published fees, with virtual access available via Zoom. The club also runs a Block of the Month program and maintains a lending library of over 500 quilting-related books and media.