A Charity Quilt That Raised £700 — Kindness and Creativity at the Eryri Patchwork Retreat

At our Eryri patchwork retreat in north Wales, 27 women have gathered for four days of sewing, chatting, learning, laughing and — very often — quietly supporting one another in ways that go far beyond fabric and thread.

Each person here has brought her own projects. Some are attending a retreat for the very first time, stepping gently into this colourful world with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Others have become part of the familiar rhythm of Stitchscape retreats over the years, returning again and again for the friendships, the creative focus, and the sense of belonging that grows with each shared experience.

Alongside the hum of sewing machines and the joyful sound of chatting, we were treated to something especially meaningful.

Gwenfair shared the story behind her beautiful pink ribbons charity quilt, created as part of her involvement with Merched y Wawr — a Welsh women’s organisation whose name translates so poetically as “Ladies of the Dawn.”

Every two years, when a new president is appointed within the group, a charity is chosen for fundraising efforts. This time, the focus is on breast cancer support. Members across different branches are encouraged to contribute in their own way — whether by organising coffee mornings, wearing pink, or creating something handmade that can help raise awareness and funds.

For Gwenfair, the response came naturally through patchwork.

Inspired by a quilt she had seen at an exhibition in Scotland, she began researching patterns and gathering fabrics — some newly purchased, some treasured remnants from baby quilts she had made in the past. Like so many of us, her stash became part of the story. Every piece held memory, possibility, intention.

She assembled the quilt and later worked with Carie from Bright Quilting to have it long-arm quilted. Together they chose a star design — a thoughtful and deeply symbolic decision. The cancer unit in Wrexham is known as the Shooting Star Unit, making the quilting pattern not just decorative, but meaningful.

Gwenfair kindly shared the story behind her pink ribbons charity quilt with everyone here at retreat.
If you’d like to hear her talk about the inspiration, symbolism and journey of the quilt in her own words, you can watch the short video below.

When Gwenfair showed us the back of the quilt so we could see the star motif clearly, there was a quiet moment in the room. You could feel the respect. The understanding. The shared recognition that many women at the retreat have been touched by breast cancer in different ways — personally, within families, or through friendships.

So far, the quilt has helped raise over £700 for the charity.

There are plans for it to travel — possibly being shown at the Royal Welsh Show or at other events organised by Merched y Wawr. Eventually it may be raffled, with Gwenfair generously donating the quilt itself to the organisation, so they can decide how best to continue the fundraising.

What struck me most wasn’t just the skill involved, or the generosity, or even the amount raised — though all of those are wonderful.

It was the reminder that when creative women come together, good things happen.

Not always loudly.
Not always in headline-grabbing ways.
But steadily. Thoughtfully. Kindly.

At retreat, we see this again and again. Women who are intelligent, compassionate, resilient and quietly strong. Women who make space for one another. Women who use their creativity not only to express themselves, but to contribute to something bigger than themselves.

Gwenfair’s quilt is just one example — a very beautiful one — of how patchwork can ripple out into the world.

And here, surrounded by mountains, fabric scraps, cups of tea and conversation, it feels like exactly the right place for those ripples to begin.

If you would like to support the fundraising for breast cancer through Gwenfair’s quilt, please do speak to her or reach out to us —comment below - every contribution helps continue the good that creative communities like this can bring.