Welcome to Illawarra Quilters website.

Some highlights from 2025/26:

• We organized a Seniors' Week expo, enjoyed Retreat@Home and Retreat@atThe Tops, contributed to Dapto, Albion Park, Robertson, Gerringong and the NSW Guild Shows.

• We had some great bus trips to Sydney, Canberra and Braidwood.

• Special events have also included our Hobbysew Meeting, Birthday Challenge, Volunteer Day, Members 25 Year celebration and our end of year Christmas party.

• Our members work tirelessly sewing, knitting and crocheting to support local charities in the Illawarra and the Sydney Children's Hospital.

• We participated in some amazing workshops, learning lots of new techniques and skills

Seniors Week Expo 2026

In March we held another very successful Expo during Seniors Week which included a display of some of our beautiful quilts, wall hangings, bags and embroideries. There were also displays by Illawarra Woodworkers and Wollongong Spinners and Weavers. Three beautiful quilts were raffled and the proceeds raised, over $1500, were donated to local charities in the llawarra. The main hall was the hub of activity with mini workshops, displays and stalls selling fabulous items, with the worship space displaying beautiful quilts from our members. Ten new members joined our group over the weekend. In addition, visitors were able to sit and chat with friends while enjoying a delicious morning tea or lunch. We now look forward to making this a regular event on our calendar.

Calendar of IQ Regular Activities for 2026

Updated July 2026

Birthday Challenge for our 40th Birthday in 2027

Each year we hold a Birthday Challenge to commemorate the founding of our group where members are invited to submit an entry. Our Vice President chooses a theme and size is restricted, usually an item no bigger than A3.  Themes have been insects, ocean / water and there have been a wide variety of entries.  Here are some images from our talented members.

New Members

Dates to Remember

Coach Trips

Friday 18th September 2026 - Coach Trip - Quilt NSW Exhibition - Rosehill Racecourse

Saturday 28th November 2026 - Coach Trip - Braidwood Airing of the Quilts - 30th Anniversary

Workshops

Saturday 19th August 2026 - Workshop - Variations to Disappearing Nine Patch with Lee

Community Donations

In 2025/26, Illawarra Quilters produced and donated 156 quilts to SASSHI, the Homeless Hub, St Vincent de Paul, Wollongong Hospital, Chain, Southern Youth and Family Services, Illawarra Women's Health, Make a Wish Foundation and Unanderra Community Care. In addition, quilts were donated as raffle prizes to Rotary, Cancer Link, Ostomy and our Senior's Expo.

Illawarra Quilters not only donate quilts to charities in our community. Many of our members knit beanies, scarves and teddies to be donated where needed.  In addition we supply Beads of Courage Bags to Sydney Children's Hospital and Blankets of Love to Illawarra Public and Private Hospitals which are given to families whose babies are stillborn or pass away just after birth. To date, we have made over 3,500 bags for the Children's Hospital in Westmead.

We have recently been making IV/drainage bags for those recovering from surgery.

Total donations for 2025:

Trauma Teddies: 830

Beanies: 277

   Scarves: 70

IV bags:150

Illawarra Quilters also support the Neonatal Unit at Wollongong Hospital, making IV jackets, beanies, bonnets, cardigans, booties and scent hearts.

Blankets of Love Project: 

We are not just quilters. Some of our members have just completed some very special blankets and bonnets which have been made with love as part of our Blankets of Love Project and these are donated to families who have experienced the loss of a baby at birth.  Illawarra Quilters provides Blankets of Love to the Birthing Units at Wollongong Private Hospital and  Wollongong Public Hospital.