Urban Quilters started in 1995 as a forum to supplement Illinois Quilters, Inc. (IQI), a 300+ member quilt guild in the Chicago metro area. Erica Pascal, Lynn Dykstra and Susan Italo wanted a smaller, more intimate group of quilters to share ideas with and contacted several IQI members. The first meeting was at Erica’s home and we have continued to meet on a monthly basis at members’ homes since that time. Alas, Susan moved to California in 2000, but Erica, Lynn and six other original members continue to meet with seven newer members with an unabated enthusiasm each month.

In addition to our monthly meetings, we have an annual fabric dyeing bash, where we hand dye a hundred yards or more of fabric and most of what we happen to be wearing. We occasionally take road trips to quilt shows together (and the surrounding fabric shops, of course). Each member of City Quilters has included a page featuring some of her quilts. Take some time to look at our quilts and enjoy them. You may see how we have influenced each other in our work; when someone produces a terrific quilt, several others often adapt it to their own style and color palette. (Eleanore’s quilts always include purple.)