Sewing Sisters on Retreat 2026!

It's been several days since my last blog post, and it was about quilts. Today, I'm sharing a bit more about how fond I am of my sewing sisters and how women's groups can help with aging.

Decades of research show that strong social connections are as important to longevity as diet and exercise, especially when it comes to women’s groups - like a quilt guild or sewing bee. Ladies who lunch often, and the garden clubs of communities around the globe, also come to mind. I’m one lucky gal that I joined a quilt guild in the 1997-1998 timeframe and met my tribe of people who love to sew and quilt as much as I do!

According to some online research, studies from the Harvard University Adult Development Study found that close relationships are the strongest predictors of happiness and health in later life; The National Institute on Aging reports that social isolation increases the risk of depression, cognitive decline, and even heart disease, and the biggy: Belonging reduces stress hormones and boosts immune function. My sewing groups, thankfully, help with all of the above.

Sew, it’s not just about the fabrics; it’s about the preventive medicine woven into the thread of our lives. Sewing and quilting have, frankly, saved my life. The creative outlet was paramount to my mental health, and the guild and bee members have been empathetic, have great listening skills, and provided intergenerational wisdom (no judgment).

This past weekend, I was once again fortunate enough to spend four days at the West River Retreat Center in South Anne Arundel County, Maryland, with nearly 20 of my sewing sisters. Our group is talented, inspirational, dedicated, wicked smart, and creates works of art that could rival any quilt guild around the country.

But… It’s that sense of belonging that draws us to each other, cheering from our machines as we drive them at 100 mph and creating a block or 20, a small or large quilt, or even a tote bag. We sing along to the music, eat three square meals together, and share our life stories with one another. We hail from all walks of life, yet quilting is our common denominator.

As we age, we do not shrink (though some fabric we prewash does); instead, we gather.

We gather wisdom, we gather stories, we gather one another. When dark clouds roll in, and they will at times, we don’t face them alone. We pull up a chair. We pass the scissors and patterns. We listen. We laugh. We manufacture our own sunshine, one stitch at a time. Because when women gather with open hands and open hearts, something sacred happens. The fabrics we deliberate over become heirlooms, strangers become sisters, that is, sewing sisters, and sleep-away quilt retreats become the kind of warmth that carries us through a tough winter and a lifetime.

bSoleille!

Terri

Photos: 1) My retreat block (all blocks made by the attendees and other guild members will be raffled off soon), 2) work station, 3) a block created for the 75th West River Anniversary Quilt, 4) Another view of my work station and the frozen West River, 5) Our snack table and kitchen area, 6)