Cardinal Quilters, a group of inspired quilters, meets at the Felicity Branch of the Clermont County Public Library twice a month. Pictured, from left, Sabrina Schnarrenberg, president of the group, and Mary Napier.

Cardinal Quilters, a group of inspired quilters, meets at the Felicity Branch of the Clermont County Public Library twice a month. Pictured, from left, Sabrina Schnarrenberg, president of the group, and Mary Napier.
By Megan Alley
Sun staff

A Clermont County quilting group is stitching together more than fabric – they’re forming ties that bind.

Cardinal Quilters, a group of inspired quilters, was formed in 2008 by Amy Vogel, supervisor of the Felicity Branch of the Clermont County Public Library.

“It began as a library program,” Vogel said. “They had so much fun.”

The group started by making one quilt to display in the library. Since then, they’ve made four seasonal quilts and one patriotic quilt for the library, as well as one for the children’s area.

“The group has really taken off and evolved over the years; people can come together and work on a project,” she said.

The group builds a feeling of community and friendship, according to Vogel.

“You sit around a quilt frame and tell stories, laugh and cry,” she said. “It’s a great way to form friendships, and it’s a good way for new members of the community to become engaged.”

She added, “Everyone is welcome.”

Cardinal Quilters currently has 10 members; they meet at the library twice a month.

“Libraries aim to inform, engage and inspire,” Vogel said. “People can come here to read and learn, hands-on, about quilting.”

In 2015, Cardinal Quilters made 63 quilts, according to Sabrina Schnarrenberg, president of the group.

They have donated quilts to a variety of local organizations, including the Franklin Township Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, the Katie Haumesser Foundation and the Young Women’s Christian Association in Batavia.

They’ve given quilts to new moms and their babies through the Pregnancy Resource Center in Georgetown, and they’ve donated lap quilts to servicemen and servicewoman at the Ohio Veterans Home in Georgetown.

The group also makes quilts to be raffled off at fundraising events.

Quilts have a special way of touching people’s lives, according to Schnarrenberg.

“People come up and touch it, and love on it,” she said. “Quilting takes a lot of patience, and they can see all the hard work that went into making the quilt.”

Most recently, the group made a 4 feet by 4 feet quilt square for the Monument Quilt, a national project and collection of squares that tells the stories of women who have survived rape and abuse.

In October, the square will be joined with other squares and displayed at the YMCA in Cincinnati.

Schnarrenberg, who joined Cardinal Quilters in 2012, comes from a family of quilters.

“I grew up quilting with my mom,” she said. “My family has a history of making quilts; the older generation gave the each of the younger generation a quilt for their wedding, so that is really special to look back on.”

Schnarrenberg, a veteran of the Iraq war, envisioned herself quilting while she was serving abroad.

“Being overseas and in combat, you daydream,” she said. “I pictured a life for myself and I pictured myself quilting.”

Schnarrenberg values the friendships she has made through Cardinal Quilters.

“Like me, they want to help the world,” she said. “We’re making these quilts for someone that’s really in need.”

She added, “They’re a fabulous group of ladies, and they put so much love into these quilts.”

The Cardinal Quilters meet at 10 a.m. the first Thursday of each month to quilt and at 6 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month to plan. For more information, call Vogel at the Felicity Branch of the Clermont County Public Library at 513-876-4134.