Brittany Kelley
KYLE — The Kyle Quilters began nearly 30 years ago and still continues to foster community for those with a passion for quilting, said president Kathie Gilson and treasurer Irene Murrell.
The group began a year or two before Gilson joined in 2001, she recalled, though she shared that its origin was simply a group of five women, who loved to quilt, gathering regularly. In 2006, the group became part of the Kyle Area Senior Zone, at the request of Adell Hurst, said Gilson.
Gilson began sewing when she was 6 years old, but her love of quilting didn’t begin until the early ’90s.
Murrell exclaimed that she has Gilson beat out, since she ’s been sewing since she was 3 years old, but, like Gilson, didn’t start quilting until decades later, when a community member in Driftwood, where she used to live, prompted her to try it out. From there, she joined the Kyle Quilters and has been part of it ever since.
At the inception of the group, people would discover it through the Kyle Public Library calendar, resulting in a small group, but now, it’s grown to have approximately 60 members, said Murrell, all of whom share the same passion — making something that can be shared with others.
The group meets twice a month, first at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday for business meetings and then, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the third Saturday for a Sew-In, where the members gather to have a pot-luck and work on their projects.
The business meetings are required for its new 501(3)c nonprofit status, explained Gilson, and include announcements, a show-and-tell portion and lessons on quilting tips-and-tricks.
One of the most recent sessions taught attendees to create quilt portraits, said Gilson, who shared hers, fit with a thread spool for a mouth.
They also share patterns for small quilted pieces that members can make for the boutique, which is open during the club’s annual Kyle Quilters Quilt Show — an opportunity for community members to view the works of the quilters and vote for their favorite quilt to be crowned “Viewer’s Choice.” An elected official is also regularly in attendance to judge first, second and third place in several different categories, including challenge quilts.
The boutique offers items, such as pot holders, aprons, microwave bowl covers and more, said Murrell. All proceeds are donated to organizations in Hays County that have been chosen by the club to support: Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, Tru Choice Pregnancy Resource Center, scholarships for students and more.
“We ran the numbers a few years ago [and] we’ve given over $70,000 since we started donating,” Gilson said. “We just felt like we needed to [donate it], if we were making money. The women wanted to do it; they didn’t want to keep it.”
Another way the members have supported the community for the past two years is by quilting more than 1,000 pillow cases for Pillow of Peace, shared Gilson.
Anyone can join the club, the pair emphasized, though Murrell warned that, “We will infect you. People join and say, ‘I don’t quilt,’ [but they stay]. It’s addictive.”
Without an age limit or minimum — as long as a parent can attend — they emphasized that quilting is an activity for everyone. Gilson said that her grandson even quilted with the club for a few years at the age of 11.
The only requirement is basic sewing skills, though a sewing machine is preferable, said Murrell, so they’d recommend taking a beginner class first, but that they’re willing to help teach new members how to quilt.
For those who think they may be interested, Gilson encourages them to attend a meeting or visit on a Saturday and determine from there whether they want to continue on. After, a $20 membership fee is due annually, which is used for furniture, fixtures and equipment, said Gilson.
Despite the addictive nature of quilting, the pair emphasized that the best part of the club is certainly the people.
“We have a wonderful, wonderful group,” Gilson said. “I’ve been with some groups that the leadership doesn’t get along and there’s always little issues. There’s always little problems and we don’t have that. We always get along.”
“We disagree sometimes, yes, but we don’t argue. We listen and we work through it as a group,” added Murrell.
“It’s just a blessing to be with these women,” concluded Gilson.
Next steps for the Kyle Quilters include preparing for its move to the new Adell Hurst Senior Community Center, said Murrell, which the organization has been saving for, as the members were unsure of what would be provided by the city.
Additionally, the 2026 Kyle Quilters Quilt Show will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, and from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. The event will be free to attend, but the boutique will be available for visitors to shop at. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 1 Beth Smith will also be in attendance to vote on her favorite quilt.
Raffle tickets can also be purchased for $1 a piece or six for $5 for a chance to win a quilt made by members of the club.
Those interested in the Kyle Quilters can email [email protected].
