“Everyone Needs a Hobby”
My love of quilting and sewing began as a hobby! When I was granted a brief sabbatical from teaching and parish ministry in 1998, I heard, “Everyone needs a hobby.” My mother loved to sew and quilt — she created so many necessary items from fabric and always felt happy and satisfied with a completed item. Therefore, I registered for three sessions at a small quilt shop in Avon, Minn. Here I learned the basics of quilting — how to choose and piece fabric, the use of batting, the need of an appropriate backing to sandwich a quilt, and the importance of small hand-stitches. I experienced the beautiful and artistic designs of cotton fabric! To begin this hobby, all I needed was a small “retreat-style” sewing machine, a rotary cutter, mat and ruler, as well as a table. With these in hand, I created my first quilted wall hanging. My creative spirit was renewed!
The following year, I began my 13-year ministry in faith formation at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Becker, Minn. The seven small classrooms were very bleak with stark white walls. With the help of two catechists, we created a wall hanging for each room representing the seven colors of the rainbow. The children and catechists were pleased with the color and the acoustic difference it added to the room. Again my creative spirit was renewed, and it was the beginning of my awareness of what difference the use of fabric makes in any environment.
At about the same time, I received a large box filled with a variety of sizes and designs of fabrics from my sister who was living in an apartment complex. Another resident wondered whether I could use some leftover cotton fabric and handed the box to my sister. From that box of donated fabric, I made two reversible bedspreads, one for my sister and one for myself. These beginnings helped me to feel confident in creating items for our gift shops.
Presently, I listen to various tutorials and gain ideas for making seasonal items from the internet. In July, tutorials are available for Christmas items — how to make a Christmas tree skirt, Christmas stockings, tree ornaments and napkins sewed and folded to look like a tree. In December, there are ideas about spring and summer mug rugs, table runners, place mats, hot pads, potholders, candle mats, wall hangings, etc.
I create these items using fabric and thread which I have received from several generous donors. I can select and piece a variety of complimentary fabrics together to create beautiful and useful items. An hour spent in my fabric room relieves my stress and renews my creative spirit. It continues to be a worthwhile hobby for me!
Julie Schleper, OSB
This article was featured on page 23 in the fall 2026 issue of Call.
