Guild History

Manatee Patchworkers was begun by Jean Johnson and Ione Knopp in 1982. The original meeting location was in Jean’s home in Ellenton. As the membership increased, meetings were held at Jean’s Quilting Cabin, later known as Quilter’s Haven and More. The guild was chartered by the National Quilters Association in 1983. The first officers were President Jean Johnson, Co-President Ione Knopp, Secretary June Short, and Treasurer Betty Chennault. The first guild meeting was held in March 1983, and the first quilt show the same month at the county fairgrounds in Palmetto. A newsletter, “Manatee Patchworkers Chatter,” was delivered in April. The guild renamed the newsletter “Patchwords” with its debut that May, along with the manatee as the logo for Manatee Patchworkers. By 1984 there were 65 members, meeting in the evenings at the Courtyard. Our guild today still follows the pattern of those early years. There are workshops, quilt shows, guest speakers, classes, and cottage groups. We are continuing the vision of those founding members.

A few facts and firsts:

Our first quilt show had a profit of $1,000. 

Georgia Bonesteel was a speaker in October 1984. Each ticket was $5.00

Dues began at $12.00 for the year.

July 1988—first Fat Quarter Raffle, “Novelty Prints.”

Patchworkers in 1989 created a Children’s Handprint Quilt to be hung in the  Wiggins Store Museum, 604 15th Street E, Bradenton. Handprints of  children were traced for a 6’ x 6’ quilt.

In 1990 guild membership topped 100 with 102 members.

Kaye Wood was a featured speaker at the 1991 quilt show.

Our manatee logo “Patches” has changed over the years. Our current   “Patches” debuted in November 1993.

The first guild retreat was held on August 8 and 9, 1997. 

Quilt show names over the years

1984--A Piece of Times

1985--A Star is Born

1986--The Pleasure is Ours

1987--Unknown

1988--Heart & Home

1989--Today's Treasures

1990--Among the Lilies

1991--Yesterday's Lessons - 

Tomorrow's Treasures

1992--Quilts of Pioneer Days

1993--Discovery

1994--For Heaven's Sake

1996--Scrap Magic

1998--Anniversary Rose

2000--Fall Fantasy

2002--A Quilter's Odyssey

2004--Reach for the Stars

2006--Keep the World in Stitches

2008--Quilting to the Rhythm of Life

2010--QuiltFest 2010

2012--Quilting by the River

2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022—

Suncoast Quilt Expo

Presidents over the years

Jean Johnson

Wanda Curtin

Lorraine Brown

Kathy Curtin

Rose Sikorski

Jean Ann Cooper

Maxie Bossemeyer

Jann Warfield (Eve Asbury served only one month)

Irene Murphy

Nancy Adams

Mary Lou Cannon (2 terms)

Debby Lake

Peggy Whiteman

Mary Alexander (2 terms)

Betty Armstrong (3 terms)

Denise Pendleton

Brenda Broadbent

Carol Lipp (2 terms)

Sandi Routhier (Juanita 

Dickinson interim)

Bobbie Spann

Carol Lipp

Sheila Walker

Ruth Baggs

Alison Parks

Sheila Walker (2 terms)

Susan Fickey