Berry Patch Quilters selling $5 tickets for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind queen-size quilt crafted by Robbie Damron.
A longtime quilting guild in Plant City is raffling off a one-of-a-kind, hand-appliquéd queen-size quilt this December, hoping to raise money to support its growing list of charitable projects.
The Berry Patch Quilters of Plant City- a 30-member guild that meets weekly to create masterpieces- is selling $5 raffle tickets for the quilt, crafted and donated by founding member Robbie Damron. The drawing is scheduled for December 10.
Damron, who helped start the guild nearly three decades ago, said she created the quilt years ago using a hand-stitching technique she learned from fellow quilters and from her mother and grandmother that adds texture and dimension to fabric through layered pieces of cloth. “With appliqué, you cut out a design and turn under the edges with tiny, tiny stitches,” she said. “I’m very fond of appliqué. It makes me feel good to sit and sew by hand.”
Guild members say the quilt’s value is “priceless”- and that whoever wins it for $5 will be like owning a piece of someone’s story- every stitch reflects hours of patience, skill, and love poured into it by the maker. It’s the kind of quilt relatives will “accidentally” try to steal at holidays. Of the 244 printed tickets, fewer than 40 remain.
Proceeds from the raffle will support the guild’s general fund, helping members continue projects that supply quilts and handmade items to local charities. Recent donations have included lap quilts for Solaris Assisted Living, pieces for Brandon Hospital, and Newborns in Need.
The group’s work extends well beyond quilts. Members sew pillowcases, oven mitts, koozie bowls, placemats, holiday ornaments, and many crochet and knitted items. The guild is currently working toward a goal of donating 108 decorated pillowcases to Solaris. “We’re roughly halfway toward our goal,” said member Lorraine McMillion.
She said rising fabric costs – now commonly $13 to $15 per yard- are making fundraising increasingly important. “Some ladies sew all day every day,” McMillion said. “Some can’t afford to go out and purchase materials, and you need at least three yards to make a quilt. Fundraisers like this help us keep giving.”
The Berry Patch Quilters meet each Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church basement. The third Wednesday of each month extends to 2:00 p.m. for a combined sew-day and meeting.
Community members interested in purchasing a raffle ticket or learning more about the guild can contact McMillion at (813) 263-7101 or guild leader Rebecca Phillips at (813) 758-2277. Tickets will be sold until the drawing on Dec. 10.
“We’re a group that loves quilting and all kinds of needle arts,” McMillion said. “And we’re excited to share what we do with the community.”
