WHEN Seabreeze Quilter Kim Reilly gives a handmade quilt, she’s giving a part of herself.

“I’ve just given one to a friend who has pancreatic cancer, what I’ve given her is a piece of me,” she said.

“Another friend is in hospital, they both make quilts and when you’re given something from someone who makes quilts, it’s so very special.”

Ms Reilly is president of the Seabreeze Quilters, which has been running for over four years and on 2 and 3 October, will present the first Quiltfest – Quilt Your Way through Hobsons Bay.

Seabreeze Quilters has between 70 and 100 members and will present 250 quilts throughout eight locations around the municipality.

Ms Reilly said there was a perception that quilting was a “granny craft” but that a lot of people were “closet quilters”.

“We also make quilts for Women’s Health West crisis accommodation service, so every child that comes into that service has a quilt and can take a quilt home,” she said.

“We don’t know who gets them, but the members know as the number of quilts go down, we know that the children are all getting one.”

There will be traders selling crafts and Ms Reilly said the event would not only show off local talent, but also the area.

“We wanted to showcase places like the Newport Substation, the Altona Homestead, it’s the most gorgeous place, Hobsons Bay,” she said.

Budding quilters still have time to enter the challenge, where quilters will interpret an A4 magazine page into an A3 size quilt, entries close 30 September.

For more information, contact Kim on 0409 382 510 or visit www.seabreezequilters.com.