Pine Needlers in Stitches Again

Heritage Quilt Slated for 49er Festival Live Auction

Irene Clark's 1970's pen-and-ink illustrations were resized to 8x8 inches, converted to sepia tones, and printed on fabric. The 175th Anniversary logo was custom-printed for the center block and quilt's backing.

Groveland’s quilters are at it again! In honor of Tuolumne County’s 175th Anniversary, members of the Pine Needlers Guild are busy working on a commemorative quilt. The one-of-a-kind creation will feature historic illustrations of Groveland and Big Oak Flat’s historic homes and buildings, many still standing after more than a century. Follow the progress of the 175th Heritage Quilt and the stories behind it, then be ready to bid on this piece of local history. 

Truly a community project, the Pine Needlers reached out to STCHS who provided fourteen Irene Clark prints of our area’s most famous homes, buildings, and community gathering spots. A local graphic artist scanned, resized, color-adjusted from black to vintage sepia tones, and printed the illustrations on cotton fabric sheets.  A fifteenth custom-printed image of the County’s 175th Anniversary logo will be the centerpiece of the finished quilt; the same image was reproduced as a repeating pattern to serve as the quilt’s backing.

The Pine Needlers Guild is donating this work of art as a centerpiece for the 49er Festival’s Live Auction. Thanks to the talented and dedicated members of the Guild, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the quilt will benefit the Grade to Gate Foundation in support of Groveland’s Downtown Beautification program.

Watch for upcoming articles from STCHS, highlighting the families, businesses, and services at the heart of our 175 years of local history.

As the quilt progresses, we’re pleased to reveal a new series by STCHS’ Kathy Brown, who will be telling the stories behind the illustrations. The quilt truly represents the journey that began in Garrote more than 175 years ago and continues today–the families, the businesses, industry, services, and community who wove this tapestry. In honor of 49er Festival Grand Marshal, we begin with the Cassaretto Family.

Read more about artist Irene Clark who created more than 40 pen-and-ink illustrations of our area’s historic buildings in the 1970’s.