Join me for an inspiring conversation with Anne Hill, Alzheimer’s Scotland’s Quilter in Residence, as she shares her remarkable journey from learning to sew in Shetland to creating quilts that heal, comfort, and connect communities worldwide.
What You’ll Discover:
* The history and evolution of quilting in Scotland from necessity to art form
* How memory quilts help dementia patients unlock forgotten memories
* The remarkable story of a man who hadn’t spoken in 5 years until Football Memories sessions
* Anne’s international “Changing Minds” project spanning 40 countries
* Practical quilting tips from a master quilter with decades of experience
* The therapeutic benefits of quilting for mental health and wellbeing
* How quilts are being used in hospitals, for cancer patients, and premature babies
* The difference between men’s and women’s approaches to memory quilts
* Why symbols work better than photographs for triggering memories
I met Ann for the first time when I took up a beginners quilting workshop in the winter of 2023/2024 which was absolutely wonderful. Her teaching style was warm, friendly and with a lot of patience!!
It was held at Shambellie House near Dumfries, which is an excellent venue for smaller crafting classes. And since Ann lives not too far from the venue, she’s there quite often.
In this episode, Ann takes us through the rich tradition of Scottish quilting and reveals how this ancient craft has evolved into a powerful tool for therapy, memory care, and social connection. From covering Hampden Park’s entire pitch with 5,012 quilts to sending 650 “quilted hugs” during COVID-19, Anne’s work demonstrates the profound impact that needle, thread, and fabric can have on people’s lives.
As Alzheimer’s Scotland’s Quilter in Residence, Ann creates memory quilts and teaches quilting to everyone from primary school children to Rotary clubs. She is a past president and a member of the International Rotary Quilters.
Her involvement and initiation of so many wonderful projects is a strong testament to her love for people and quilting.
Contact & Donations:
Ann welcomes fabric donations and speaking invitations. If you have fabric, curtains, sheets, ties, or other materials you’d like to donate, and cannot find your regional Scottish quilting guild contact, then please get in touch with Ann directly. She can then connect you with local quilting groups throughout Scotland to ensure your donations go to good use.
You can find Ann on Facebook or via the Shambellie House website.
If you wish to have a copy of Ann’s “Change your mind around the world” project booklet then you can download it HERE.
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Share Your Story:
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