Carquinez Strait StitchersWELCOME!
Carquinez Strait Stitchers (CSS) is an organization open to anyone interested in quilts, quilt making, and related fabric arts. We are a small and friendly guild with over 90 members meeting in Benicia, California. We represent a range of ages and interests in quilting, and people of all experience and skill levels are invited to join. Annual membership dues are $25 (US).
Join us.
Guests are always welcome at our meetings.
CSS is dedicated to perpetuating the art and history of quilt-making. Our purpose is:
- to encourage members to share skills within the group,
- to provide educational workshops,
- to enjoy fellowship with other quilters, and
- to share our knowledge with the local community.
Many of our members participate in projects that reach out to help and to brighten the lives of community members in need. For more details about what we do for our members and the community, and what we ask our members to do for us, see About Us.
General meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM for member socializing and refreshments. These meetings are general business meetings and always close with a “show-and-tell” sharing of members’ projects, see Gallery. These meetings are held at the Benicia Senior Center, located in the Benicia Civic Center, 187 East L Street. See Senior Center map.
Activity meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, January through November, usually beginning at 6:30 PM. Activities vary, but could include speakers, workshops taught by members, or open sew on community outreach or other guild projects. Some of the workshops target beginning quilters, and some are geared to those with more experience. But there is almost always someone available to help new quilters along. There is usually a nominal fee for workshops and speakers. CSS also brings in outside instructors to teach quilt-making classes during the year. These all day classes are usually held on weekends. A fee is charged for these classes. For more detail on current activity meetings, see Program. All of the above meetings are held at the Benicia Senior Center, located in the Benicia Civic Center, 187 East L Street. See Senior Center map.
Community Outreach projects are an important component of our guild activities. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of most months from 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM in order to work at finishing quilts and other items, or assembling kits for other members to sew at home. Details are provided in Community Outreach. The meetings are held at the Benicia Ballet School and Theater, 942 Tyler Street, Suite #2 (ground floor). See Community Outreach map.
CSS biennial quilt show “Spring on the Straits” is presented in the spring of odd-numbered years. This is a public showcase of our members’ work. For details on the next show see Quilt Show.
We hope you enjoy our website. Downloadable versions of most forms that you might need are located under Resources.
Happy Quilting!
Carquinez Strait Stitchers