When the Canadian Quilter Association (CQA/ACC) launched the True Colours quilt along in January, we didn’t know how many people would participate. What impressed us most of all was the heart and creativity that went into every project.

From the designers and organizers, right through to the stitchers, you wowed us with your desire for everyone to feel welcome in the quilting circle. No one was more excited than the pattern designers who all donated their work for free.

What motivated them?

• Carole McRae of Fonthill, Ontario – “My son is part of the of the 2SLGBTQI+  community, so this project has  very special meaning for me. When I saw the CQA/ACC call for blocks, I knew this was the right time.”
• Terry Whitmell – “As an educator for more than four decades, I have seen how important it has been to our community to have everyone recognized and respected. I have queer and transgender people who are important to me in both my immediate and extended family. We have lived through years of growing knowledge and understanding, but we still have far to go to achieve true equity.”
• Rolanda Tovey, of Manitoulin Island, Ontario – “I have room in my heart  for everyone. I am a firm believer in the live and let live rule.”
• Eli Hazard – “Quilts are such a tangible expression of love and joy. Queerness for me is all about love and joy! It’s the love for my wife and my friends; the joy of seeing myself in the mirror looking exactly the way I want; the love and joy of going to a queer event and seeing everyone expressing themselves so freely. As a trans-masculine, nonbinary individual, quilting and queerness are also deeply rooted in community and history.
• Rita Solkin of Nova Scotia – “I have a number of friends who identify as trans. My block is a reminder of their love and the use the  appropriate pronouns. It gives me an opportunity  to show love and support to those close friends.”

• Lauren MacDonald, Manitoulin Island, Ontario – “My All Kinds block came from the saying, ‘It takes all kinds of people to make a world.’ We can’t judge others unless we have walked in their shoes. I have family members and best friends who are part of these communities. Also, I saw a family pulled apart by conversion therapy inflicted on one of the sons. Many decades of heartbreak ensued for the parents and the one child who stood by them.”
• Viktoria Brave of Prince Edward County, Ontario – “I love the shape and symbolism of the diamond. As it emerges through intense  pressure and hardship, it reflects and amplifies light. I hope that each person can feel themselves to be a diamond, carved out of their own life experiences, yet meant to shine their joy, their love, and their authenticity for all to benefit.”
• Heather Jarmyn of PEI – “Love is love. Everyone’s blood is red, pumped through our hearts, beating steadily, and we want to live with love in our lives, however that looks.”
• Judy Coffin of Quebec and PEI – “We live in an increasingly polarized world, where our  opinions seem to have become more highly valued than people and relationships. We are all seeking a sense of acceptance, of belonging, of being seen and valued for our authentic selves.”
• Corey Follett of St. John’s, Newfoundland – “My Queering the Cabin reminds everyone that home is where the ‘hearth’ is and some of those homes and ‘hearths’ are queer. As a queer man, I believe that art/craft does indeed imitate life. We’re here, we’re queer and we’re quilters too.”

How it all came together

​Canadian Quilter’s former editor Leslie Van Patter got the project rolling in August 2024. She suggested a rainbow-themed quilt created over several months leading up to a celebration of Pride at Quilt Canada in June 2025. It soon became the CQA/ACC’s 2025 annual quilt along.

She joined forces with CQA/ACC past president (and social media maven) Jackie White and Membership Director Kelly Moore. Each member of this tight-knit team fulfilled different roles.

Leslie developed the name True Colours, built and managed web pages, while handling all branding and graphic designs for the website, social media pages and promotional materials). She also developed PDF patterns with each designer and edited all written content  on the web pages, PDFs, newsletters magazine articles.

Leslie’s graphics moved the project to a whole other level, Jackie noted. She also credited Kelly with keeping the project on track with board and external communications, policy changes, scheduling, budget and logistics.

Meanwhile, Jackie worked with each of the block designers to create, refine and test their patterns, then coordinated the social media plan.

Leveraging their contacts in the quilting world, Leslie and Jackie invited three Queer quilters to serve as the Selection Committee and advisors. Peter Byrne of Toronto, Jordan St. James of Montreal and Bill Stearman of Prince Edward County made the final choices from 40 submissions.

The blocks share up to eight colours: pink for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight,  green for nature, turquoise for art and magic, indigo for serenity and violet for spirit.

Finding True Colours allies

Thanks to this project, past members returned to CQA/ACC due to a greater sense of inclusiveness, Kelly says.

“We saw an outpouring of love and support from family and friends through the making of the quilts,” she noted.

Together, the trio wrote and published a series of seven resources related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Combined, these steps further the organization’s strategy to become more inclusive, diverse and welcoming, Kelly says.

“We don’t know how many quilts were created for the quilt along, or how many are still to be completed. Those who shared their progress on social media were enthusiastic and thankful that CQA/ACC was helping to make the quilting world a safer and more welcoming space for everyone.”

“I have been involved with CQA/ACC since 2012,” Jackie adds. “This is the first time that I can remember that we asked the public to essentially create their own quilt along.”

Under Kelly’s direction, and with the approval of the Board, CQA/ACC’s Acknowledgement Statement was revised to be more inclusive. Further, its Diversity, Inclusivity and Equality Statement was revised to align with the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Comments from Facebook

“My True Colours quilt hung proudly as a banner today for our drag communion at Shaughnessy Heights United Church in Vancouver. I was so happy to make this quilt for this event.”

• Gayle Ansley

“All done and donated to a local Pride Committee. This is my first quilt along and it definitely won’t be my last.”

• Shevon Csversko of Manitoba

“Our Piecemakers Quilt group made two banners rather than one quilt so they can be carried in the local Pride Parade.”

• Florence Parohl of Saskatchewan.

“We’re so proud to take part in this!”

• Angele L. Kisnics of the Riverbank Quilt Guild

“A big thank you to CQA and all the block designers. What a powerful message to send to the quilting community.”

• Nadia Loves Fabric

Thank you to everyone who participated and made such wonderful artwork. CQA is delighted to have provided a venue for such creativity, kindness and uplifting artwork.