Linda G. Whitford

“I Can Do That!”

Quilting in The North

"I can do that!"

Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane? To me, it was the equivalent of cutting up perfectly good, not to mention beautiful, fabric to sew it back together again! That was my thought process despite having grandmothers who both quilted, not to mention a daughter and many other family members who created beautiful treasures in just that way.

My presentation is intended to document my indoctrination into and my addiction to, quilting and how the results yield much more than pieces of fabric art, some just pretty to look at, but others that bring comfort and warmth to the recipient or commemorate an achievement, or just because the fabric or the pattern appealed to me.

Quilting has given me a community of like-minded people who all speak the same language, no matter which country they come from.  It has brought me acquaintances who have become close friends and opportunities to travel, have a ton of fun, and learn from so many talented teachers.  Most of all, it has brought me into a space mentally, which is good for my soul.  

Linda Whitford was 58 years old when the “quilting” bug struck.  That was just over  12 years ago. Born in Manning, Alberta and raised in Hay River, Northwest Territories;  she went to Yellowknife for schooling in 1969 and retired there in 2014.  She is a member of the Yellowknife Quilter’s Guild and served 2 terms as President.  Since retiring, her life revolves around family, fitness, quilting and travelling,  with some genealogy to round things out.  

Quilting has given me a community of like-minded people who all speak the same language, no matter which country they come from.

For Introduction

  • teaches classes at the local quilt store and also work there when they are short handed.
  • Born in Northern Alberta
  • Raised in the Northwest Territories, the last 56 years of which has been in Yellowknife. 
  • Married to Marc for 53 Years with 3 children and 5 grandkids
  • Education and background in Administration, Accounting, Conference Management and Secretarial Skills. 
  • Owned and Operated Data/Word Processing
  • Bartended  and Managed Branch 164 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Yellowknife
  • 18 years with the Law Society of the Northwest Territories – a good portion of that as the Executive Director of that organization and the NWT Branch of the Canadian Bar Association
  • Retired in 2014 and my retirement gift to myself was a quilting cruise to Alaska!
  • Spending that retirement quilting and travelling – most to visit with grandkids, with a lot of quilting retreats worked in. 
  • 2 terms as President of the Yellowknife Quilter’s Guild;
  • and have always crafted… cake decorating, embroidery, crocheting, macrame, painting, scrapbooking, cards,  etc, etc