A GROUP of women in Queanbeyan are using their sewing skills to help a local women’s refuge.

Members of the Queanbeyan Quilters have sewn and filled hundreds of toiletry bags for women and the children at the Louisa Women’s Refuge in Queanbeyan.

Made with love by volunteers, toiletry bags are filled with the necessities a victim of domestic violence and their children may need when initially escaping a dangerous situation.

In the bag are toiletries; soaps, hairbands, toothpaste, a hair brush and hand creams, small essentials helping get women “through a rough time”.

“We fill the bags with little things that if you left home in hurry you may not take with you like a toothbrush,” says Queanbeyan Quilters president Bryony de La Motte.

Ms de La Motte, a retired librarian who has been quilting for 20 years, says the group has sewn about 100 toiletry bags for the women’s refuge so far.

“It’s a lovely thing to do for people in need,” Ms de La Motte says.

“One Christmas, about four years ago, we decided not to give each other gifts instead but to do something for people less well off than us and that’s when we started sewing and filling the toiletry bags.

“We don’t use scrap fabric to make the bags, we use cheerful fabrics that people will enjoy.

“We make kids sized bags too because some women flee with their children.”

Club members have also made about 200 quilts for the refuge.

“So that when the women leave they have a nice quilt to take with them,” says Ms de La Motte.

Queanbeyan Quilters formed in the early 1990s by group of women who met at a local quilting course.

“Once the course was over the ladies decided to create a club, it’s grown a lot over the years, we have about 50 members to date,” says Ms de La Motte.

“We also sew quilts for HOME in Queanbeyan and the Hospital Auxiliary.

“It feels good to help.”

Ms de La Motte says the group is “always” looking for new members and new charities to support.

Local organisations needing quilts can contact the Queanbeyan Quilters via their website.