“The Quilters” Examines The Power Of Creating And Crafting

Just like reading a good book, crafting and making things with your hands can transport you to a different time and place, elevate your mood, and positively impact other aspects of your life. This couldn’t be better demonstrated than through Jenifer McShane’s poignant documentary “The Quilters,” which came out on Netflix on May 16.

“The Quilters” is a 32-minute documentary about a small group of men in a maximum-security prison in Licking, Missouri, who defy all the expectations of prison life and lead a quilting group, creating amazing quilts for foster children in their surrounding communities.

There are several important messages peppered throughout this little gem of a documentary: creating for others heals the soul, using your hands for art can be transformative, and creating leads to a sense of community.

Several of the men featured in this documentary are serving life sentences for crimes that involve homicide and aggravated assault. Throughout the documentary, they wholeheartedly admit and regret their crimes and know they are paying the price. But because of the quilting program, they have been able to forgive themselves, see an opportunity for healing, and take it seriously.

None of the men can stay in the program if they have any infractions. There is zero tolerance for mistakes. But they all recognize that quilting has helped to heal them of their inner demons and has provided a bright spot in the lives of the foster children who receive the quilts. One inmate said his family can even hear a difference in his voice when he calls home. He’s calmer and more loving because he has learned to love himself and to finally be proud of something in his life.

The physical and mental process of creating a quilt also has an interesting impact on the men. The process requires a separate, small, intimate room for the men to work eight hours a day, five days a week. It requires long periods of thought and concentration. As one inmate states, “This is what puts me on the outside. When I do this, I don’t even be in here.” Quilting, or any creative outlet, is a way to escape from difficult circumstances, even if only for a short while. It elevates these men’s sense of self-worth and helps their minds grow outside of the prison. Simply put, being creative transforms one’s mind.

Finally, this small community that they develop is perhaps the most important aspect of the quilt group, other than providing gifts for foster children. The documentarian said she was worried that the room they make quilts in would feel claustrophobic to the viewer, but on the contrary, it just feels intimate. The viewer can sense how close the men have grown, having this common goal and common “hobby.” When one person is happy, they all feel elated. When one person has a bad time with something, they all feel that together. The sense of community that develops just through this craft is both a physical and mental one.

“The Quilters” will give you a new appreciation for what creating and crafting can do for your life. It will also give you a rare glimpse into the world of incarceration. After viewing this short documentary at a convention for shop owners in the craft industry, I was left with a sense of optimism for the men but an even clearer belief that quilting, or any kind of crafting, can truly transform your life. The only shortfall of the film that I and those around me could come up with: we all wished it were longer! Thirty-two minutes isn’t long enough with these inspiring men and their mission!

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