We train South African men, women, and children to manufacture and market professional quilts
This web site is designed to sell their quilts to you
For seven years we operated out of an old bus depot in the black area of Sweetwaters, training the men and women to quilt for the market. In that time we trained over fifty people to make quilts that we sold locally and to overseas customers. All of the proceeds went directly to the quilters; no middle man, no administrative fees. The operation was part of the Rotary concept to “be ever mindful of those less fortunate then ourselves.”
Some of our quilters featured in a national Japan Quilting magazine
In time we had to move our location to a tourist route here in the midlands of KwaZulu so as to have more exposure to the market place. We opened our centre on a farm in the area in January 2008. Mzansi is the Zulu name for South Africa. Some twenty-five quilters come to the centre each week to learn techniques and create beautiful quilts, often from donated fabric and material. Some stay over in the dormitory we built and some take a minivan taxi from Sweetwaters. There is absolutely no charge to them. All our quilters are independent entrepreneurs that have been taught to create wealth where there was none before.
Mzansi was fortunate to have fifteen quilters from America and Canada visit the new Centre when it was just being started. They donated three long arm quilting machines and several pallets of material and tools, and stayed for over a week, training our quilters in advanced techniques. Linda and Rick Taylor organise the trip assisted by Hari Walner, Helen Squire, Laurel, Roger Barrus, and other well know quilters.
Mzansi sells quilts locally at various fairs and exhibitions, as well as overseas markets, principally in America and Canada. We have been assisted by Rotary clubs that raffle or auction off the quilts.
We also sell African and American fabrics at reasonable prices, as well as various quilting tools.
We can machine quilt your quilt tops by pantograph or free hand. Call us for prices.
We are the authorized sales representatives for Gammill Long-Arm Quilting Machines. Why not visit for a demonstration.
The original Quilters in 2003
Sample lable-
Our Youngest Quilter
Rick Taylor demonstrates machine maintenance to Zulu quilters
Elisabeth Baratta critiques during show and tell
Yes, men also
Oh Joy
Some quilters are young
And some not so young
We are the sales representatives for Gammill in South Africa
Zulu, Ethnic,Traditional, Custom made, quilts and wall hangers available by mail
