LEWISTON — Gathered around a long table, the Classic Quilters concentrate on tiny stitches as they applique designs onto fabric that will become a wedding gift, a showpiece, a wall hanging or maybe a treasured heirloom.

Each member works on a piece, silver thimbles adorning fingers, little needles carefully piercing calicoes, tie-dyed fabric and floral prints.

The group of quilters began around 1984 and are members of the Pine Tree Quilters’ Guild, Ethel DuBois said. “We have a great time.”

Many in the group revere her and neighbor Carole Pettinelli as the “queens of applique.” It’s a method in which tiny stitches attach designs to fabric to make the patterns of the quilt. Pieced quilts are ones that depend on large patterns that are stitched together.

“They wouldn’t be pieced in my home! You can take applique wherever you go, but you cannot take a sewing machine with you!” DuBois said.

The members enjoy their Tuesday nights at Campus Cuisine Cafeteria in the d’Youville Pavilion in Lewiston. The youngest is Emily Letourneau, a senior at Lewiston High School, who found the group by Googling “quilters.”

“I only know how to machine quilt, but Ethel is going to teach me how to sew,” she said. “It’s easier to learn by hand than by machine. The more you do, the better you get.”

Classic Quilters will be supporting their youngest member at the LHS quilt show later this spring.

Giselle Prevost said she enjoys seeing the others’ work.

“Every week you have something new,” she said. “My projects … they’re all UFOs: Unfinished Objects!”

LaCouture said she makes quilts for her seven grandchildren, so she gets behind on those for other family members. “I’ve been working my son’s quilt for his wedding. He’s been married four years.”

Connie Pinette, sewing an intricate “window” design, wore what looked like a sash adorned with pins.

“Everyone collects these pins,” she said. “They are from the yearly quilting exhibitions. I have collected them since 1993, one a year. Everyone is supposed to wear them, and if you don’t you pay 25 cents.”