Marlene’s Crafting Journey: Marlene’s crafting journey began in the early 1980s when she started creating various crafts and clothing for her two daughters, Nicole and Amee. She delved into the realms of spinning wool, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and weaving. Over the course of the past four decades, Marlene continuously honed her skills in these areas. Eventually, she ventured into the world of long arm machine quilting and established her own business. Her expertise in quilting earned her numerous awards throughout the past 20 years.
In 2020, during the pandemic lockdowns, Marlene found herself yearning for a new craft to pursue as a hobby. Her search led her to the fascinating realm of hand-cranking socks. Intrigued, she imported an antique English sock machine, over a century old, from England. Despite lacking instructional resources, Marlene persevered through trial and error until she successfully crafted her very first pair of socks. What initially began as a mere pastime soon transformed into a thriving business. was formed.
Our Connection to Alexandra, Victoria: Based in Alexandra, a small town in central Victoria, Marlene draws inspiration from the region’s rich history. With a deep affection for Alexandra, which was once known as Red Gate, Marlene decided to name her businesses Redgate Socks and Redgate Quilting. She has resided in or around the area for 35 years, fostering a genuine connection to its heritage.
Since 2008 Marlene’s quilting journey has been equally remarkable. Her expertise in long arm machine quilting has earned her numerous awards and recognition over the past two decades. Her dedication to creating beautiful, meticulously crafted quilts has been a hallmark of Redgate Quilting.
In 2009 the area was devastated by bushfires, with many of Marlene’s close friends losing their homes. Throughout this time, Marlene was heavily involved in collecting and distributing quilts for many friends and associates in the area she has called home for the past 20+ years. Many of these quilts she quilted herself, donating 100’s of hours of time to make something special.
Marlene also completes the quilting for the Alexandra Quilters Fundraiser Quilt each year.