For over 15 years, the St. John’s Lutheran quilting club has been meeting once a week to make quilts, lap robes, baby blankets and nap covers. The club donates their work to various organizations that serve people in need. When observing the club working together, it is obvious that they have been doing this for awhile. Everyone knows their part. Just like the pieces of a quilt need to fit together perfectly, so does the work of this team. The process begins with club member Mary Fischer cutting out the squares of fabric. She explained that the fabric is usually donated from the congregation. However, if the club is running low, or needs something in particular, they also purchase material. Fischer cuts the fabric into 3-, 4- or 5-inch squares depending on the size of the donated fabric. After the squares are cut, the group chooses what size of quilt they will work on for the week. Each lady brings home squares to sew on her own sewing machine. “We have to sew the squares at home,” said Phoebe Stangle,”because there is no sewing machine at the church.” The squares are sewn into 9 block panels, and are brought back to church. Helen Jensen explained that the blocks are sewn together by starting with three squares in a row. Next, three of these rows are precisely sewn together making sure that each square matches perfectly in the block. Then, one lady takes the blocks home to make the quilt. This lady will bring the quilt back to the group for the fun part – tying it together with the other club members. “This really is our social life,” joked Fischer with Arlene Deuermeyer. During the club, the ladies work diligently while socializing, catching up on their current events, and just enjoying each other’s company, As the group laughed, Jensen added, “Quilting clubs helps keep us on track of our days. We always know when it is Wednesday.” Most of the quilts made by the group are large enough to fit on a twin bed. Jensen explained, “We send them out to charities that usually have single beds, so this is the size we usually make.” The club donates their quilts to the Battered Women’s Shelter, Earthline,Catholic Charities and people in the area who need quilts. The club also makes baby blankets for the New Beginnings organization. Furthermore, they make lap robes and nap covers for residents in the Hilltop and Annandale Care Centers. The club prides themselves on producing high-quality work. Mackereth said, “these girls do a great job.” The club often visits the charities to which they donate. When visiting different facilities, the group noticed that their blankets are superior to some of the others that are donated. “We have such nice batting and such pretty tops. They look very attractive on the beds,” said Mackereth. Currently, the group has finished about 20 blankets this year. Because of storage restrictions, the club hopes to donate these soon so they can continue quilting. The group described quilting as their “mission work to serve others,” said Mackereth.
