Quilting for a cause

The third Saturday in March has been dubbed National Quilting Day by the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. This year, National Quilting Day coincided with the culmination of First Lutheran Church's quilt project for Lutheran World Relief (LWR).

Each year, LWR donates hundreds of thousands of quilts to those in need throughout the world. The Plains congregation completes an average of 25 quilts each year to the effort. Last Saturday, about a dozen women showed up to finish the last quilts before they are sent to LWR. First Lutheran will donate 30 completed quilts this year. The quilts are taken to Missoula, where they are loaded and shipped to Minneapolis to be stored in a warehouse until the donations are needed.

Jo Carpenter said that the quilts aren't just used for sleeping blankets. They are often used as room dividers, to carry children, or to pack belongings in. The quilts aren't just donated to other countries. When there is a disaster such as a hurricane in the U.S., LWR sends quilts.

The Plains group brings finished 60 inch by 80 inch quilt tops to their weekly gathering, where they lay out a backing and batting, then the quilt top. The quilts are then tied every six inches by hand before the binding (edge) is sewed with a sewing machine.

The women said that all skill levels are welcome to help with their quilt projects, which they usually complete January through March each year. Some people don't know how to use a sewing machine, but can help tie the quilts or iron the fabric.

LWR in 2018 distributed 326,610 quilts, 216,430 school kits and 119,865 personal care kits.