Red, White and Blue Challenge set for area quilters

The Le Mars Arts Center is hosting a "Red, White and Blue Challenge" for area quilters this beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Organizer Becky Wiersma sees the challenge as a good way to get quilters involved in a very worthy cause: creating quilt tops that will be gifted as "hugs" for injured soldiers at Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Hospital in Washington state and other military hospitals.

Wiersma heard about the project from quilting friends through the Internet and has already send three quilt tops toward the project.

A quilting group in Vashon, Wash., began gathering quilts in 2004 and continues to provide these special "hugs" to injured soldiers from donations across the nation. The American Hero Quilts group accepts cash donations, fabric or quilt tops and has quilters who custom quilt and finish the special creations with flannel backings.

On Saturday, March 7, Le Mars area quilters will be challenged to create a quilt block or a quilt top with red, white and blue fabric at the Le Mars Arts Center in Le Mars.

The quilters can use any block they want to make a minimum 60-inch by 70-inch quilt top. To help with quilt block ideas part of the March 7 program will include demonstrations of quick and easy quilt block patterns.

If fabric is needed, there will be red, white and blue fabric donated to the cause by the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter.

"I have the fabric donated by the DAR for this project," Wiersma said. "I just need help getting some things put together."

That's where the local quilters come in.

The quilters will have more than two months to create their donations.

At 1 p.m. Sunday, May 24 the arts center will host the meeting to collect and prepare the donations for shipping to American Hero Quilts in Washington.

"I hope to get some quilt tops made Saturday," Wiersma said, "as well as blocks to put into a sampler quilt."

Those attending the Saturday challenge will see a lot of fabric, from pieces to bolts.

Wiersma noted Jane Vincent of Unique Fabrique is also donating some fabric to be used for the quilts.

"We'll give them everything they need except a sewing machine. All they'll need to do is cut and sew," Wiersma said. That will include sample patterns for blocks and fabric to take home with them.

The March 7 get-together will include door prizes, and the quilters will have time to meet and visit over coffee.

If any interested quilters are unable to attend the March 7 meeting, but want to participate, they may contact the arts center (546-7476) and details on the challenge will be provided.

Those returning their blocks and quilt tops May 24 will have a special treat: an exhibit of fabric art by Joanne Alberda in the Arts Center galleries during the month of May.

The website www.americanheroquilts.com tells the inspiring story of how this initiative began and continues.

"Each quilt sent to American Hero Quilts represents hours of love and shows the recipient that Americans do care about their sacrifices. These gifts go a long way towards helping heal and are a great way to show our appreciation. Even one quilt makes a difference," said Wiersma.

One of the nice things for area quilters is that only the quilt top needs to be sent to American Hero Quilts. They will provide the quilting necessary for each top.

"That's a cost savings for us too, in shipping as well as time and energy," Wiersma said.

The comments section on the American Hero Quilts website has also touched Wiersma.

The comments come from the wounded soldiers, who have received the quilts, and from family members whose soldier was the recipient of the generous gift of time, talent and "hugs."