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 (Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Becky Wiersma looks over four quilt tops from the Red, White and Blue Challenge. They are by Gerry Day of Hawarden (in hand) and from left, Janet Wiener, Hinton; Marlys Britton, Merrill and Diane Jones, Le Mars. The quilters will meet at the Le Mars Arts Center at 1 p.m. Saturday to share their completed projects. [Click to enlarge] |
It's the "Red, White and Blue Challenge" which creates quilts to be gifted as "hugs" to injured soldiers at Fort Lewis' Madigan Army Medical Hospital in Washington state and other military hospitals.
Becky Wiersma of Le Mars heard about the project, American Hero Quilts, from quilting friends through the Internet, and gathered a local group of quilters in March to make contributions.
They will share the results of their labor of caring at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The assignment: create a quilt block or a minimum 60x70" top with red, white and blue fabric.
"So far 13 tops have been submitted," said Wiersma. "I'm looking forward to seeing the rest on Saturday. One person made four tops."
All quilt blocks submitted will be put into a sampler quilt.
"I was really happy with the response," she added.
The afternoon will include a show and tell for each quilter attending, with a followup discussion on the project.
Wiersma the project had good representation, with quilters coming from Le Mars, Remsen, Merrill, Akron, Hawarden and Hinton. Quilters ranged from experienced to even a first-time quilter.
The quilters were able to use fabric donated by a local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter, as well as some donated by Unique Fabrique in Le Mars.
Those participating in the project needed only to make the quilt top or blocks. Wiersma will send the tops and blocks to American Hero Quilts, which has individuals who will put the quilts together with batting and backing and complete the quilts.
For information about the quilt project, check out the website,www.americanheroquilts.com or stop at the Arts Center Saturday afternoon.