STITCHING FOR RELIEF

It's not a record but it's up there because of the efforts of First Lutheran Church of Blooming Prairie quilters.
The women quilters of First Lutheran church worked on the quilting project every Monday since the first of January this year.
The quilts benefit Lutheran World Relief. A few years ago, the quilters fabricated 237 quilts.
This year's total was 193, said quilter Kay Toquam.
Quilter Bev Hoveland said she has sewn all her life and always looks forward to the quilting project.
This year, Hoveland worked on regular quilts and also made three quilts from prayer strips that were placed on a cross at the altar during days of the pandemic. Since the church was closed during many Sundays, pastors placed the prayer cloths on the altar cross.
"I ironed them and put them together," Hoveland remarked.
"Sewing is my passion," she freely admitted.
The quilts fashioning many different colors and patterns were on display in the church sanctuary for Palm Sunday services on April 10.
Every year Lutherans across the U.S. sew quilts and assemble kits of supplies that Lutheran World Relief sends to partners around the world that request them to meet the needs of people affected by poverty and disaster.
Mission Quilts were one of the earliest forms of aid that Lutherans sent through LWR to reach out to people in other parts of the world.
The quilts were boxed up two days after Palm Sunday. Local trucker Rick Hansen, a First Lutheran member, then hauled the boxed quilts to St. Paul.
Upon arrival in St. Paul, the quilts are removed from the boxes, bailed and labeled for shipment to wherever Lutheran World Relief finds a need, Toquam said.
Lutheran World Relief, partnering with other agencies, reports that 305,490 quilts were shipped to the warehouses of St. Paul and Maryland in 2017.
Most of the quilts go to Africa, Toquam explained. Many go to Angola, Georgia (Russia), Mauritania, Niger and South Sudan.
The tradition of Lutheran World Relief quilt making started just after World War II with quilts being sent to refugees in Europe.
In addition to quilts donated to Lutheran World Relief, blankets, school kits, personal care kits, fabric kits, baby care kits and soap are collected and sent to LWR.
"These quilters bring our community together," Toquam says.
Each Monday, the quilters work on fabric that measures 60 by 80 inches. Lucille Peterson has donated much of the material used to craft the quilts. Memorial monies are also used to purchase supplies.
Fabric squares brought to the church by the quilters are part of the process, which may include 12 21-inch squares or 48 11-inch squares.
No pattern is used during the work project. The quilt bottoms are made of old sheets. "The ladies turn scraps into a thing of beauty," Toquam observed. "We use a special batting which ends up making the quilts nice and warm," said Toquam.
The top is donated fabric sewn together and hand tied. The tops are taken home where one of the quilting steps is completed.
On an average 10-11 quilters show up on any given Monday. Quilters usually work from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They also take a coffee break.
All quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief with the exception of 10 that are kept back for various community auctions and fundraisers.