Local quilters' influence felt world wide

While some are still sleeping or enjoying that first cup of coffee, there are two groups of local women hard at work making quilts.

“Our Saviors Quilters,” a group of ladies from Our Saviors Lutheran Church on Puget Island, meet Tuesdays at 9 a.m. in the church basement. Working in an assembly line, the ladies make “Mission Quilts” that will be prepared for dispersion all over the world.

“Before the quilts are shipped, they are spread over the pews and blessed,” said Tillie Kehrli, a member of the group.

Quilts are shipped once a year. When they're ready, the quilters spread them on pews in the sanctuary, and they're blessed during the Sunday service. Afterwards, they are taken downstairs by the congregation and packaged for shipping. They go to Chicago where Lutheran World Relief takes over and sends them to people who need them worldwide.

Material for the quilts comes from all over the community. People will donate old sheets or clothing, and sometimes someone will leave a bag of material on the church doorstep.

The group really enjoys making the Mission Quilts. “There is satisfaction in helping people” said Diane Pedersen of Cathlamet.

"And knowing I am helping somebody,” added Jean Kenner of Puget Island.

The group makes around 70 Mission Quilts a year which leave the area, but there are some quilts that will stay in the community.

At the request of Jordyn Wirkkala, a Wahkiakum High School sophomore, the group recently made a red and black Mule quilt for the sophomore class. The sophomore class will raffle the quilt to raise money for its class activities.

"We also make quilts for graduating seniors confirmed in the church," said Karen Healy, another group member.

And there are some quilts that are set aside for emergency purposes; victims of fire or just for those who need them.

The group accepts donations of material or batting--the material inside the quilt--at anytime, but what they really need are large boxes for shipping, members said.

The group has a lot of fun together and say they are all good friends and anyone who wants to can join. “Just show up!” Healy said.

They recently lost a key member of the group. JoAnne Sorenson passed away last August and the loss is felt throughout the group.

“JoAnne was the sparkplug!” Healy said with a smile.

Another group of busy quilters are The River City Strippers who meet Fridays at 9 a.m. at Saint Catherine Catholic Church on Columbia Street.

The group makes approximately 15 Healing Quilts a year, but one year made 24, said Pat Beyer of Cathlamet. It depends on the need from the community how many are made, she said.

The Strippers don’t just make Healing Quilts. They recently made red, white and blue quilts for all 42 members of the Wahkiakum Chapter of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars).

The group works as a unit to finish the quilts with no one quilter being any more needed than another. “Every Stripper is an important Stripper!” Beyer joked.

“One of the neat things is doing it together, it goes so quickly!” said Esther Roche as she changed the thread on her sewing machine.

Charlene Damitio of Lacey, who lives in Cathlamet part time as her “get-away city,” said the group made her feel so welcome right away. Kathleen Littlejohn said there isn’t one unfriendly person in the bunch, and she really enjoys spending her Friday mornings quilting.

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything!” she said.

Making the quilts can be an expensive hobby but the ladies work it out. They raffle a quilt or two each year and use the money to purchase more material to make more Healing Quilts. The latest item for raffle is presently on display at the Hotel Cathlamet.

Anyone is welcome to join the group at anytime, but they say, “no boys allowed!” It is therapeutic to be alone with the girls once a week, they say.

“It is so enjoyable to be with women of a common interest,” said Kathy Burns.

Anyone interested in quilting is welcome. The level of experience doesn’t matter; the ladies said they enjoy sharing their experience. Women have come to the group that have never quilted before and now quilt like pros. The ladies usually have their own projects, but together, they make “Healing Quilts” for members of the community who have fallen ill or recently lost a loved one.