Cashmere quilting group donates hundreds of quilts to those in need

CASHMERE – The Grace Lutheran Church quilting group shipped over 250 quilts to Lutheran World Relief on April 29, which will disperse the quilts to places around the world that have been affected by natural disasters and war.

The quilts were put on display during the Sunday church service two days prior, inviting the congregation to admire the work and bless the quilts before they were sent to their next destination.

“It's just overwhelming when you think of all the time and the energy that people have put into them, and how beautiful they look, and to know that they'll go to be somebody's bedding or a wall in a room, or that someone in need will be able to cuddle up in that, I think, is the thing that hits my heart,” said quilter Gail Fraser. 

The group, which is believed to have started in the late 1950s, makes a shipment of quilts to the Lutheran World Relief organization each year, but typically saves about 10 percent of its quilts for local support, donating to individuals in need, veterans, cancer patients and groups such as the Women’s Resource Center and Bruce Transitional Housing.

The quilts are made by approximately 15 quilters ranging from Dryden to East Wenatchee, who meet every Tuesday morning, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Individuals typically prepare the quilt top at home, then come together to attach the batting, backing and binding. The entire operation consumes about four rooms in the basement of the church.

“We're very fortunate to have the church to work in, and we don't have to clean up our messes. We have a designated area so we can leave things out in the process, which makes a huge difference,” said Fraser.

While the social aspect of Tuesday mornings is a huge draw for the quilters, the gatherings are incredibly productive. Every year, they complete anywhere from 200 to 300 quilts, with more ready to go. After they make their annual shipment, the quilters will start working on the table stacked full of quilt tops ready to be completed.

“My granddaughter came one day, and she's heard me talk about it for years, and she said, ‘Grammy, I just thought this was a bunch of little old ladies sitting around.’ I said, ‘No, this is a production, is what this is,’” said quilter Carolyn Barnes. “Everybody has a job…It's an incredible undertaking, and it's a gift. That's the coolest thing about it.”

The quilting group sources its fabric and sheets for backing through donation. Its largest expense is batting, which costs about $115 for 25 quilts, said Barnes. Those looking to support the group, or connect the quilters with someone in need, can reach out to the Grace Lutheran Church in Cashmere.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media