EWING, Neb. — A group of Holt County residents congregated last weekend at Ewing's Church of Christ, bearing sewing machines and scissors, thimbles and thread, and box upon box of donated jeans.
The scene resembled an old-fashioned quilting bee.
Several women traced blocks on the material and began cutting out squares. Others prepared the machines, lining up piles of cloth waiting to be sewn.
In another area, bits and pieces of denim covered the floor, a hodgepodge of faded blue, deep indigo and withered black; some striped, some patched, each design developing its own personality.
When stitched together, the blocks form a blanket of thank-yous for the servicemen and servicewomen in Afghanistan.
Pat Anson of Ewing, who organized the sew-a-thon, said this was the second time a group has gathered in Ewing to create quilts for service members.
It's a small way to offer gratitude, Anson said.
"They're doing more for us than we are for them. I got to thinking, 'What else can we do to show our appreciation?' " Anson said.
The Ewing project started after Anson helped make quilts with a group from Atkinson that has been constructing quilt tops for close to three years.
"I said to others in Ewing, 'Let's get involved,' " Anson said.
Quilts made in both Holt County communities are part of the Quilts of Love project, which started in Republic, Mo., in 2003.
Paula Vogelgesang of Wanblee, S.D., who oversees the organization, said the nonprofit operation started when a soldier's mother received a phoned request for blankets from home.
Margaret Jones recruited friends and turned to online quilting groups, asking for assistance with quilt blocks and sewing.
Since then more than 2,600 quilts have been made and shipped to service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vogelgesang said the soldiers are appreciative. The organization has received an incredible number of letters from soldiers who have received blankets.
"It's a reminder of the comforts of home," she said.
Each quilt is made of 117 seven-inch blocks. Fabric or sheets are used for backing material.
Each soldier who is sent a quilt also receives two additional quilts to hand out to other soldiers, along with a letter explaining the quilting project. Donations cover mailing costs.
During the Ewing group's first endeavor, in November, three quilt tops were completed and an additional seven or eight were laid out. Anson estimated three to five tops would be finished this month.
Anson said she always wanted to make quilts.
"The fact that it's for a good cause makes it worthwhile," she said.
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