A group of women called the Carman Compassionate Quilters (formerly known as Ukrainian Refugee Quilters) has been making quilts rapidly, and all of them will go to a good cause.
In a matter of mere months, Maureen Carr and her fellow women have created a grand total of 45 beautiful quilts. These stunning pieces were showcased on April 25th at the Carman Church of Christ, open for all to admire.
Carr first began sewing as a teenager and took up quilting shortly before retiring. She notes that quilting is not difficult, and that it’s just a matter of following guidelines and learning to do it properly.
Assembling a quilt is a fun process that requires laying out the backing fabric, taping down the edges, layering, and lots of pinning, stitching and sewing.
“Quilting is something that was passed down from seeing my own grandparents do it,” said Maureen Carr. “Hopefully, the younger generations can also learn from their parents or grandparents to keep the hobby alive as it really is a great thing to do and pass the time and create something neat.”
In the wake of the Russia/Ukraine war in 2022, Carr and her Ukrainian Refugee Quilters group united to assemble over 100 quilts for those affected.
Previously, the members would gather at the Legion Auxiliary Hall in Carman to work on their quilts. However, they have now relocated to the Carman Church of Christ for more spacious accommodations and the convenience of leaving their materials at the church.
Carr welcomes more volunteers as the group gathers on Thursday afternoons at the Church to sew and work on the quilts, so if anyone is interested in helping out, they are asked to come out on that day.
“If you can’t sew, that’s fine. There’s ironing, tying, and just running about helping people. It’s great to see everyone coming out and working on these quilts together.”
After completing numerous new quilts, the members of the Carman Compassionate Quilters group are eager to begin distributing them. These quilts will be given to Ukrainian families who have recently moved to the Carman area due to the ongoing war, as well as any other families in need of warmth and comfort.
For inquiries about joining the quilters group or obtaining a quilt, please reach out to Maureen Carr at 204-745-3192.
Standard Photos by Maureen Carr
