Ladies quilting circle
Every Thursday morning, an assembly line of sorts forms in the basement of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, when as many as 15 women work at stations to assemble quilts.
One group of women sits at a table where they cut out the squares, handing them off to women sitting at a larger table who pin them into quilts, before another group layers the tops with backing and filler.
"There are those of us who know how to quilt -- and those of us who know how to put squares together," said Rita Tweed of Bloomingdale.
The next cluster of women operate the five sewing machines to layer the tops and fillers together, leading to the final group who hand-tie them together with yarn.
"I stitch many of them together by machine, and every time I can't wait to see the outcome," said Edith Wittner of Schaumburg.
It's a system that has drawn women -- from a variety of churches -- together for more than 20 years, and results in more than 200 quilts per year, or 5,500 so far.
"It's the fellowship," said RuthAnn Pickard of Schaumburg, the longest serving member at 22 years. "It's just a nice ministry."
Last weekend, the group dedicated its latest batch, estimated at nearly 230. In a ceremony that is steeped in tradition, congregation members arrived at their morning service to find their sanctuary pews covered in the vibrant quilts.
Interim Pastor the Rev. Fred Hill led congregation members as they blessed the quilts and the families in far off countries they will warm.
Afterward, the quilts made their way to Lutheran World Relief Services, whose officials will deliver them to families they aid in developing countries.
"You know, when I started I didn't know a thing about quilting," said Shirley Washow of Schaumburg. "But the coffee's so good, I've been coming back for 15 years."
The project dates back to 1985 when Carol Langseth, wife of former pastor the Rev. David Langseth, traveled with Lutheran Relief Services to Africa to see first hand the families on the other end of the quilts.
"She was so moved, she came back and started this group," said Annette Bibby of Schaumburg, who leads the contingent now with Dotti Iverson of Hoffman Estates.
On a recent Thursday, members represented Our Savior Lutheran United Methodist Church, Community of Christ Methodist Church, Friendship Village, all in Schaumburg, as well as St. Mary's Catholic Church in Elgin.
Members claim they never purchase any of the material, but rely strictly on donations to make the quilts. Those come in from individuals, as well as from fabric stores in the area.
Besides having their extended workroom in the church basement, they also have a storeroom to keep their unfinished work. Like any good seamstresses, they concede they have nearly as many unfinished projects on shelves, waiting to be assembled, as they do waiting to be shipped out.
That's what keeps them coming back, they add, the camaraderie and to finish the next quilt.
To learn more about the quilters and their weekly gatherings, call the church office at (847) 895-8877 or visit www.lord-of-life.org.