Carol Stream quilt project fuses craft, patriotism
A staple program at the Carol Stream Library is adding a twist to its mission this week.
Take Time for Craft, which typically invites adults to work on unfinished craft projects and to share trade secrets, will begin a new series this Saturday focusing on projects to honor our country's service men and women.
Visitors can stay for the entire day or just drop-in for a short time and sew a quilt block that will be donated to the Home of the Brave Quilt Project. Home of the Brave is a nonpartisan group of volunteers that create comfort quilts for grieving families or for members of the armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"With a lot of quilters, making quilts is something that we enjoy and, while we appreciate when we can keep one for ourselves, it's nice to give them away and see them appreciated by someone else," said Laura Hays, assistant head of adult services at the library.
Members of the Seams Like Fun Quilt Group will be on hand Saturday to assist with sewing, so all skill levels are welcome. Hays, who is a member of Seams Like Fun, said the group has worked on several other charity projects before, including quilts donated to Friends of the Carol Stream Library, Habitat for Humanity, the Ovarian Cancer Society and a camp in Green Bay, Wis., for children with autism.
The group, which meets monthly at the Carol Stream Library, has also participated in national quilt endeavors such as Quilt Pink and Valentine fabric postcards for wounded soldiers.
Hays says charity isn't the only motive for this week's Take Time for Craft project.
"This is usually just an open craft program, but we've found that when we work on a group project, more people participate."
Anyone interested in sewing a quilt block can visit the library Saturday or pick up a block at the front desk to do at home. Blocks will be collected at the end of September. For details on Seams Like Fun, e-mail seamslikefun@yahoo.com or visit www.seams.pbwiki.com.
If you go
What: Take Time for Craft for Soldiers; Home of the Brave quilt project
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Carol Stream Public Library,
Cost: Free
Details: (630) 344-6124 or www.cslibrary.org