ST. PETER’S QUILTERS & SEW BLESSED

A Tradition of Christian Fellowship Through Creativity

The sewing women of St. Peter’s come from a long history of service to the church and local community. Like women across the nation,  the original fellowship more than 150 years ago was nurtured in social gatherings, creating quilts and other items. In 1925 Martha’s Sewing Circle was organized as a special interest group of the Ladies Aid Society. They made bibs for the Emmaus Home, carpet rags, bandages and cancer dressings,and also quilted occasionally for members.  Through the ensuing years quilting became a major ministry for the group, who took in quilt tops from the community to assemble, quilt and finish by hand, for a nominal fee.  In recent decades, the Sewing Circle modestly contributed more than $75,000 in funding for varied needs and ministries. Declining skilled membership forced the (temporary!) end of the original group in 2013.

Renewed interest in handcrafted items inspired current church members to refresh and adapt the tradition in 2014. Continuing to grow in  service, the unique new program has held many sewing and quilting classes, supported personal and group projects, provided individual instruction, planned weekend retreats, and even Quilter’s Teas (to showcase student works during “Coffee And…”).  Charitable activities include constructing lap blankets and quilts for Heartland Hospice and specific cancer patients, and honoring our veteran service personnel with Military Honor Quilts. Sales of handcrafted items at both Frankfort FallFest and the annual St. P’s Christmas Boutiques, as well as custom orders and personal donations, have funded these efforts.

Today there is a “new” sewing classroom, complete with rehabbed and personal sewing machines, tools and designing walls, a large cutting area, 14 individual workspaces, a library of sewing books and magazines, and a new midarm quilter for hand-guided machine quilting. The ministry is fully equipped to support all those who wish to explore their creativity in the needle arts. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome.  We continue to accept donations of gently used machines, fabrics, sewing notions, and art supplies, and welcome suggestions for new charitable works.