The Nifty Notters have their quilt-making down pat and they’ve proven that anyone ages 9-99 can help make a quilt! Meeting on two Saturdays each month, the Nifty Notters typically make about 100 twin-sized quilts annually for Lutheran World Relief, as well as more than 100 baby quilts for new mothers in Beaverton and Hillsboro who have few resources to care for their babies. All new babies in the St. Andrew congregation also receive a quilt, as do seniors graduating from high school.
The ministry has brought comfort to people around the world—from one of our own high school graduates a little nervous about leaving home and going off to school to HIV/AIDS patients in India to victims of war or natural disasters anywhere they occur.
The Nifty Notters meet the first and third Saturdays of the month in Fellowship Hall, 9:00 am-2:30 pm. They iron fabric, cut squares, sew quilts together, and tie them afterwards. Come for all or part of the day and bring a lunch—or take a project home. For more information about the Nifty Notters, contact Mary Brown.
Twin-Sized Quilts for Lutheran World Relief (LWR)
Baby Quilts
Since World War II, Lutheran World Relief has been working to assist people who find themselves in dire circumstances. Maybe they are victims of warfare or a massive earthquake, maybe mass flooding has chased them from their homes, maybe they are sick and lacking the resources to ensure their own comfort. Each year, dedicated quilters across the United States donate about 500,000 quilts to LWR. These gifts of hearts and hands are the most requested by agencies that LWR works with to serve people in need.
The quilts distributed around the world make a real difference in the lives of those who receive them. They provide warmth in the form of bedding, shelter in the form of a roof, privacy in the form of a door. They serve as a tangible reminder of God’s presence and love. They encourage those who feel forgotten and provide a sense of hope.
LWR quilts are made from 11″ squares, are 60″ x 80″ in size, and are backed with twin sheets. The fabric can be cotton, wool, flannel, or anything of similar weight that’s not too stretchy. LWR does not want any fabric depicting war or camouflage, monsters or religious symbols, or product logos. The Nifty Notters welcome donations of fabric or cash (batting for each of the LWR quilts costs almost $4); simply contact the church office at 503-646-0629 or e-mail office@standrewlutheran.com for more information.
Why do we make baby quilts? Years ago, Judy Heidinger was an obstetrics nurse at Tuality Hospital, where she recognized the needs of new mothers. Many didn’t even have a blanket to wrap their babies in for the trip home from the hospital. That’s when the Nifty Notters decided to help.
“We use 5 1/2″ squares of fabric (all donated) to make the baby quilts,” says Mary Brown. “There are 63 squares in each quilt. Anne Williams is our main baby square cutter, usually cutting more than 8,000 squares each year for us.”
The baby quilts are approximately 36″ x 42-44″. It takes one yard of fabric to make a baby quilt top and 1 1/2 yards of cotton or flannel solid color fabric (not white or black) for the backing. Baby prints and bright colors are preferred for the tops. It costs about $1.75 for batting for each of these quilts.
If you don’t want to become a Nifty Notter, but would like to support this ministry, you can donate new or gently used fabric. Cash gifts are also very much appreciated. Contact the church office at 503-646-0629 or e-mail office@standrewlutheran.com for more information.