A sewing machine whirrs and an iron pumps out steam. A small band of women sorts a pile of donated fabrics into reds, whites, blues, and golds of varying shades, removing pinks, greens, and purples. Then this group, joined by an occasional man on ironing duty, will sew the patriotic fabrics into quilts for American veterans and service members at monthly Quilts of Valor sew-ins at the National Veterans Art Museum in Portage Park.
“Many of these veterans feel alone, and to have strangers reach out and thank them is powerful,” Holtz says.
In May the quilters focused on creating kits of ironed precut fabrics to make quilt blocks of a pattern called Ohio Stars. The kits will go to quilters who may pass through during a sew-in or who don’t have time to meet at the museum.
During his 16 years in the service, Thomas was sent on tours in Iraq and Kuwait. He often thinks of the other servicemen and -women before him.
Sat 7/20, noon-4 PM, National Veterans Art Museum, 4041 N. Milwaukee, 312-326-0270, nvam.org. F
