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The chatter of voices fills the air as sewing machines hum to the rhythm of cloth being passed under their needles. Women measure material to cut into various shapes to create colorful masterpieces, continuing a time-honored tradition of quilting.
This is a typical Friday for members of the Rheinland-Pfalz Quilt Guild during their “stitch and gab” sessions.
This non-profit organization brings women together to work on any projects they have at the time, whether it be quilting, needle point or embroidery. Two main projects the guild provides quilts for are Quilts of Valor and Baby Love Quilts.
“Quilts of Valor are for injured troops who are being treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center,” said Christine Eatmon, RPQG first vice president and wife of Staff Sgt. Jamey Eatmon, 835th Civil Engineer Squadron. “The donations come from all over the United States, but we still make quilts and take care of the closet up at the chaplain’s office at Landstuhl.”
These quilts are only given to those servicemembers who were wounded downrange, added Sherri Manios, RPQG president and wife of Timothy Manios, 693rd Intelligence Surveillance Reconnance Group.
The Baby Love Quilts are given to babies who are in the neonatal intensive care unit at LRMC for more than five days, Ms. Eatmon said.
“If they’re sick and have to stay at LRMC or are premature or anything, then they get a Baby Love Quilt,” she said.
Guild members said they appreciate having the chance to help out the community.
“Like so many things in the military community, you just want to help wherever you can, wherever there is a need,” said Joan Albright, guild member and wife of Army Lt. Col. George Albright, LRMC. “There are so many opportunities and this happens to be one that our quilt guild can do.”
The guild does more than just projects; they also build friendships.
“It’s our hobby and we all love to do it,” Ms. Eatmon said. “You can make a difference with quilts. We want to keep carrying on the tradition of quilting.”
Aside from the “stitch and gab” sessions, the guild also offers quilting classes for the beginner quilter to the most experienced. Classes depend on who is teaching and what the student wants to learn.
“Usually, our members teach the classes according to what they know or what they’re really good at,” she said.
The guild also attends a retreat twice a year where they go to a resort, take their sewing machines and materials and just hang out and sew.
Open to anyone who is an ID cardholder, the quilt guild is always looking for new members.
For more information about the RPQG, visit their Web site at www.rpqg.eu or e-mail them at info@
rpqg.eu.
