Tucked into a quiet spot on Southport is “the Nest” where a group of local women come together each week to give their time, their work and their hearts to create beautiful quilts which, like fabric hugs, are given to “anyone who needs one,” explained quilter Angel Ames.

“Anyone who needs one” is now more recipients than the group can remember. Beginning in 2016 as the “Just Sew” group at the Community Center and meeting on Friday mornings, the original group members focused on how they could help others.

“How many quilts can you personally own?” Ames explained, so over the years the group has been donating its time, materials and effort to make quilts for anyone who needs comforting.

To keep their work going, the quilters need donations of clean, 100% cotton fabric as well as threads, notions, sewing machines and buttons.

Opportunities to provide quilts grew over the years and, by the time the Center opened its fiber arts room in 2017, the quilts were going to the animal shelter, Rotary and Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Local police carried quilts in some vehicles for people who might need one. The current group also donates its quilts to area nonprofits for fundraising events.

But quilters need lots of space, so Ames’ father-in-law Neil came back from retirement in Florida and added the space known as ‘the Nest” to her garage.  Construction was completed in two months in 2021, providing the quilters, mostly Southport residents, with elbow room and enough space for up to eight quilters at a time.

Quilting classes are held there twice a week, usually three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. The quilters are Ames, Jane Good, Erin Barter, Bobbie Reed, Martha Hess, Jen Gaudette, Fran Scannel, Donna Climo, Laurie Simmons, Ellen Van Haasteren, Candie Crocker, July Hasch and Peggy Coolong.

At the time of the Register’s visit, 43 soft flannel quilts were waiting to go to premature infants at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Ten quilts were at the ready for area veterans.  

The group currently has 32 quilts set aside to be gifted individually if they learn from friends, neighbors, or local organizations of someone who might need some TLC.  

Comforting a community in cotton squares takes lots of fabric and now the supply is starting to dwindle. Ames estimates about half the fabric has come from donations. Batting must be bought and the funds come from a number of sources – among them, sales of other handmade items.

As an example, Good creates jewelry from buttons and her “Cute as a Button” items are sold at Studio 23 “Holiday Gifts For Giving.” All proceeds from sales of her jewelry are used to buy batting for the quilters’ use.   

The group estimates it takes about 15 hours to make each quilt, many of those hours spent standing at the work table with patterns, layouts and fabric. “There’s love in every stitch,” Good added.

For this reason, the group doesn’t work on clothing or alterations and focuses on its own projects rather than providing a quilting service for hire. “We won’t make a quilt for you, but we will show you how to make your own,” Ames said.

To donate fabric, call or text Ames at 350-5505.