Two Boothbay Region students recently became the first to complete the Community Center’s program to teach area students how to sew.

Under the guidance of Angel Ames, member of the Center’s “Just Sew” group, Teal Beavis, 13, and Sophia Gudroe, 15, spent the past 14 months working on their projects.

They juggled classes, homework and other activities with lessons in basic sewing and quilting. Their efforts produced two quilts measuring 42” by 56.”

The girls started sewing lessons in September 2017, working in the Center’s fiber arts room evenings and some Sundays. All of the work was done at the Center with the exception of the final handstitching and basting.

When the fiber arts room opened in the summer of 2017, the sewing group decided to create the learn-to-sew program for two students that year. Both girls were asked if they would like to take part. “I said I’ll try it,” Gudroe recalled. Beavis soon joined her in the program.

Beavis’s mother, Stephanie Guite, helped the girls select the fabrics for their quilts. Selection is time-consuming, Ames explained. “It can take two or three hours to pick the fabrics and patterns,” she said. Gudroe selected a classic split rail pattern and Beavis created an original design.

Asked what the most difficult part of making her quilt was, Gudroe said: “It was hard to figure out the math and to keep the lines straight as I was sewing it.” Gudroe wants to make another quilt in different colors.

The students’ effort not only resulted in beautiful quilts, but after completing the program each student was given their own sewing machine and supplies. Ames and Bobbie Reed, who support and coach the “Just Sew” group, donated the machines to the program.

Both girls also received a box full of equipment to help them with future projects. Thread, scissors, pins, measuring tapes, seam rippers, rotary cutters and pinking shears went home along with their sewing machines.

“The goal of the program is to help teach young people to sew so they can do it anywhere,” Ames explained.

Most recently, the Center’s stitchers have produced 13 quilts for Rotary’s wrap a smile project. They also lent helping hands to finish more quilts for the program.

The Center provides a fiber arts room and free fabric for adults wishing to sew. Quilters must pay for their own batting, although the Center pays for batting used for quilts given to charity.

Among the organizations the Just Sew group helps are the animal shelter, Rotary and the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Local police also carry quilts in some vehicles for people who may need one.

A sewing station with a machine was recently created in the Community Center’s large meeting room so that anyone with a small project can use it.

Since the fiber arts room is not always open, the sewing station gives those who need it a place to hem items or work on smaller projects. It is equipped with a range of items needed for sewing.