Amidst the sounds of scissors shearing and sewing machines humming, the members of a quilting club gather in Omaha Public Library’s Charles B. Washington Branch meeting room. At this Quilters We Are weekly Tuesday meet-up, a spirit of camaraderie and creativity fills the air.
As more women arrive, pieces of fabric in every imaginable color and design fill the tables while finished quilts hang on the walls. The group is driven by more than crafting amazing quilts. Their mission is to make a difference in the community by creating quilts to donate to individuals, groups and organizations.
Dalma Seitelbach, a club member, explains that quilts made with donated materials, including fabric, batting, thread, and more, are given away, but quilters can keep anything they make with their own fabrics. Last year, they made a total of 182 quilts, and then donated 169 of them to places like Bethlehem House, Youth Emergency Services, Metro Community college Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Safe Places and Linus Project.
Shirley Coffey, who has been sewing since she was 9 years old, has been attending meetings for as long as anyone can remember. She shares her joy of the craft, noting the artistry in intricate quilt patterns.
“It's just sometimes exciting to see this all come together,” she explains, pointing to two quilts whose only similarities are the blue colors in the designs. “Those two pieces there. They’re kind of different and not different because they’re done different ways. You just sew all those pieces together.”
Coffey describes the sense of community the club gives her.
“It’s an experience because I’m learning from you as you’re learning from me. I enjoy that. I just like the fellowship with the people. It’s almost like you’re just a family.”
The welcoming atmosphere is apparent as regular attendees embrace new faces like C.C. Alexander. C.C. says she discovered the quilting club while visiting the library.
“I’m going to do this because I want to do something good for me,” she says. “It’s time to learn,” she adds, describing the challenge of mastering the skill of precise measuring.
Cathy Forte, a seasoned quilter, recalls the impact she saw when delivering a batch of quilt donations.
“I took 24 quilts down [to Youth Emergency Services] one day, and took them in,” she says. “The lady was thanking me and she said these will be gone by this afternoon. And I just looked at her. That’s 24 quilts,” said Cathy. “It just broke my heart that the need was that great. I had no idea.”
The library itself plays a vital role in their efforts. Finished quilts are stored in the meeting room’s closet, along with all of the bins filled with donated fabric, sewing machines and more.
“I love it. All these ladies,” Cathy says. “And the fact that you guys let us use this room. I don’t know where we would go with all of this stuff. It would be in someone’s basement. That fact that you guys let us use the room and welcome us, that’s a good feeling. That’s community.”
For those who might hesitate to consider attending the quilting club’s meet-up, Kathy Bachmann has advice.
“Everybody learns at their own speed,” she says. “All you need to do is get the fabric you like and we can teach you.”
Kathy emphasized that the sense of accomplishment that comes with quilting is worth it.
“When you create something, you feel good. You created something that nobody else could. Nobody else could make that same quilt.”
The Quilters We Are club is more than just a group of women who sew; it’s a community of women who are dedicated to giving back, transforming a plain meeting room into a tapestry of creativity and connection.
For more information about joining Quilters We Are or donating materials, visit the Charles B. Washington Branch of the Omaha Public Library.
Left to Right: Daria Archie, Norma Craig, Dalma Seitelbach, Laura Donnelly, Cathy Forte, C.C. Alexander, Shirley Coffey, Kathy Bachmann, Jackie Whitaker, Vera Jackson, Bessie Parham, Michele Jones
This Volunteer Feature was published in the Fall 2024 issue of Connect (Volume 31, Issue 3). To read the entire issue, click here, opens a new window.
Step into the world of our quilting club, where tradition and creativity meet. This brief video highlights the beautiful work and strong bonds formed through the art of quilting.
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