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Needles for Defense

December 18, 1941
Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser
Detroit, Michigan, United States
A Needles for Defense column.
Needles for Defense

Millions of stitches have been taken this week by patriotic Detroit women who have used their Needles for Defense.

On Wednesday, so many members applied for the sewing project announced (men's pajamas) - that the shelves of the Red Cross began to look like Mother Hubbard's cupboard and advance projects had to be given out.

Detroit women work fast when American solider boys are involved.

Listen to this: It was after 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning when the first pair of pajamas was given out. At 9 o'clock Wednesday morning the finished garments started coming back.

Today, the knitting projects have been rolling out and by evening hundreds of pairs of knitting needles will begin clicking away on men's sweaters, neck muffs for army fliers, and small sweaters for refugee children.

And now for the next project.

In order to give the over-taxed Red Cross time to catch up after the tremendous demands made upon it during the last week or ten days, the Needles for Defense Club will begin at once on a project of its own.

Each member of the club is asked to help to gather materials for a large supply of warm all wool lap robes needed for soldiers in Army hospitals.

Soldiers who can sit up in wheel-chairs need wool lap-robes to save the supply of bed blankets. In order to be acceptable to the Red Cross, these patches must be of new woolen material.

So while giving the Red Cross cutting rooms a chance to catch up, as well as obtain additional funds to purchase materials, Needles for Defense club members will be asked to bring or send scraps of new wool goods to the Detroit news. Mark packages with the title of the club.

Those who wish to start piecing for a lap-robe may do so. Others who do not care for patch-work are asked to help in the collection of wool pieces for those who like to do this work.

Hundreds of women are experienced in patch-work. All they need is the new wool pieces. Four inch squares can be used. The work goes faster if the squares are a little larger. But remember that small squares may be alternated with large ones, in simple patterns.

Scrap bags will hold some of these new patches.

Custom tailors who are willing to part with last year books will have others. Swatches or samples from tailors old books are excellent for the purpose. Ask your corn tailor to save his old books and his new cuttings if large enough to make patches.

These lap robes are needed now in the Army hospitals and more will be needed in American outposts where Jap bombers find their marks.

More knitting and sewing will be given out to this great army of workers as soon as the cutting rooms can meet the demand.​

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

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