February 25, 1941

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Quilt Club Corner Column featuring quilts made for Shriner's hospitals.

Quilts Made for Shrine Hospital
Members of the Stitch and Chatter Club of Moslem Shrine are busy making quilts for crippled children in Shriners' hospitals. Left to right: Mrs. Lora McMurdy, Mrs. Nettie Curry, Mrs. Louise Seeley, Mrs. Elizabeth Boyd, Mrs. Jane Gibson (president), Mrs. Clarence Lyle (secretary and treasurer), Mrs. Vincent Fox, Mrs. Mary Willsdon and Mrs. J. L. Ballard (vice-president and chairman of the quilt department).

Stitch and Chatter Club Sews for Child Patients

By Edith B. Crumb

The children who are patients in the Shriners' Hospitals for Crippled Children in Chicago and Springfield, Mass., will never be neglected as long as there is a Stitch and Chatter Club of Moslem Shrine here in Detroit.

The members of this organization meet twice a month, and from 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon they are busy with their cutting and sewing. These meetings are held the year around in Shrine Temple, and there are also three neighborhood clubs of women who are unable to meet with the large group.

Every June and Christmas many huge boxes filled with toys and necessities are sent to the hospitals. Even the necessities have been planned to be attractive to the children. The little dresses and bibs have small appliqued figures, and for spreads, a fine quality of broadcloth is used and embroidered and appliqued nursery designs are put on in gay colors and materials.

These women even earn the money for the materials by holding bridge parties. The next one will be held the second Friday in March in the Shrine Temple.

At Christmas time each child writes a letter and gives a list of two or three things which he or she would like to have and the Stitch and Chatter Club members see to it that these wishes are fulfilled.

Howard Westlake, an old-time friend of the organization, donates a large supply of new shoes, clothing, books and toys.

Nine handmade quilts were sent at Christmas time and there are 14 being made now, no two alike. One is a patriotic quilt with embroidered emblems which were taken from a dress pattern. Another one is blue and white with nursery designs in blue and white cross-stitch.

Cheery yellow tray cloths and napkins, hand-hemmed and decorated with a small applique in one corner, help to make each meal a party for the patients.

Besides these there are bandages, towels, bandage holders, hot water bottle covers, hand towels, dresses, underwear, night shirts and pajamas, all for children ranging from six months to 16 years old.

Mrs. Anne Morre is chairman of the sewing and cutting and that alone is a huge responsibility.

All of the work that is being done now is for the boxes which will be shipped out in June.

​​Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.