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Needles for Defense Members to Make Patchwork Lap Robes

January 4, 1942
Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser
Detroit, Michigan, United States
A Needles for Defense column featuring members making lap quilts.
Needles for Defense Members to Make Patchwork Lap Robes
Making warm lap robes for convalescents in hospitals is a cooperative project for these Needles for Defense members. By dividing up the work fo sorting scraps, pinning, sewing and pressing, the women can turn out a robe in one session. Backing is made of outing flannel. Left to right in this group are Mrs. Oscar Grode Mrs. Mae McGrew Mrs. Mae Lawson, Edith B. Crumb, Needles for Defense Editor, Mrs. Minnie Russel Mrs. Fran Murphy, Mrs. Michael Augustine.

Giving Wool Scraps First Step in Project
By Edith B. Crumb

If there is one thing that we in the women's department of The Detroit News like to believe its that our readers are members of contented and peace loving families no quarrels or disagreements. But now, in spite of that, we are looking forward to seeing many scraps in these families for the next few weeks and we are going to see to it that you do have scraps and then we'll tell you how to patch them up and iron them out.

The drive is on for wool scraps or patches from tailoring shops, alteration rooms and family scrap bags. Member of the Needles for Defense Club are asked to start making these into lap robes- or if unable to make the robes they are asked to send the pieces to The Detroit News where they will be given out to other workers.

These lap robes must be made of new wool material pieced in any desired pattern. The finished rob is 54x54 inches, with all wool material on the front and outing flannel on the back, making it very warm.

The patches should be joined by machine to make the seams strong, and because the material is heavier than that used for quilts the seams look neater when made by machine stitching.

Quite as important as the sewing is the pressing. Each short seam should be steam pressed open and then the long seams given the same attention so that the top, when finished and ready for the back is flat, smooth, and neatly joined at all corners.

Canton flannel is used for the back, which requires three yards of this material. This should be cut in half cross wise thus making two pieces each measuring 15x54 inches. Joining one of these to the 36x54 inch piece gives a 54x54 inch square just large enough for the back.

If you wish you may bind the edges with a strip of the remaining half width of flannel with a finish of button holing in a bright wool yarn. The two thickness (front and back) should be tied together at the intersection of the patches with bright wool.

Both completed lap robes with backing and separate pieced tops will be accepted.

Two people, working together, one stitching and the other pressing can easily put one of these tope together in a few hours.

The first task is to arrange the patches, with light and dark ones alternating. Then the short ends should be joined with the long ones last.

There is no doubt that there are going to be many beautifully made lap robes for all the Red Cross sewing which has been returned has had a professional appearance to it. Seams have been neatly turned and pressed and the folded garments look just as if they had come off the shelves of a store.

The Needles of Defense office will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 12:30 Saturday.

Needles for Defense
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Sewing....... Knitting........
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​Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

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