Iowa group stitches quilts for wounded soldiers - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Iowa group stitches quilts for wounded soldiers

LE MARS, Iowa — There’s a lot of red, white and blue fabric in the sewing room in Shirley Hettwer’s basement.

Hettwer, a Le Mars resident, has been turning that fabric into quilt tops for Project Patriot, an Iowa group that provides quilts to wounded soldiers at Madigan Military Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Wash., through American Hero Quilts on Vashon Island, Wash.

Some of the quilts are sent to Afghanistan to comfort wounded soldiers as they are airlifted for further medical treatment in Germany.

American Hero Quilts was started by a Washington woman who felt each injured troop member returning home from war through Madigan and other military hospitals should receive a “hug” of appreciation with a quilt.

In June, Hettwer was recognized at a special Patriotic Quilt Top Show in Sioux City for completing her 100th quilt top. The show displayed 30 quilt tops made by area quilters.

Becky Wiersma serves as the local coordinator for Project Patriot.

“Shirley (Hettwer) has been an important part of the Project Patriot effort of local sewers. Since we started in 2009, we have sent nearly 300 quilt tops. Each year we’ve increased our count and this year have sent in 109 tops so far. Shirley’s contributions have been greatly appreciated,” Wiersma said.

Wiersma learned of the quilt project from quilting friends through the Internet and decided to involve local quilters.

Hettwer said she attended the first showing of quilt tops in Le Mars, but didn’t bring one herself.

“After the meeting, someone asked me if I’d make a top. They handed out material and I started making them,” Hettwer said.

With her husband, Ken, a Korean War veteran, son Keith still in the National Guard after more than 30 years, and a granddaughter currently in military service, Hettwer felt she wanted to do something for men and women in the military.

“I just like to do it. I’m glad to be able to help out the veterans,” Hettwer said.

Volunteers make only quilt tops. The American Heroes Quilts group has quilters who custom quilt and finish the special creations with flannel backings.

“I love the bright red, white and blue colors in the fabrics,” said Hettwer.

The Martha Washington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Sioux City sponsors “Project Patriot” in the area, with money to buy fabric and to cover the cost of shipping the quilt tops to Washington.

Recently the chapter received grant funds from Missouri River Historical Development and Wal-Mart to purchase fabric.

The fabrics are organized into kits including a pattern and are distributed to local sewers.

Hettwer said she has used the fabric kits.

She also likes to shop for fabric and is always on the lookout for the required red, white and blue fabric.

Each quilt, usually 60 inches by 70 inches is size, takes about five yards of material.

“I’ve been making some quilts a little longer and wider, so that takes more material but that’s okay,” Hettwer said.

Hettwer also gets fabric and makes her own designs.

One of her favorites is using a T-shirt with the U.S. flag or an eagle on it as the center and then sewing strips around it.

She has also used handkerchiefs with a flag design as the center of each quilt.

She also likes to use the Friendship Star pattern for some of her quilts.

Did she think she’d ever make 100 quilt tops for American Hero Quilts?

“Well, it took me two years to do that. Now I’m really going strong at it,” Hettwer said.

It helps, she said, that the DAR chapter helps with purchasing the material needed.

A quilter for about 10 years, Hettwer said she loves making the patriotic quilts.

“I just really got into it. I love to do it for the veterans. It’s just a great thing to do for them,” Hettwer said.

She already has fabric cut and ready to put together into more quilts.

“As long as Becky (Wiersma) keeps furnishing me with material, I’ll keep on sewing,” Hettwer said.