Tucked away in the basement or a back room of almost every Anabaptist chruch lies a ladies sewing circle room. Once a month, the ladies of the church faithfully gather for a day of sewing. Usually they are making comforters for Christian Aid Ministries, or a quilt which will be given as a gift for a visiting speaker or auctioned off to support a mission. This is a tradition which dates back no telling how far, which is part of the reason I am so attracted to these rooms. Nestled within the walls of these rooms are a wealth of antiquities ranging from buttonhole scissors and manual typing machine labels to vintage thimbles and rocking chairs.
The activity usually centers around several quilt frames, four posts with two long boards supported at each end. The quilt can be rolled as it is worked on, or the stands can be spread out far enough so that the whole quilt or comforter is able to be quilted or tied, respectively.
They can then be easily stored until next time by rolling them up onto the long poles.
