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Doris Wattleworth was 87 years old when she asked Kathy Gover, a Pleasant Grove neighbor and former teacher, to help her learn to quilt. “I was amazed that someone at that age wanted to learn how to quilt, and I decided to help,” Kathy said.

Together, they set up a piece of plywood on a bed in Doris’ house. Then, Doris purchased some basic quilting tools, material and cutting mats. An old box springs stacked against one of the walls became the design wall. Doris’ sewing machine was an old one but was functional for what she wanted to do.

A short time later, Doris sold her house, and they moved the sewing equipment to Kathy’s house. Pretty soon, they had three sewing machines going. Things started to really roll when Kathy’s husband built a cutting table.

They were having so much fun, Kathy decided to reach out to others who wanted to learn or enhance their sewing and quilting skills. Soon, the current group of six women joined the sewing and quilting group.

Carol Morley joined the group after her husband passed away. Char Barker wanted to find a way to help children. Debbie Weatherhead attended a women’s meeting at church that Debbie had a quilted bag. “Oh, you quilt,” Kathy said. The conversation launched into quilting and sewing. Kathy’s parting words to Debbie were simple — “Come on over and check us out.”

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One day in 2017, they decided to name the group and toyed with a variety of names. They all liked the phrase “Sew-n-Sews” and began calling themselves the “Sew-n-Sews” because they were going to sew this or sew that.

The Sew-n-Sews meet every Tuesday at Kathy’s, excluding holidays. They sew, piece together quilts, enhance their quilting skills and have fun doing it.

All Sew-n-Sews are retired and felt a sense of loss after they left the workforce. They wanted to keep making a difference. Now, they are happy because making quilts allows them to be more creative, learn together and use their talents. “Plus,” Char said. “It keeps our brains stay alive and active.”

“It’s really a learning experience,” Carol added. “I had different sizes of material, and I couldn’t quite figure out how to use it. When I asked the others, they said, ‘why not do this or that.’ That gave me confidence to continue with my project, and it turned out great.”

They were sewing and making quilts for personal use when the Green House Center for Growth & Learning, an organization that works with children with emotional and educational challenges and people in crisis, reached out and asked for their help.

Since becoming the Sew-n-Sews, they have worked mainly with the Green House Center. Later, they branched out to other organizations, including the Festival of Trees, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Helping Hands and others in making and donating 40-inch-by-60-inch lap quilts and pillowcases.

“When we have finished about 40 quilts, we take them to the Green House Center,” the Sew-n-Sews explained. “Usually, when we stop by with a wagon or two full of lap quilts and pillowcases, everyone stops to admire the them.”

Initially, the Sew-n-Sews purchased the material on their own. After a while, though, people began donating material and batting to help them with their hundreds of quilts.

The lap quilts require about four to five yards of fabric to make and are donated to the Green House Center. About 8-10 yards are required for the twin quilts donated to Sleep in Heavenly Peace and other organizations. Over the last six years, they have created, sewn, and donated hundreds of lap quilts and pillowcases.

The Sew-n-Sews expressed immense joy in making and donating lap quilts to different organizations. When asked about their work, they shared so many feelings about friendship, learning different skills, going beyond themselves, serving others and accomplishing goals of making something for someone else.

“One of our biggest disappointments, though, is knowing that we cannot do more,” Doris said. On the other hand, Kathy feels a different type of disappointment. “We are all reluctantly realizing our limitations and have begun to slow down, but we keep doing what we can to help others.”

While sewing is losing its appeal, the Sew-n-Sews want their legacy to continue. Kathy’s plan is simple. “So, if I can teach people how to quilt and sew, then their children might learn.” Debbie and Karen, both from Provo, have begun teaching younger women how to sew.

Seldom do the Sew-n-Sews meet the children and teenagers who receive the quilts, especially those donated to the Greenhouse Center. One woman with several adopted grandchildren approached some of the Sew-n-Sews at a wedding reception and said that some of them had received quilts, cherished them, and wanted their picture taken with the women who made them.

“We realize that many of the children who receive our quilts have not ever received comfortable things in their lives,” Kathy said. “We love helping children. It touches our hearts when we know they are going to children who need them. We believe these quilts give soft, loving comfort.”

But sometimes they do capture a glance. “One organization showed me a book with pictures of children who had received the quilts,” Char said. “Three of them were mine. Tears flowed, and I rejoiced knowing that my quilts were helping people.”

The Sew-n-Sews are extremely organized. In one room in Kathy’s sewing space are shelves and shelves, stacked against every inch of wall space and touching the ceiling, filled with carefully labeled boxes of materials by color, materials and patterns.

For Karen Sommer, many tender mercies occur when planning out the quilts, even though initially she did not know who needed it.

“I wanted to make a quilt, and Kathy gave me a pattern, and I began making one,” Karen said. “It kept coming to me that someone needs this. When I asked Debbie about the quilt, she asked what I was going to do with it. The moment she asked that, I knew I needed to give it to a woman in my church congregation who was going through chemo. I felt really good about giving it to someone who needed it.”

Over the years, the Sew-n-Sews have wrapped thousands of children and others in beautiful quilts that tell stories in Utah, Ukraine and around the world. The Sew-n-Sews make quilts and pillowcases, but do not use social media to promote themselves. They feel good just knowing they are making a difference.

“My sewing buddies are my best friends,” Debbie said. “Together, we make a difference and connections by creating something special to give to people. Everything we do is for service.”

The Sew-n-Sews are happy to receive donations of quilting materials and batting. If you are interested in starting a sewing or quilting group to help those most in need or have quilting materials to donate, please contact Kathy Gover at 801-636-1436 or via kwgover@yahoo.com.

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