The quilters of the Pins and Kneedles Quilting Club have already embarked on collecting finished handmade baby and adult quilts to be distributed to Japan in May, this after Naomi Ichikawa, editor of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin Magazine in Tokyo, Japan sent out numerous pleas to quilters worldwide to assist those affected by the devastating natural disaster.
"It is still bad situation now in Japan. We are still nervous about shaking and radiation, but no way to escape. I start to announce to the quilters to send us comfort quilts for the people who are suffered," reads an email distributed to the local club by Ichikawa.
Some 20 quilts have already been completed by the local group. This is the first time that the club has received a request to assist people in dire need of comfort, warmth and support from citizens across the globe.
"It was a matter of, let’s see what we can do. We haven’t received a heart-felt request like this before. We have a few quilts that we haven’t used yet. We couldn’t think of an immediate use for it, and now we can put it to good use by donating it all to Japan," says Michelle Heath, a member of the Pins and Kneedles quilting club.
Heath further says: "We called a courier company in George, EWC Express, to ask whether it would be possible for them to assist us. I explained what it is that we are doing and for what cause. We were fortunate enough to receive a call from EWC Express, saying that they would courier the quilts at their own cost. It is so amazing."
The quilts were sent via courier to Johannesburg on Tuesday, April 19, from where it will then be distributed to Japan in May.
Anybody wishing to join the Pins and Kneedles Quilting Club can visit the local group at the Lions Club House, Knysna on the first and third Monday of each month, or contact Michelle Heath for more information on 082 443 6263 or 044 382 1113.
.JPG)
An example of one of the vibrant adult quilts that members of
the Pins and Kneedles Quilting club will distribute to Japan in May.
