Quilting for a cause

Connie Olhausen recalls the moment she decided to adopt a new way to quilt.

"I had just finished a queen-sized one with 1,020 pieces that took 125 hours," she said. "That's when I decided this is kind of stupid. If we're going to do this, we're not going to make these kinds of quilts."

An online search yielded more speedy methods of construction, and Olhausen never looked back. She made 75 quilts this year alone as part of a local charitable group at St. Paul's Lutheran Church that sends them to places in need via Lutheran World Relief (LWR).

Overall, the group of roughly 10 Hartley-area women sent 148 quilts to LWR this year.

"The need is unimaginable," said Olhausen. "They're distributed to different areas. Last year some of them went as far as a Taiwan."

The quilting group started around a decade ago. Members gather at the church to craft their creations in the winter months, and they also work individually at home when time allows.

"I have a pretty good setup here downstairs," said Olhausen. "I'm usually down there in my in-between time."

It typically takes four hours for Olhausen to make a quilt from start to finish; three if the top is already made.

"It's a whole system I have worked out," she said.

First, Olhausen sews a backing together into one big piece before adding a thin layer of batting to improve the quality of the quilt. Next, she sews the top on in eight-inch strips before turning the edge over to make a binding.

"It ends up being a pretty good-sized quilt," she said.

Pastor Chris Nitzel blessed the quilts last month before they were sent to LWR. Olhausen encouraged anyone with a penchant for sewing to join the local quilting contingency.

"As long as we can help, we will," she said. "It's very satisfying, personally. As somebody who likes to stay busy, I find that it's a very good way to spend my time."