If you hear the term “sewing society,” you might visualize a small circle of three or four demure women of the Victorian era, quietly stitching in front of a fireplace. That image may have been a somewhat accurate picture of the St. Joseph Children’s Home Sewing Society back when women gathered to make clothing for the children orphaned by the cholera epidemic in the mid-1800s. But today some 40 women, ages 56 to 91, gather twice a week in a large, well-lit room, filled with quilting frames, sewing machines, cutting tables, and a storage area packed with fabric of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
The Sewing Society of St. Joseph Children’s Home makes large quilts, most of which are raffled off as part of the annual summer picnic, an event that celebrated its 175th year in 2024. But the group also makes small wall-hanging quilts for children who are adopted out of St. Joseph’s foster care program; fleece blankets for children who come to the home (often without anything in their possession); and crib sheets and bibs for the little ones who attend the St. Joseph Child Development Center each day. In the past year, the Sewing Society has even made hundreds of fabric wraps for the booths at the annual picnic, which cuts down on both the cost and waste of the plastic wraps used in the past.
It isn’t an understatement to say that the Sewing Society is a powerhouse of activity and good works. Their contribution to the children’s home just from quilt raffles is around the $2 million mark.
The work these ladies do involves considerable creativity and talent. Finding quilt ideas, buying or making patterns and figuring them out, piecing together fabric shapes on the sewing machine, making small stitches by hand to connect fabric and batting, and putting binding on finished quilts takes hours and hours and hours. Quilts that are raffled off go from anywhere between $800 and $4,000, which is probably a bargain for these practical items that are also works of art. Sure, you can find cheaper quilts, but can you find ones made with love, made by hand, and made to support children in need?
What is unique about the Sewing Society is the important connections between its members. Patrice Flynn has been a member since 2015 (although she has managed the quilting booth at the picnic for three decades). One thing that makes her involvement special is that her two aunts both attend, as does her cousin. Patrice’s aunt, Lois Pendleton, remembers her own mother being part of the Sewing Society in the late 1940s. For these ladies, coming each week connects them to their family’s history and offers a mini family reunion of multiple generations.
But the connections aren’t just familial. The women who attend form close friendships with their fellow quilters and sewers. Even during COVID and when St. Joseph was undergoing renovations in late 2020 and into 2021 that closed their workspace, group members found ways to get together (safely) and continue their textile talents.
Their sewing and quilting work is not only beautiful but award-winning. During COVID, Sewing Society member Donna Glaspie started an intricate beige quilt in fellow member Patty Kenny’s basement. This past summer, Donna entered the finished masterpiece into the Kentucky State Fair, where it earned a blue ribbon. Fortunately for Glaspie, she won back the quilt in a special raffle at the summer picnic, having spent around $100 in raffle tickets. So not only does she get the honor of having submitted it for State Fair honors, she gets to see it every day in her home.
The Sewing Society welcomes new members and will even teach you how to quilt, so if you’re looking to make some meaningful connections, consider reaching out to them at info@sjkids.org or 502-893-0241.
By Carrie Vittitoe | Photos by Emily McCanless
P.S. Check out how this simple act can make a big impact.
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