Island quilters lend a hand to young Ukrainian refugees

A couple of weeks ago, Claudia Pfeil, the so-called German Ambassador of Quilting, put out an online request for eight-and-a-half-inch quilt blocks in the colors of the flag of Ukraine. Together with her co-workers and volunteers, she hoped to make quilts for children who had fled to Germany from the war in Ukraine.

That request soon found willing hands here on San Juan Island, where two quilting groups – Rainshadow Quilting Arts Guild and Wild Rose Quilters – brought together nearly 50 people to rise to the challenge.

It wasn’t difficult for the locals who volunteered their time and effort to find inspiration.

“These children usually come with the clothes on their backs and maybe one toy,” said local quilter Janet Wright. “We are hoping the quilts will wrap the children in love.”

The hard work put in by Islanders resulted in the creation of more than 200 quilt blocks in only two weeks. The blocks were packed and shipped from Friday Harbor just a few days ago, bound for Germany, where they will join more than 2,000 others that have been made by volunteers from all over the world. It’s expected that the project will eventually create dozens of quilts for displaced children in need.

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