Prayers and Squares: Many Years of Handcrafted Love
Prayers and Squares is a group of mission-focused crafters with deep roots in the SUM community. The first edition began by making quilts for vulnerable babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Later, they broadened their mission of sharing love by making quilts for veterans. These often went to the VA hospital and veterans’ home in Rocky Hill. As these quilters began to find it difficult to find places for their quilts, the first version of the group eventually folded.
Renewed interest was sparked by Jan Bennett (since relocated to Maryland), who wanted to send quilts to the indigenous people of Pine Ridge. This small group of about six folks sewed together once a week in the Annex. We voted on a name identifying ourselves as people of faith who wanted to make quilts for those in need. Thus, we became Prayers and Squares. Later, Karen Matheson (who sadly passed away this year) joined our sewing group. She was the coordinator of the Northeast Region for Quilts Beyond Borders, so we had another great mission to receive our quilts. Some of us continued making quilts for veterans as well. We also made quilts for folks who had a special need. For a couple years we donated to quilts to a homeless ministry in Middletown, CT. They were put in an area where people could “shop” for gifts for each other for free.
Another time we all wanted to make a quilt for Mark Brady (former SUM member, now interim pastor at a church in northwest Connecticut). He had lost most of his belongings in a fire in his apartment building, that also claimed a life. We decided to make Mark a personalized quilt made of squares that depict his interests. He received the quilt with all our love as he searched for a new place to live.
Our group began to grow and we had a lot of fabric donations given to help the cause. Then there was a need to move the Sunday School into the rooms we were using in the Annex. We were asked if we would like to move into the upper room above the offices. After moving everything into the new space, adding shelves, tables, and other accessories, we found the new location brighter and very convenient. Our sewing machines were always available for whatever project we chose to work on. We call it the Fabric Arts Studio.
The space began to be used more and more, but our scraps were filling the landfill. So, we decided to make pet beds stuffed with our scraps to donate to pet shelters. In September we went to a shelter and made 22 dog beds for them to use in their space in Bloomfield, CT.
When a fire in Australia separated baby koalas and kangaroos from their mamas, we responded to a world-wide plea to make pouches for these marsupials. We helped save the baby animals.
We would be willing to help out with any fundraiser or other activity needed to support SUM’s ministries or our campus. For example, we’ve made projects for the Sunday School Christmas Shop, where children can buy inexpensive gifts for their family.
There is another group we support called Knitted Knockers. Knitters and crocheters make the knockers to be used by women who have had a mastectomy and do not want to have implants. These knockers are made by local people and stuffed with polyfil in the Studio once or twice a month. While some are donated to the Philippines, most stay here in state and are brought to local cancer centers.