The contribution is part of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national program founded by a Delaware woman in 2003. So far it has distributed 57,665 quilts to veterans.
Nancy Jez, of South Hadley, is seen recently with quilts from students from her quilting class. See story.SOUTH HADLEY – Using a time-honored American art, quilter Nancy Jez and her students have found a way to express their gratitude to veterans of war.
Eleven quilts made by women in Jez’s quilting class in South Hadley are on their way to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Canandaigua, N.Y.
The class’s contribution is part of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national program founded by a Delaware woman in 2003. So far it has distributed 57,665 quilts to veterans.
“When I read about the program online, I thought, ‘What a great thing for the girls to do!’” said Jez, who refers to her students as “my girls.”
She is the married mother of three sons and has taught quilting for 11 years.
Her class began working on the quilt project in July. Each colorful 55-by-80-inch quilt is worth about $200, said Jez.
“I have 18 students, and half of them decided to do it,” she said. “They picked out their own fabrics and patterns. They came in every week and also worked at home.”
Two 11-year-old girls, Katelyn Bishop of South Hadley and Hayley Moniz of Westfield, joined in. Jez, who is self-taught, said she has taught quilting to people who had never even used a sewing machine before. Katelyn is her granddaughter.
The other quiltmaker-donors are Diane Gould of Westhampton, Marilyn D’Alonzo of Amherst, Heidi Gauthier and Joyce Boisvert of Chicopee, and Anne O’Connor, Joan O’Connor, Pamela Rivest and Robin Davis of South Hadley.
After the women had pieced together the tops of their quilts, they sent the tops, the soft inside batting and the backing to professional quilter Marie Fregeau, of Westfield.
Fregeau’s job is to stitch the batting in place, using a “long-arm quilter to make elegant designs. On the back of each quilt, Fregeau also sewed a label reading: “In honor of the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. We send you our heartfelt appreciation. Thank you for you dedication in protecting the United States of America each day and every day.”
The back also bears the name of the quilter and a line on which the hospital can write the name of the veteran who will receive the quilt.
Each quilter also made a matching “presentation case.” “Like a pillow case,” said Jez.
The class washed the finished quilts to make sure they were free of allergens and dried them on clotheslines. No electric dryers. “These are heirlooms,” said Jez.
On Nov. 1, Jez wrote to the coordinator of the local Quilts of Valor chapter to tell her 11 quilts were ready to go.
The answer came back the same day online: “That’s awesome!” wrote Marcella Pimer-Cormier of Gardner.
And so they are – quilts, quilters and veterans.