Because Carol Swailes, Fairmount public relations coordinator, is a quilter herself, she is well qualified to give a tour of the quilts-in-progress that women worked busily to complete on Feb. 16 - the third of the Quilting Days held in the Farm Crest Community Room at Fairmount this year. In 2021, Quilting Days was moved to New Covenant Mennonite Fellowship, a little less than 2 miles from Fairmount, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
No matter where Quilting Days is held, the event always features a number of quilts - nearly 10 this year - in a variety of colors and patterns, including Starburst, Log Cabin, and Twister. Quilts decorated with applique or with embroidery or cross-stitch were also plentiful. Colors ranged from a variety of pinks, cranberries, and purples to blue and white and one done in black, gold, and cream. Most of the quilts were queen and king sizes, but a few doubles and twins were also completed.
"They have had a good turnout (of quilters)," noted Swailes, who pointed out that Quilting Days was held on Feb. 12, 15, and 16, attracting about 200 quilters to the venue.
Swailes had spoken to quilter Vera Nolt, who was given a number of squares decorated with cross-stitched tulips and other flowers in navy and light blue on white. Nolt put together a quilt top in coordinating colors using a Nine Patch and Star pattern surrounding the cross-stitched pieces and then brought the top to the event to be quilted.
Another quilt that utilized cross-stitched patches involved colorful pink roses on a cream background with pink and purple squares arranged like chainwork around them.
Quilting Days are held yearly to complete a number of quilts that will then be sold at auction during Fairmount's annual chicken barbecue in the fall. During 2020, Fairmount streamlined its Sharing Fund benefit by holding chicken barbecue sales off-site and moving the annual auction online. For 2021, many of the activities associated with the event returned, but the fundraiser was held at New Covenant Mennonite Church. This year's barbecue will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10. Although all the details of this year's chicken barbecue have yet to be determined, the event generally includes a variety of children's activities, such as a candy drop, along with the chicken barbecue meals and auctions.
All funds raised by the event help the Sharing Fund, which covers the cost of care for residents who have exhausted their financial resources. According to Fairmount stewardship director Peter Passage, $2.5 million was budgeted this fiscal year for those costs for 2022.
Fairmount, a nonprofit retirement community founded in 1968, is located on two adjoining campuses in Ephrata. Readers who would like to know more about the organization may visit https://fairmounthomes.org.
Leave a Review