NORWAY — Barbara Daigle of Sew Orchid Designs on Main Street will hold a “sew-day” in the community room at the Town Office on Saturday to make quilt tops for veterans.

Daigle and her shop have partnered with Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national organization seeking to show appreciation for veterans’ sacrifices.

The quilting session is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to anyone. Experienced quilters will be available to assist novices.

“Come from anywhere!” Daigle said. “We have food, we have games, we have prizes. We make it a fun-filled day that people can enjoy while giving back.”

One veteran will be honored Saturday with a quilt finished by Daigle and her volunteer quilters, including members of her Orchid Angels.

The sew-day preparation and quilting “takes a lot of work, a lot of process, and a lot of it is just done out of love for our veterans,” she said.

The organization’s mission statement, “to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor,” is well-represented in the Pine Tree State.

According to Donna Brookings, Quilts of Valor coordinator for Maine, 125 quilts were awarded to veterans in Maine in 2017. A total of 180,236 quilts have been presented to former service members around the world.

Quilts of Valor was founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts, whose son, Nat, had deployed to Iraq. One night, she dreamed about a soldier with a visibly fettered mind and suffering from war until a quilt wrapped itself around the soldier, heralding respite, she said.

Brookings said Daigle “has been my biggest supporter. Barbara has done more than any other shop in the state for the Quilts of Valor.”

“There is no big company involved here, Daigle said, “it’s us, each one of us, whether it’s the time that we’re donating, or our fabric stashes.”

The quilt top, or decorated face that is often hung upon a wall, is comprised of pieces of fabric. There are required parameters for size, construction and presentation procedure.

“If you’re paying for a kit that has everything you need for the quilt top, it only costs a percentage of what the material actually costs,” Daigle said. “I purchase fabric from my vendors and cut it for the kits that include everything for a quilt top (big enough to be a Quilt of Valor). If I were to charge full retail for the kits they could be a pretty high price, $80 to $100. I charge a minimal price so I’m taking on a good portion of that (cost), and the customer will have all the material for the quilt tops we do.”

The reduced cost is offered in hopes customers will present a finished product to a veteran. Daigle acknowledges that although there is a tacit understanding to the intent of the kits, “I don’t know 100 percent that’s what happens, once it leaves my store I take it on faith.” 

FMI, contact Daigle at 207-739-2065; email [email protected]; or  visit 316 Main St.

Barbara Daigle displays the quilt that will go to a deserving veteran on Saturday, Feb. 3. Although there are exceptions, most quilts are themed patriotically.  (Adam Brown/Advertiser Democrat)

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