LIVERMORE – Seamstresses at Washburn-Norlands Living History Center are asking people from across the state to join them in making quilt squares for the national Home of the Brave Quilt project.

The volunteer sewing circle, modeled after the U.S. Sanitary Commission of the 1860s era, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, during the historic site’s annual Heritage Days, a hands-on community celebration of rural life in the 19th century.

Children and adults of all sewing abilities are welcome. Norlands will have all the materials available for a small fee to make a 12-inch quilt square, which visitors will sew by hand or on a treadle (foot pedal) sewing machine. Instructions and help will be given.

Quilting chapters, scouting, 4-H, grange, veterans, historians and any interested clubs or individuals are welcome.

As of February, Maine has lost more than 20 soldiers to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In gratitude for their service and sacrifice, the Maine Chapter of the Home of the Brave Quilt Project is making replicas of quilts that were given to Civil War soldiers by volunteers of the U.S. Sanitary Commission (predecessor of the American Red Cross). The quilts are labeled and presented to the families of fallen soldiers.

The project is part of a national effort coordinated by Don Beld of Los Angeles, Calif., and is being done in coordination with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Bonnie Dwyer is Maine’s state coordinator.

The sewing circle at Washburn Norlands Living History Center is being organized by Norlands’ volunteer, Kathleen Beauregard. For more information, call her at 778-6195.

Quilts for the Home of the Brave Quilt Project are being made using the album block pattern and fabric that would be representative of the Civil War Era. The center of each block will be signed with the name, city and state of the person who has sewn the square.

Washburn-Norlands Living History Center also has an exhibit of antique treadle sewing machines planned for Heritage Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 23 and 24.

There will be antique clocks and farm equipment, old cars, horse-drawn carriages, strawberry shortcake and blue grass musicians.

Children’s games will include frog races, sack races, egg races, horseshoe toss and a pie-eating contest. Adult games will include backseat driver and skillet toss. There will be an antique appraiser service on site.