WI members get sewing on quilt project for St John bedrooms

Isabell Page (left) and Joan Henderson, of Netherby WI, plan the design of one of the five bed quilts being made for St John’s sleeping quarters in Ashburton. Photos: Toni Williams

Isabell Page, of Wakanui WI, takes to the sewing machine.

Members of the Mid Canterbury Federation of Women's Institutes took to their sewing machines to begin their latest project - bed quilts for a cause.

Five single-sized bed quilts are being patchworked together from donated material for St John Ashburton's newly renovated bedrooms.

Mid Canterbury Federation of Women’s Institutes members Jocelyn Cochrane (left), of Temuka WI, and Sharon Kelly, of Netherby WI, work on pinning a ‘‘jelly roll’’ quilted cover to batting. Photo: Toni Williams

The completed quilts, which are beautifully crafted, are a mix of multiple colours, shapes and designs.

Sewing businesses Timaru Sewing Centre, Material Time Ashburton and Spotlight Christchurch, along with WI members, have donated quality material, or batting (to fill the quilts).

Mid Canterbury Federation of Women's Institutes president Mavis Wilkins said members were looking for a project and approached St John Ashburton, where they met regularly, to find out if they needed assistance.

It turned out the organisation's recent renovation, which included revamped bedroom quarters for ambulance crew members, meant existing bedding was in need of attention.

The WI members, armed with metres of material, designed, cut, ironed, pinned and sewed patchwork quilts during a recent four-hour workshop at St John.