About Us

Quilters Without Borders began in April 2007 with the intent to bring people of different faiths together to work on worthwhile projects, eventually building new friendships and feeling a sense of camaraderie. Quilting seemed like a skill that could be easily learned, and would produce something that is always needed.  The name was proposed “Quilters Without Borders.”

The idea could not have become a reality without the willingness of people of many faiths. Individuals from a variety of churches attended the first meeting hosted by the LDS Foothill 6th Ward, and other churches readily stepped forward to volunteer to host next.  In the first year, quilting meetings were hosted by Zion Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church, Wasatch Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church, and St. Ambrose Catholic Church.  We hope to expand to a wider group of host churches. Quilts have been donated to:  Shriner's Hospital, The Road Home, Delta Airline's Quilt for Every Bed Project at Primary Children's Medical Center, St. Martha's Layette Project, Crossroads Urban Center, and Inner City Outreach for Homeless Families.

Each meeting begins with a prayer in the tradition of whichever group is hosting, asking for a blessing on the hands of those who participate, and on the blankets that are made--that a feeling of love with go with the quilts so that they will be a comfort to those in need.  We now attach a label to each finished quilt, so the recipient will know that it comes With Love and a Prayer from Quilters Without Borders.

 

Deseret News Article - "United Through Stitches" - May 17, 2008

(click on the article title above to view)

 

 

Salt Lake Tribune Article - "Stitching up 'religious divide' for charity - June 13, 2008

Elizabeth Miller - The Salt Lake Tribune

 

When Bethany Poulter's mother invited her and her sister to go out,
the 26-year-old said she expected to end up at a restaurant. But
Poulter's mother, Carol, soon fessed up to what she really had
planned for Thursday night: sewing quilts for charity at the
Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Center in Salt Lake.

 

The Poulters were three of about 30 women from different Christian
faiths quilting at the monthly "Quilters Without Borders" meeting.
The service group started in 2007 as a way to "bridge the religious
divide" in Salt Lake City, said co-founder Merrie Smithson, a member
of the LDS Foothills Sixth Ward. Women meet monthly at a different
location each month to sew quilts for local charities and nonprofit
groups.

 

Bethany said she didn't mind spending the time serving others.
"I didn't have anything else going on, and I like quilting," she
said. "I've been quilting since I was little."
Carol said she always teases her daughters, but she knew they would
have come anyway.

 

"They're both service-oriented girls, and I knew it'd be fun for
them," said Carol, who, like her daughters, is a Mormon. "Maybe I'll
even take them for ice cream afterward."

 

Each meeting begins with a prayer and produces about 15 quilts made
with materials donated by the host church. Participating churches
include Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church, St.
Ambrose Catholic Church, LDS Foothill Sixth Ward and Wasatch Hills
Seventh-day Adventist Church.

 

The women donate the quilts to different nonprofit groups, such as
The Road Home homeless shelter, St. Martha's Baby Project and Shriner
Children's Hospital.

 

Sandra Wende, 30, of Zion Lutheran, said she started attending
meetings with a friend not knowing how to quilt, but the camaraderie
at the meetings quickly made her feel comfortable.
Wende quickly learned how to quilt and is now one of the club's most
active members.

 

"In a way, you make yourself part of the donation," Wende said. "It's
always more meaningful when you make something than when you buy
something."

 

"It's not only giving a gift of yourself, but it's meeting people and
building bridges," added Ethel Olson, 70, also of Zion Lutheran. "I
don't know that much about the other religions, but around the quilt,
they get to be your friend and not just the other."

 

ELIZABETH MILLER can be reached at emiller@sltrib.com or
801-257-8742. Send comments about this story to
religioneditor@sltrib.com.