By Nevara Yocum
for the Register
On Thursday afternoons, the basement of St. Patrick School in Lincoln, which serves students from prekindergarten through the eighth grade, serves a different purpose.
Surrounded by school decorations and shelves of donated fabric, a small quilting club gathers. Eight to nine members from the parish of St. Patrick come together weekly on Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m., to sew handmade quilts for those experiencing homelessness in the Lincoln community.
The group, known as the U.G.L.Y. Quilters and Sewing Group, uses donated materials and transforms them into warm, durable quilts. U.G.L.Y. stands for “Unconditionally, God Loves You,” a message that reflects the group’s heart for those in need.
Patrica Wink, the group’s founder, remembers seeing a man under a bridge, curled up with one of their blankets.
“It just makes my heart feel so grand,” said Wink.
Wink said her inspiration for the club came after experiencing another quilting group in Valparaiso. A few of the members who were interested in creating something similar in Lincoln traveled to Valparaiso to learn the quilting method. Since the club’s formation in 2018, the members have made more than 500 quilts for the Lincoln community.
The unique craft of building the quilts is a multi-step process that brings together layers of different fabrics, insulation and other donated materials. The outside of the quilt is made of a durable, thick fabric while small pieces of fabric are sewn together to create patterns and add character to the blanket. Sheets or other cotton fabrics make up the inner layer that goes next to the recipient. For the insulation and protection from the elements, a thicker insulating material and a thin layer of plastic are sewn into the quilt to help keep the blanket warm and dry.
Once the layers are assembled, thick yarn is threaded through the quilt to bind each layer together. The edges are then sewn closed to finish the blanket.
One of the group’s unique touches is the addition of used neckties sewn onto the outside of the quilt. The ties allow the blanket to be rolled into a tight bundle and secured for easy carrying.
As the group finishes one quilt, other necessities are compiled. Stocking caps, hats, gloves, socks and donated toiletries are bundled with the quilts to provide the recipients with additional necessities.
Once a month, a few of the members stack their cars full of the bundles and take them to Catholic Social Services, the Salvation Army and the People’s City Mission for those experiencing homelessness.
Every item used in making the quilts, including the sewing machines, is donated by St. Patrick parishioners. A box beneath a table near the front entrance of the church is available for donated items, such as old neckties and toiletries. The box remains there throughout the year, always full of donations.
“We have a very generous parish,” said Jane Bomberger, a member of three years.
The participants of the group dedicate at least five hours a week creating these unique quilts. Some members work on the sewing machines, others thread the yarn through each layer and a few others crochet plastic bags together into mats. They all work together and coordinate on each step of the process.
Before beginning their work, the members join together for a prayer to start the meeting. Conversations flow as they work, moving from quilting tips to stories and memories from over the years. Ila Hergott, a member new to the club, said her favorite part of the club is the community and being a part of the finished product.
“Just being with the ladies, it’s just fun,” Hergott said.
They swap stories and laugh over terms and memories from over the years. They share tools to make the threading easier, occasionally tossing a small wooden block around the table.
Bomberger said she wanted to find a hobby that could be fulfilling after she retired.
“I wanted something that would be fruitful and meaningful,” she said. “So I thought, well I’ll try quilting.”
