Building Community Piece By Piece

By Larissa Lytwyn

A Middle Gate School third grade class project inspired by a fall 2002 study of Patricia Polacco, author of The Keeping Quilt, launched a community keepsake created by well over 100 student, parent, and faculty hands.

“After reading the book, students hung nine- by nine-inch pieces of fabric meaningful to them on a bulletin board,” said Kelly Makuch, a professional artist and Middle Gate parent. “I thought, why not make it into something even bigger?”

With the approval of Principal Diane Gallo and the assistance of dozens of volunteers, including one core group of parents, Middle Gate’s third grade class spent more than two months sewing their fabric together to form the Middle Gate Community Spirit Quilt, a name selected by the students themselves.

“The kids used all kids of fabric,” said Ms Makuch, “from baby blankets and denim to curtains and other materials.” For a unique edge, students also brought in a variety of buttons. While some came from conservative coats and blouses, others were wild and colorful. Cream-colored blocks were added to offset the children’s fabric so that the finished product, Ms Makuch explained, would look more balanced.

While experienced in glass and jewelry making, Ms Makuch said she had minimal knowledge of quilting. Only one volunteer had some experience in the craft. “I kept telling the kids that we were all going to learn together,” she said, laughing. Ms Makuch and others went to local crafts shops, such as Chintz N’ Prints, to learn about the best approach to making the quilt, particularly daunting considering the challenge of incorporating various types of materials from a considerably large number of students.

Though there were initial safety concerns, Ms Makuch is proud to acknowledge that “not one Band-Aid” was used throughout the project. Children worked on the quilt during their morning free periods. “There was always an adult present,” she said. “The children were never unsupervised.” Volunteers, including Ms Makuch, donated the half-dozen sewing machines.

At first, said Ms Makuch, some of the boys were resistant to the idea of sewing. This notion disappeared quickly, however, once the project began. “I was always hearing from kids, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I did this,’” exclaimed Ms Makuch, whose son Clayton will be a fourth grader next year. Ms Makuch also has a son going into third grade and a daughter entering seventh.

While the quilt will be hung in Middle Gate’s community room –– a facility used by students, faculty, and staff –– next year, Ms Makuch proposed that after the third grade class graduates from high school, the quilt can be auctioned off and the proceeds presented to a graduate in the form of a scholarship. “[Principal] Gallo has time to decide,” said Ms Makuch, adding, with a laugh, “she said [the quilt] would be very difficult to part with!”

Ms Makuch agrees. “It is a beautiful piece of art, not to mention a wonderful keepsake made by 100 terrific young people and many terrific helpers from our Middle Gate community.”