On the fourth Monday of each month, members of the Thumb Butte Thimbles, a local chapter of the American Sewing Guild, meet from 9::00 AM until noon at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 231 Smoke Tree Lane in Prescott to sew for charity. Projects have included cancer caps, clothing for Dress a Child, and Project Head Start. Most recently the challenge has been to make pillowcases that will be filled with small personal items and sent to our troops overseas. Some of these pillowcases were pictured in a recent article published by the Courier, which highlighted the efforts of Gerda Samuels, who had sent her five-thousandth “Goody Box” to our troops abroad. At our August meeting, members made 18 pillowcases, and the word is that the troops love them!

Not all of the sewing is done at the church, as several members take home the patterns and sometimes fabric from the Guild’s “stash”, and continue to sew at home. At every monthly meeting, part of the time is devoted to having each member share the results of their labors, and everyone is delighted to see the adorable clothing for some lucky child will receive, among all the other projects that are presented.

While the Charity Sewing Bee is not an official American Sewing Guild event, several members devote time to these efforts every month, and the time spent is recorded at the monthly meetings.

The American Sewing Guild has three Neighborhood Groups in Northern Arizona. The Twin Needles Group meets at 9:30 AM on the second Monday of the month at the Prescott Country Club POA building, at 1133 Old Chisholm Trail in Dewey. The Thumb Butte Thimbles meets at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 231 Smoke Tree Lane in Prescott at 9:30 AM on the second Thursday of the month. The Peak Stitchers meet at Odegaard’s Sewing Center, 2109 4th Street in Flagstaff, at noon on the third Thursday of the month. Members are invited to attend any (or all) of the neighborhood meetings. If you are not a member of the American Sewing Guild, but are interested in finding out more, you may contact Pattie Lascalle at pattiesews@gmail.com , or call her at 928-379-5881. New and prospective members are always welcome!