Quilting club combines socializing and sewing for charity in Allegheny Township
A vibrant yellow T-shirt emblazoned with “Yes, I really do need all these sewing machines” is seamstress Veronica Rempuszewski’s go-to outfit on sewing outings with fellow quilting club members in Allegheny Township.
“Take a picture of my shirt,” Rempuszewski, 73, said Wednesday during a sewing session in the Allegheny Township Municipal Building. “You can never have enough sewing machines.”
The spunky seniors of Keystone State Quilters & Sewers are dedicated to creating original quilts, lap blankets, baby burp pads, table runners, pillow cases, totes and more — all donated to different charities in the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond.
Founded in 2021, about a dozen ladies (men are welcome to join — the women said they’re waiting) meet twice monthly, on two weekends, to socialize, sew and snack together.
“Oh, there’s always chocolate,” said member Barb Emanuelson, 67, of Oklahoma Borough.
The members donate about 100 quilts annually to charities that include the police departments of Allegheny and Washington townships, North Apollo Church of God, first responders in the Alle-Kiski Valley and Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood.
Maryellen Stoops, 68, of Oklahoma Borough is a fan of teddy bears.
“My first quilt had that theme,” Stoops said. “I started sewing about 10 years ago. The only sewing I had before that was in the seventh grade.”
Stoops was encouraged by her friend, Emanuelson, to join the club.
“All the ladies help me all the time because I’m learning,” Stoops said.
Lorretta Scott of Apollo busied herself Wednesday sewing a children’s quilt.
Scott, 66, said the camaraderie among the ladies is welcoming.
“I like it. It’s relaxing. It’s something to do in the evenings while watching TV instead of stuffing my face,” Scott said. “There’s always something to learn, and I’ve made new friends. It’s really fun, and it’s good to see I’m not the only crazy sewing lady.”
Township Manager Greg Primm praised the group’s steadfast sewing skills.
“They have always had a dedicated crew showing up regularly to their meetings working diligently on their craft. It’s apparent these women make quilts with meaning and purpose with their incredible talent,” Primm said.
Many of the donated quilts are used by Allegheny Township police officers at accident and fire scenes where having blankets for victims are necessary, and essential, Primm said.
Dorothy Zimmerman of Leechburg has been sewing for more than 60 years.
Zimmerman, 77, learned sewing from her mother and has a goal of making quilts for everyone in her family.
“I never sell anything,” Zimmerman said. “I always give things away.”
Zimmerman estimates she has made more than 150 quilts during her lifetime.
She also quilts dog beds and said creating something for charity is rewarding.
“You don’t know where the quilt ends up, or how they feel about it, but it feels good giving it to them,” Zimmerman said.
Allegheny Township Supervisor James Morabito has met with the ladies multiple times during their meetings.
“They dedicate a tremendous amount of their time, money and materials for quilting. They’ve made a beautiful quilt with all the police insignia and badges on it for the Allegheny Township Police Department,” he said. “I encourage everyone to visit the police department to view this beautiful quilt they donate,”
Maria Aftanas of Allegheny Township sews Wednesday on her 1952 Singer sewing machine during a Keystone States Quilters & Sewers Club meeting. The club is based out of Allegheny Township and meet twice a month at the Allegheny Township Municipal Building. @VNDNews pic.twitter.com/kapseRTeEf
— Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) April 12, 2023
Emanuelson recalled a favorite quilt she made.
“I could cry. When I help the homeless veterans, that’s my favorite thing,” she said. “Every year, I make a quilt for the VFW in Harrison.”
So far, Emanuelson’s 2023 donated quilt has raised more than $1,000 to help the homeless.
“I always make a red, white and blue themed quilt. This year, it’s going to be a big American flag. I am still making it,” she said. “All this money we raise, every cent goes to Shepherd’s Heart in Pittsburgh.”
The members spend their own money on quilting and sewing supplies.
They estimate an average quilt costs several hundred dollars to make.
“These girls all have talent,” Emanuelson said. “Here in this group, you can see what we’ve done.”
Rempuszewski of New Kensington currently is working on a bright pink cat-themed quilt.
“I’m still learning. I’m a work in progress,” said Rempuszewski, who received her first sewing machine at age 10. “This is love to me. My love goes into this.”
None of the ladies sell their creations.
Rempuszewski’s cat quilt is a gift for her granddaughter, who is set to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh next month.
The lead time on creating each quilt varies from several months to more than a year, depending on the design, detail and size.
The quilters work from a pattern or design their own.
Allegheny Township resident Ernie Paunovich checked out the quilts on display Wednesday while visiting the township building on business.
Paunovich was impressed with all of them, particularly the Quilt of Valor completed by fellow township resident Maria Aftanas in two months.
“These are beautiful. I really like the patriotic one,” Paunovich said to the group. “I know a lot of hard work went into these.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.