Sewing Project A Common Thread For Local Churches

By Nancy K. Crevier

An outreach project by members of Newtown United Methodist Church (NUMC), to sew “Little Dresses for Africa,” has taken on an ecumenical flavor, thanks to efforts by Newtown Congregational Church (NCC) members Carol Smiley, Vicki Truitt, Jane Phillips, and Judi Craven, and the generous donation of material by the NCC Cornerstone Thrift Shop.

The Methodist church was looking for an outreach project for the spring, said NUMC organizer Betsy Kraushaar, when she came upon the Little Dresses for Africa program. “It seemed like such a good idea, and so easy,” said Ms Kraushaar.

Little Dresses for Africa is a Christian-based, nonprofit organization that distributes simple, handmade dresses to orphanages, churches, and schools in 22 countries in Africa. To date, more than 130,000 dresses, donated by groups all over America, have been given out to children in Africa and other countries, as well as in the Appalachian Mountains and South Dakota.

“We would like to make as many dresses as possible before the end of April, and send them to Little Dresses to be distributed,” said Ms Kraushaar. Church members and members of the NUMC Quilts from the Heart group have already sewn a dozen dresses on their own, following a simple pattern, since the beginning of March.

In hopes of attracting more volunteers, those involved in the project are now meeting in the lower level of the Methodist Church on Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook, in a more social environment. “Anyone is welcome,” said Ms Kraushaar, “and you don’t have to be a major seamstress to make these dresses.” Girl Scout Troop 50651 from Newtown High School will be taking part in the project during the month of April, as well, said Ms Kraushaar.

Each dress, from size 2 to 12, is made from a large rectangle cut from cotton or cotton/polyester, easy care fabric. Armholes are cut, a neckline is gathered with elastic, and bias tape is added around the armholes and used for a halter-style tie. Lace, ribbons, pockets, ruffled hemlines, and novelty buttons and bows add a personal touch to each dress sewn by the volunteers.

Volunteers are asked to bring their own sewing machines and supplies when attending either of the next two scheduled meetings, Wednesday, April 6 or April 20, at 5 pm. For those who would like to take part, but cannot attend the sewing bees, volunteers have put together “kits” of precut fabric and a pattern. Contact Ms Kraushaar at 203-270-3960 to arrange picking up a dress kit or for more information.

Ms Kraushaar said that while the Cornerstone fabric donation, and other donations of material that they have received, would probably be enough to help them reach their goal, they continue to welcome donations of durable and colorful cotton or cotton polyester material. It takes from 5/8 to 1½ yards of material to complete one dress. Other sewing supplies are also needed to support the Little Dresses for Africa project, as well.

“We can use lace, ribbons, thread, rick-rack trim, fun buttons, and especially, we are in need of bias tape,” said Ms Kraushaar. Although a package of bias tape is only $2, because so much is used and the same volunteers tend to sew, it can become costly to keep buying it. Donations of bias tape, sewing notions, and material can be left in the basket placed in the narthex of the church, at any time.

More information about the dress program can be found at www.littledressesforafrica.org.