Beverly Powell saw some quilted car covers on the Internet and rallied fellow island quilters to complete one of their own.
The cover, which fits a 2012 Toyota Prius, was designed by a group of nine women who are members of the Hawaii Quilt Guild. "It put us outside of our comfort zone and challenged us," said Powell, 63, of Honolulu.
To create the pattern, the car was covered in newsprint donated by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Nine separate pattern pieces were cut and distributed to Powell, Susan Haushalter, Kay Anguay, Joan Apana, Mona Bonbright, Mary Ann Jones, Carole Kamaile, Linda Mizuno and Jeannie Salmon. But first, Haushalter had to figure out where the fabric fasteners and screening for the tail and headlights would be placed.
The quilters were given free rein to pick whatever fabric design they wanted, as long as it was bold and colorful. Each piece took about 30 hours to complete, and the entire ensemble was finished in six weeks.
"It was a good way to use leftover orphan blocks. Susan was the driving force behind getting this done quickly," Powell said.
The finished quilted car cover was first displayed at the Hawaii Woman Expo at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall in September. It will be shown in parades and displayed at the Quilt Show at the Honolulu Museum of Art, March 28 to April 6.
Although folks may be interested, the project was a one-time thing and they aren’t taking orders.
The women are always looking for reasons to quilt, though. Powell taught quilting at the Women’s Community Correctional Center for a couple of years and makes quilts and pillows that incorporate personal photographs for the children of deployed soldiers through the Operation Kid Comfort program.
"Quilting is my passion," said Powell.
The Hawaii Quilt Guild has information on quilting bees around the island and classes on new techniques and quilting projects. The group also has made quilts, bibs and walker bags for residents at nursing homes.
Along with sewing items for Operation Kid Comfort, Haushalter, Jones and Powell make pillowcases for women’s and family shelters.
Haushalter, who served as guild president from 2010 to 2012, said she sews every day. "The creative juices flow and you want to try everything," said the 61-year-old Ewa Beach resident.
She started sewing with her mother as a middle school student and later fell in love with quilting. Personalized T-shirt quilts are among her creations.
Jones, a 59-year-old Kapolei resident, said quilting is experiencing a resurgence in Hawaii.
"We have a very strong guild with about 250 members," she said.
She’s inspired by color and texture.
"Quilters like feeling the fabric. It’s like eye candy," Jones said. "We make quilts for family members but still want to do more, so we do charity work."
ON THE NET:
» Visit www.hawaiiquiltguild.org for membership and upcoming events.
» For information on Operation Kid Comfort, visit sites.google.com/a/asymcahi.org/operation-kid-comfort.
