Sisters of the Cloth When: March 19

Written and Picture by Ngozi Rogers

Sisters of the Cloth held a bed turning at Hessen Cassel library to keep the tradition and history of quilting alive in the African American community. The group's name was inspired by the book “Hidden in Plain View,” the true story about slaves using quilt patterns to show the way to freedom on the underground railroad.

Seven women began Sisters of the Cloth in Fort Wayne in 1999. Today, members (from teenage to 80's) meet monthly to quilt, sew and socialize. "My grandmother made quilts to keep us warm," member Metrice Smith said. "We don't do it out of necessity, we do it out of love."

Sisters of the Cloth also teach youth sewing and quilting, participate in quilt displays and donate to charities like SCAN and Matthew 25. Their motto is Each One Teach One. Learn more about Sisters of the Cloth Quilting Guild at www.sistersofthecloth.org 

PICTURE: Front row (left to right): Margie Jean Baptiste, Bertha McLemore, and Metrice Smith. Back row (left to right): Yvonne Johnson, Radafay Martin,  Jannie Wyatt, Amelia Culpher, Linda Jones, and Maxine Stovall