Iowa State Fair Sew-In seeks donations, volunteers

DES MOINES ? The Iowa State Fair Fabric and Threads Department is seeking fabric donations and volunteers for the fourth annual State Fair Sew-In.

The free program offers fairgoers a chance to try their hand at simple sewing and quilting while providing warm blankets to local children in need.

Donations of two-yard cuts of fabric in juvenile prints and patterns are needed for quilt backings. Cash donations are needed to help cover the costs of quilt batting and materials. All donations can be dropped off in the Competitive Events Department in the Administration Building on the fairgrounds or mailed to the Iowa State Fair Competitive Events Department: P.O. Box 57130, Des Moines 50317-0003. All donations should be labeled for the Sew-In project.

The fair also is searching for sewing assistants to help fairgoers make the simple strip quilts. Volunteers are asked to commit to four-hour shifts from noon to 4 p.m. or 1-5 p.m. A site supervisor will be on-hand to supply materials and help with machines. All volunteers will receive one parking and admission ticket to the fair.

Volunteers at last year?s Sew-In completed 298 quilts, which were donated to children at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital and to Angel Tree Camps, an organization that offers summer programming for children with a parent in the Iowa prison system. Since the Sew-In began in 2009, volunteers have created 724 quilts for children.

The Sew-In will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 9-19 in the south hallway of the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building. Fairgoers can try their hand at quilting basics. Each participant receives a commemorative pin.

For information, contact Sharon Meisenheimer at 515-986-1145 or rmeis@aol.com.