By Per Peterson
A quilt made by a group of women that has met monthly since January will be part of this year’s Quilt Auction at Shetek Lutheran Ministries on Saturday.
Jana Milbradt, Connie Schwartau, Marcella Matthys, Marissa Kunde, Jean Larson and Lois Ahlschlager — the Shetek Grateful Threads — created the 88” by 96 1/2” quilt that is ready to be put up for auction at the annual event.
“There was a group that was together for years and they decided to fold,” Milbradt said. “Jean called me and asked if I would head up a new group. About six of us got together and wanted to do something for the auction.”
Milbradt explained the colorful quilt includes 20 different batik prints — from light to dark — in a blended pattern.
“It’s interesting picking them,” she said. “You start with one and just keep adding the different shades until you get all the way to the end. The store had a sale the day I was there, so I just starting putting them in line and they just fell in place.”
The name of the quilt is Bargello — it’s an argyle pattern the group chose.
“It has three beautiful starbursts in significant spots in the quilt,” Milbradt said.
Milbradt said Matthys did the quilting with her long-arm quilter.
“It’s a fun and exciting project,” said Milbradt, who calls quilting her passion. “It’s fun to be involved with such a nice group of people.”
The 32nd Annual Quilt Auction begins at 10:30 a.m. at the SLM Activity Center, on Valhalla Road. There will be a Quilt Preview from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday. A 5K Pelican Fun Walk/Run fundraiser will be at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Theme baskets will be available during the silent auction.
New this year will be a Friday brats and burgers picnic from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with pontoon rides during that time. Other highlights of the event include a pulled pork dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Kids Day at Camp from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and an ice cream sundae bar at 2 p.m.
“It’s amazing to see what all is put into the auction itself,” Milbradt said. “The work that is put into it. Last year, they had about 180, and it was to be close to that again this year. There’s a silent auction as well — they’re doing a lot of different things.”
For more information, call (507) 763-3567.