Members of Chester County 4-H recently joined the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild (ASG) for a Community Service Day of Sewing, during which participants made pillowcases for hospitalized children.

The Day of Sewing was held simultaneously at three locations, including in west Philadelphia and at St. James Lutheran Church in Pottstown. The local event took place at the Chester County 4-H Penn State Extension office, located in the Chester County Government Services Center in West Chester. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 6, 4-H members and club leaders were invited to join guild members in making pillowcases, which will be distributed through the Ryan's Case For Smiles organization.

"The group finished 85 pillowcases on (Jan. 6) and will have over 100 total completed by the end of the week," reported Toni Stuetz, Extension educator.

To prepare for the Day of Sewing, ASG club members created precut pieces of fabric. During the event, attendees had to form pillowcase cuffs and then sew the pieces together. "You want it to be sturdy, so we finish the seams on the side and the bottom, so they don't fray," explained ASG member Barb Leech, adding that the pillowcases were created in fun fabrics designed for children and donated by club members.

Those interested in making pillowcases for the charity may visit http://www.caseforsmiles.org for instructions. "The charity (formerly known as ConKerr Cancer) was started by a woman whose son passed away from cancer. It has gone through several name changes, but they are still doing the same thing," Leech explained.

The ASG is a national nonprofit organization that has a mission to "advance sewing as an art and a life skill." Group members also use their sewing skills to complete community service projects. "There is a Philadelphia (ASG) chapter, and within the chapter we have different neighborhood groups. The neighborhood group that is here today is Material Girls," Leech explained.

Joann Johnson from the West Chester 4-H Sewing Club was on hand at the Day of Sewing with her daughter, Megan, a 4-H Club member. Joann is also a member of the Materials Girls group. "When Megan was 28 months old, she was in the hospital for 21 days. (Receiving a pillowcase) meant a lot to her," said Joann. "The kids get to pick their pillowcases out, so it's super important to them and their well-being."

"I still have some of the pillowcases I got when I was in the hospital," added Megan, who is now age 11.

The pillowcases made during the Day of Sewing will be given to children's hospitals and facilities with children's wards, including Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). "We will deliver them to a collection point like Steve's Sewing in King of Prussia, and (Ryan's Case For Smiles) will pick them up," noted Leech.

"American Sewing Guild does charity projects (that are) ongoing," Leech added. "In the past, we have made pillows for surgical patients; we make items for NICUs like little development hearts that mothers wear next to them and put in the isolettes with the baby, so they get to know their smell; and (we make) cuddle pads to pick up the babies because they are so fragile."

To learn about the ASG Philadelphia chapter, visit http://www.sewingphiladelphia.org or http://www.facebook.com/ASG.PhiladelphiaChapter.

More information about Chester County 4-H and upcoming events is available at http://www.facebook.com/chestercounty4H and https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties/chester.