CLIFTON —Eleven home schooled girls from Bosque County and the surrounding area, undertook to produce a “Bouquet of Friendship” quilt for the annual Lutheran Sunset Ministries October quilt auction slated Oct. 17. With the instruction and help of Glenda Sager (owner of Quilting Cousins in Clifton), the girls started in February and learned how to make a quilt, step by step. Meeting several times each month in the shop, the quilt progressed.

“The girls were surprised at the amount of time that it took for the quilt to come together — so many steps were involved,” said spokesman Lisa Rose. “Nonetheless, by August, it was time to layer the quilt.” The quilt top is 100-percent cotton, the batting is soy silk, and the backing is 100-percent cotton. The time-consuming part was yet to come.

Several seasoned quilters from Cranfills Gap offered to help the girls stretch the quilt on a frame, and assist with the hand quilting. “A fun day of quilting and food was enjoyed by all — a regular old-fashioned quilting bee,” added Rose.

The quilt was completed at the end of September, just in time to be donated to the quilt auction to benefit Lutheran Sunset Ministries. The girls, with dedication and hard work, had met their goal.

The girls, ranging in age from 8-18, are as follows: Cassidy Bowland, Madison Bowland, Kelsey Bryant, Shelby Crockett, Reagan Dyer, Emma Guillory, Mattie Guillory, Aubrey McMahan, Janelle McMahan, Emily Murphy, and Amny Rose.

Others providing assistance with the hand-quilting were Geraldine Jenson, Sudie Knudson, Charlene Tergerson, Elsie Phillips, Anna Fortier, Jo Olson, Vicki Crockett, Kelly Bowland, Marina Dyer, Pastor Ann Koopmann, Eli Rose, and Lisa Rose.

All the quilts will be displayed at the Armory on Saturday, Oct. 17. The preview will begin at 10 a.m., with the auction beginning at noon.