Saxony Stitchers: Group of ladies meet to sew dresses for children in need, just in time for Christmas

On a Monday morning in November, a crew of ladies work busily in a spare room at Saxony Village Retirement Community in Cape Girardeau. Clothes lines stretch the length of the room and hold dresses in varying sizes and colors, and many more are folded and stacked on nearby tables.

The Saxony Stitchers have sewed some 125 dresses in two months, with plans to ship them to girls and women in need through Operation Christmas Child, a charitable organization that ministers to children throughout the world.

Elizabeth Spencer, a resident of Saxony Village and member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, rallied fellow residents, friends and church members to collect pillowcases, buttons and other supplies, then sew the dresses in time to be shipped for Christmas. The Saxony Stitchers even secured a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to purchase sewing machines for the project.

Members of the "Saxony Stitchers" Sue Donachy, left, and Mary Hitt pack up the dresses they have made for Operation Christmas Child. (Photo by Laura Simon, lsimon@semissourian.com)

"It's been a lot of fun for us, and we've gotten to know each other better," says Spencer, who's been sewing since her days as a little girl in 4-H. "(Volunteers) remembered their daughters and granddaughters and how they made Christmas dresses for them. Being able to do this was a special joy for them."

Sue Donachy holds the record for making the most dresses for the project. She made 50 dresses, and each one took about two hours to make, she says. She made most of them while watching TV in her living room.

Members of the "Saxony Stitchers" from left, Betty Jean Brown, Marge Hackney, Sue Donachy, Mary Beavers and Elizabeth Spencer, show off some of the dresses they have made for Operation Christmas Child. (Laura Simon)

Other days, the ladies gathered to visit and sew together. Mary Hitt, an experienced seamstress for more than 40 years, made 18 dresses.

"It was fun doing this, and the social part was fun, too," adds Betty Jean Brown.

Volunteers cut, stitched and organized most of the dresses, while about 40 other dresses, made from pillowcases, were decorated by children in Sunday school at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

"People were very generous in giving pillowcases," says Spencer.

In fact, the group has acquired so many supplies that they plan to continue making dresses in 2015. They are also working toward another grant to put toward more sewing machines, better lighting, an iron and ironing board, and a cart to organize all of their sewing supplies.