Sew much fun

HARTINGTON — Kynlee Steffen creates threads of love and hope one stitch at a time for new babies and their parents.

The 10-year-old daughter of Brad and Jackie Steffen, Hartington, has sewn 17 sets of burp cloths and blankets to donate to Christ Child Society of Omaha as part of a Cedar County Extension 4-H Citizenship Project.

“Me and my mom were talking about how I wish I could hold the babies they are going to,” she said. “I hope they feel blessed and happy that they can have them.”

Kynlee joined 14 other young sewers for the project lead by Kathy Lammers. The project was introduced at a recent sewing workshop that included instructions and a step-by-step pattern, as well as information about the Christ Child Society of Omaha charity.

The burp cloths and blankets stitched by Cedar County 4-H'ers will be placed with other essentials into a diaper bag. Christ Child Society volunteers deliver the bags to schools, medical offices and social service organizations who then give them to families in need.

It is one of the oldest chapters in the country and has been donating essential-filled diaper bags to families in need since 1906.

Once it was time to get to work, excited chatter came to a halt, Lammers said.

“They would get quiet because they’re busy,” she said, as she went from table to table to answer questions, check progress and help when needed.

“They go together pretty fast once you know what you’re doing,” Lammers said. “Once they did one or two they didn’t have to look at the instructions.”

Kynlee’s favorite part was mixing and matching the flannel and fleece for a custom creation.

“There’s some fun ones. I did a mink dinosaur one that was super dooper soft and really cute,” she said.