Mar WI Recycles ‘New’ Material ar Women's Institute member Marion Clark had a kind of fairy godmother idea - how to turn Cinderella patches into handsome garments, She discovered that Chris Enk. owner of Lion’s Sportswear Mfg. in Lion's Head, regularly discarded unwanted scrap-ends of material, mostly soft ‘sports’ fleece. Chris agreed to give her the remnants (ten large plastic bags full) and Marion. along with Colleen Knowles, Mar WI President, fired up enough interest among the Institute's twenty members to organize a mam» moth sewing bee. About three months, and quite a few thousand stitches later, the women cele- brated the completion of their charitable project at a WI meeting at the Mar Community Centre. The result of the work was 45 sweatsuits for kids, and 25 lap quilts for seniors," said Marion. They gave the sweatsuits to the local Salvation Army for distribution to needy children in the community. The lap quilts, each about four feet square. designed with unique. colourful patch- work, were handed out as gifts to the [residents] of Gateway Haven over Christmas. Colleen said: “Some of the women worked on them at home. and we used shared patterns." As well, there were regular sewing getâ€"togethers at the Hall, Marion, added Colleen, was one of the real creative wizards in the group. The only thing needed in addition to the material (apart from thread) was ribbing for the necks and cuffs of the sweatsuits. Chris and Gabriele Colleen Knowles (left), President or the Mar Women 's lnstitute, and Erik kindly do- nated the needed items. their group '5 handiwork The sweatsuits were made in sizes 3 to 10. The women made a variety ot’colour‘ful designs for them as well, including crew neck and turtle neck cuts, The ï¬nish and style was very professional looking. Marion and the group hoped to “spread a little Christmas cheer." The ï¬rst idea was to send the items overseas, but cost of shipping, they discovered, was prohibitive. “Besides. we decided there was as much need in this area." The women agreed the project was a double beneï¬t. It helped in the recy- cling effort, too. “It bothered me thinking about that material going to the dump," said Marion. Colleen added that the work was an enjoyable “communal Marian Clark (right), Mar WI member and bra/eat originator, display Phaio :cunesv c4 The Warren Ema effort." reflecting the WI mono at charitable senice e For Home and Country, This article was reprinted i‘rr-m a December, 1993. issue nleit‘ ll'iiii'mii Echo. Mar tr [neared mi Hie/mm a north of ‘ll'i‘ai'mn. Inside: Headquarters Update . Resolutions . . , ,. FWIO Annual Meeting Program Co-ordinator . , . . . , . Prolile: President Elect FurHarvesters Auction . . . . FWIO Ofï¬cers LlSl . Prolile. Beulah Hamilton , , , . , , . ACWW, , Branching Out