Shannon Downey was at an estate sale in Chicago where a 99-year old woman named Rita Smith used to live.
In the bedroom Downey found hundreds of pieces of fabric that had been intended for a big quilting project which Smith started before she died.
Downey, who often looks for antique and vintage textiles to work with, said she was “emotional and overwhelmed” when she came across the unfinished quilt.
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“It felt so personal and intimate seeing the way she had left it. As soon as I saw the pieces I knew I had to complete it but I knew it was bigger than anything I had ever done before,” she told the BBC.
“Every bit of the project was mapped out and in this plastic tub. I sat on the floor and almost cried,” Shannon said
After buying all the fabric pieces for $6 (£4.6) Downey took to social media to put out a call for help in completing the quilt.
“While I embroider, I don’t quilt. So I asked my Instagram community if people would help me finish it.
“In one day, I had over 1,000 volunteers. Because people are amazing. There are 100 individual hexagons to be embroidered to make the quilt,” she tweeted.
Downey explained she had to start a spreadsheet to organise who would be embroidering individual pieces and where to send them.
Many of the volunteers were keen to learn more about the woman whose quilt they were making. Downey got insights into her life after making contact with Smith’s son on Thursday.
“He lives in the area and told me his mother was born in Michigan and worked as a school nurse all her life. He said she loved to undertake big craft projects, some which would last for years.
“He was really excited to learn about the joy people were finding in completing his mother’s work.”
Rita was born in Michigan and worked as a school nurse.
Downey’s volunteers, who are all over the US and Canada, have until 15 November to complete their needle work and send the finished pieces back to her.
“We’ve got over 30 Chicago quilters lined up to handle the quilting phase of the project once we get all of the hand-stitched hexagons back.
“A local quilting studio has also offered its space,” she said.
On Instagram the hashtag #Ritasquilt is being used by the people who have volunteered their needlework skills to help finish the quilt’s individual pieces.
Once the piece is completed, Downey wants to donate it to a quilting museum to showcase the huge collaborative project.
“Humans are amazing. Community can be built anywhere,” she says.
–Rosin Sinie | The BBC Worldwide News Service
