The National Quilting Association wanted to keep these aspects of the art alive and passed a resolution in 1991 officially designating March as national quilting month.

Kiersten Manual, engage life director at Atria Willow Glen, a senior living community on Gaton Drive, decided to host a quilt show and afternoon tea on March 17 in honor of the resolution.

"I thought it would be a good chance for people to showcase quilts and afghans that were made throughout their lifetime," Manual said.

Margaret Wilms, one of the Atria Willow Glen residents, took advantage of the opportunity by proudly displaying her friendship quilt, which had been passed to her from her older sister. A friendship quilt is typically made by a group of people who live in the same area, with each square displaying the name of the person who made it.

"I was 9 years old when it was made," said Wilms, who grew up in Southwest Missouri. "I am still in touch with many of the daughters of the women whose names are on the quilt."

According to Mary Nelson, who also lives at the Atria Willow Glen, the style of Wilm's friendship quilt is a Dresden plate pattern, which emerged in the United States around 1920. It consists of different colors and patterns of fabrics configured to resemble an abstract flower. These flowers are then appliquéd onto 16-inch squares that are sewn together to create the top piece. From there, quilting bees got together for the process of hand-quilting the top to the bottom, sandwiching batting in between the two. The result was an incredibly warm blanket used to stave off the cold winter weather.

"There was no central heat, so we needed quilts to stay warm," Wilms said.

Fabric for the flowers was traditionally taken from old clothing or from scraps left over from sewing projects.

"We made most of our own clothes back then, so we always had scraps left over," Wilms added.

Even though Manual said she failed junior high sewing, she displayed several examples of her own handiwork, including a red, white and blue quilt she made for her grandfather.

"He was a World War II veteran, and after he got up each day he would spread the quilt out on his bed," Manual said.

Also on display were many knitted and crocheted afghans, scarves and pillows.

Vivian Mors, who has been knitting for 75 years and belongs to the knitting club at Atria Willow Glen, displayed an afghan she made by knitting long thin strips and sewing them together. The result was an intricate pattern that resembles cable knit. In addition she made matching twin bedspreads for her daughter, Marge Rice.

"I used to knit dresses, but it took so long to make them, the style would change before I finished it," Mors said.

Alice Jenkins, who knitted an afghan using single pieces of yarn that were left over from other projects, made another unique piece. The result is a colorful, one-of-a-kind blanket.

Many of the residents at the Atria make blankets, scarves and other practical handicrafts for nonprofit organizations that serve premature babies, terminally ill children, homeless teens and other disadvantaged youth.