WAWOTA - Ten years ago, Suzanne Eisler heard about a group of women in Oxbow that made little dresses for other countries.
Eisler was intrigued by this idea and brought it up at her Bible study group in Wawota. They told Eisler that she should start one as well and her efforts began a short time later.
On Feb. 26, 2014, the first little dress for Africa was made in Wawota at the Free Methodist Church.
This church offered their meeting room for the women to start this new project. At first, 21 women joined the group, which set up an assembly line to get the job done.
One does not need to know how to sew as there are many other parts of the production that do not require sewing. People need to cut out the pattern, while another is needed to cut board cloth to make the binding. This needs to be ironed out and then the sewing can begin.
One little dress takes about 45 minutes to make, as the pattern is simple and quick, giving the women lots of time to make several in an afternoon.
If the dresses are not completed, most times someone takes them home and finishes them.
The little dresses are made in small, medium and large, and have gone to Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Philippines and northern Saskatchewan.
Not once have they had to pay for shipping, as they always seem to find someone travelling to these areas who will take an empty suitcase full of dresses.
The group has dwindled over the years to about 12 women. Eisler said some have moved away and sadly some have died, but they continue on.
More than 10,000 dresses and 3,000 pairs of shorts have gone to those in need. When they arrive at their destination, they are given to the maid to distribute to those who need them.
Gathering from October through December and then again in January until Easter, Eisler said it is a great social time.
The only time they slowed down was during COVID-19, when they were not allowed to gather, but they made the dresses at home.
They sew for a couple of hours and then break for a light lunch, coffee and snacks.
Most of the women are retired, and they enjoy their time together and giving them the feeling they are doing something that has influence.
The leftover scraps are also not wasted. One of the women makes quilts from the pieces and other scraps are used to make pencil cases that they fill before sending them.
Shirley Palendat said they only use cotton materials, and these are usually donated from people who have cleaned up their sewing rooms and no longer need or want the materials.
Cotton is used, since it is a cooler fabric and the dresses go to countries where the weather is hot.
The sewers appreciate the donations of materials, threads and elastics, as it saves them on having to buy it.
On Feb. 27, they celebrated their 10th anniversary with a public gathering. They served coffee and cake, while reminiscing about how far they have come with the little dresses for Africa.
