Quilting can be much more than a hobby. Sometimes it can save a life.

That’s the case for Lucy Klass of Glenwood, president of Quilters Plus, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year.

“I can tell you personally that I lost my son a few years ago and quilting saved my sanity,” Klass said. “It was therapeutic.”

“You can go at it any time of day or night,” she said. “Just sit at your machine and do little hand stuff or big hand stuff.”

Klass, who’s been involved with the organization for more than 25 years, does have one regret about quilting: that she waited until she had retired to begin the hobby. But she said its appeal is universal.

“It doesn’t matter what your politics, race or religion are. It’s the art of quilting so everyone can share in that, which is a great thing,” she said.

Quilters Plus has about 130 members scattered throughout the Chicago area, including Lemont, Orland Park, Joliet, Monee and Kankakee in Illinois, and Lowell, Schererville, Cedar Lake and St. John in Indiana. One member even drives 90 minutes from Michigan.

“It’s open to anyone interested in quilting, and you don’t have to be a member to meet,” Klass said. “It’s called Quilters Plus because people not only quilt but also crochet and do needlework. We have some machines and teach people how to sew.”

Pieceful Quilters meets from 3 to 9 p.m. every Monday at the Glenwood Senior Center. That session is open to the public. Guild meetings take place at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the center. Visitors can pay $10 to attend two guild meetings. Annual dues for members are $30.

Klass said the organization’s mission is to educate and promote the art as well as to reach out to the community.

“We present programs that promote all levels of quilting,” she said.

She estimated each year the group provides hundreds of projects through its annual Sew for Charity event, which includes monthly projects members work on and during that one-day event, which was in August.

Donated projects include fabric hearts for women who have had open-heart surgery or a mastectomy, wheelchair bags and lap quilts for veterans, hats for those undergoing cancer treatment, pillowcases for children and baby quilts.

She said they give items to the Glenwood Police and Fire departments, and have done comfort quilts for Olympia Fields hospitals and the cancer society.

“I have ladies that just knit baby hats,” Klass said.

“I have a group of ladies who just sew whatever I give them. My job is to get them organized and have individual chair people take over.”

The guild will host an auction from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Glenwood Senior Center, 1 Rebeccca St., to raise money for materials and speakers, some of whom are nationally recognized quilters, who come at least six times a year to monthly meetings. The sale is open to the public.

Marilyn Jupp, of Monee, who has been a Quilters Plus member for six years, leads the auction committee and will serve as the auctioneer.

“I don’t have the patter, but that’s OK,” Jupp joked.

The items for sale relate to quilting, knitting, handicrafts and some kits. No books or magazines will be sold. One potential highlight this year is sewing machines. Most of the goods for sale are donated by members.

“It’s lots of stuff that’s too good to throw away,” Jupp said.

“You might have some beige (fabric) but don’t want to buy more so you might bid on a box of beige fabric,” Klass said.

The cost of fabric is a big draw.

“Presuming they’re a quilter or a craft person, I would say it’s an excellent stash of fabric at a reasonable price,” Jupp said.

“Fabric can cost $14 or $15 a yard,” Klass said. “We tend to collect fabrics. I might be a hoarder.”

Klass said the cost of quilts depends on its size, the pattern, and the quality of the quilting.

“I just had one of my quilts appraised and it was $1,000,” she said.

She said a regular size quilt can cost $500 to make between the cost of fabric, backing and batting. The cost of thread also is considerable, with a small spool of a name-brand cotton thread going for $7 or $8.

Jupp, who knits, quilts and crochets, joined Quilters Plus to access to the knowledge, because she was a new to the hobby. When she retired, she realized how much of her social life was tied up with work and wanted to find people with similar interests.

Her mother was a member of the group 15 years ago, so she knew her “social need” would be fulfilled.

“There’s a lot of chitchat going on,” Klass confirmed.

The guild boasts one male member, who is in his early 50s and whose wife is a member.

“He’s quite a quilter. We’re delighted to have him,” Jupp said.

She said the couple sponsor a challenge every other year in which members are urged to make a quilt with a special theme within several months.

“For example, one time members received a few crayons and had to find fabric to match,” she said . “Or they will be challenged to make something on a theme, such as curves.”

Klass said the challenges help creativity flourish.

That creativity will be on display during the guild’s annual holiday boutique from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 1 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 2 at Faith United Methodist Church, 15101 S. 80th Ave., Orland Park. Admission is $5; children 12 and younger admitted free.

To learn more, go to www.quiltersplus.com.