ALFRED — Sometimes in life, what you need is a nice warm blanket, particularly if you’re a child who is seriously ill, or has been exposed to an emergency. Perhaps the youngster escaped from a fire at the family home or some other difficult situation.

So what do kids who need a blanket have in common with inmates at York County Jail?

Well, 11 female inmates have been taking sewing courses, and have produced 18 colorful quilts to add to others that are destined for Project Linus, the program that distributes quilts to area children’s hospitals and other agencies.

York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette delivered the quilts to Bonnie Barrett, the Project Linus coordinator, at Marden’s in Sanford on Thursday.

Barrett, who also operates the store fabric department, said 2,800 blankets, quilts and afghans were made by folks in the local area and dropped off at the Sanford Marden’s store last year.

“This is amazing. I hope the ladies know how much this is going to mean to children,” said Barrett of the inmates’ work.

The 11 incarcerated women take sewing lessons twice a week at the jail from Janet Carbone, a retired educator, through the Massabesic Center for Adult Learning.

“Most were very excited to do this,” said Carbone.

Ouellette said the sewing program was instituted to be able to offer inmates a skill. Other programs include gardening; a new program for heat transfer, and later silk screening, is expected to be online soon.

For those who qualify, there is a community works program, where inmates do projects outside the jail for nonprofit agencies. But Ouellette pointed out that some inmates don’t qualify to perform outside work.

Carbone accompanied Ouellette and Chief Deputy Bill King to Marden’s Thursday to deliver the inmates’ work.

King had interviewed Carbone earlier. He said she told him she has been sewing for 60 years; her mother taught her when she was 9. And, in a prepared statement, he said Carbone enthusiastically shares her skill with York County Jail inmates.

As well as 11 quilts for Project Linus, the inmates made 25 fleece hat and mittens sets along with several dozen bibs and burp cloths.

“I don’t mind working in a jail at all ”“ I realize the girls made a mistake, and I don’t see them as inmates, only people who want to learn how to sew,” Carbone told King.

The hats and mittens will be provided to local schools. The bibs and burp cloths will be part of packages distributed to young mothers through Alpha Pregnancy Center, King said.

Susan Gutierrez, 50, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is an inmate participant of the sewing program. King said Gutierrez, who is awaiting trial, had never sewn before.

“She speaks fondly of Ms. Carbone and vows that upon her release she will continue sewing clothing for her three grandchildren,” King said.

Another woman, who has been released from jail, is also following through, taking classes at Massabesic Adult Learning Center.

Carbone said she is proud of her students’ accomplishments.

“The girls did a great job,” she said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].