We Made The News. . .

Family makes quilt honoring son’s military service

July 30, 2014

Chris and Jerry Biggerstaff, with some design help from their daughter, Sheri Duderstadt, designed, pieced and assembled a quilt using uniforms, patches and other memorabilia belonging to their son, Chief Warrant Officer Jerry P. “Jay” Biggerstaff.

The younger Biggerstaff served with the 176th Engineer Brigade, Texas Army National Guard. He has served in Texas, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Our son, Jay, asked us last year if we would make him a quilt using his army uniforms to tell his “Soldier Story,” Chris said. “He had a design in mind with specific items he wanted in it, and he was happy with our final layout. With helpful suggestions from his Pop and sister, I think we created a really nice design.”

Chris admitted she had no idea what using the uniforms entailed when she first started on the project.
“I got up close and very friendly with Jack, the seam ripper,” Chris laughed. “Those uniforms are made from the toughest fabric I have ever encountered. So I ripped up seams, patches and Velcro from three different styles of jackets (two of each) and two pairs of pants. The thread was so strong it broke my favorite seam ripper as I was trying to take buttons off.”

Chris took the Velcro off the patches and stitched them onto the quilt, making the already tough uniform fabric even thicker in those places.

Jerry – “Pop” – then took on the challenging task of quilting the piece, stitching around all the patches (36 of them) and the pockets.

“I recommended leaving the pockets open for two reasons,” Chris said. “First, because they were several layers thick and secondly, because it would be a nice place for notes from Jay’s sons and grandchildren.”
Calling the project a labor of love, Chris said Jay mentioned that others might like to have a quilt made when they see his.  “I told him if I were to make any more, they would be very expensive,” she said.

This quilt was made with love for Chief Warrant Officer Jerry P. Biggerstaff by his mom, Chris Biggerstaff – with some layout suggestions from sister Sheri Duderstadt – and quilted by his dad, Jerry Biggerstaff, Sr. It was created from his uniforms, honoring his service in Texas, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
A local couple recently finished an unusual but loving tribute to their son’s military service.