Quilting Hope: The Inspiring Story of Kayleen Allen and The Gatehouse

Kayleen Allen, a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Grapevine, Texas area, discovered her passion for quilting through a touching inheritance from her late mother. “My mother died when I was eight years old, and I inherited three quilt blocks from her. I think this is where I inherited my love of quilting,” she reflects.

Quilting is a tie to Kayleen’s mother and has helped her create new ties. “Quilting has opened so many doors of service for me and given me life-long friends,” she shares. Sew Many Blessings, a group of North Texas sewers who meet weekly, dedicates Tuesdays to service. Kayleen treasures joining this group and supporting initiatives such as making shorts and dresses for an African outreach program, hygiene kits for orphanages globally, and blankets and totes for the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth.

In 2014, Kayleen heard about The Gatehouse, a non-profit organization helping women “create a foundation for permanent self-sustainability.” Inspired to assist, Kayleen decided to help. She recalls telling Gatehouse founder, Lisa Rose, “I’d like to make a quilt for every woman who graduates.” When Lisa explained that they would house over 90 units, each with two to three beds, Kayleen responded confidently, “Well, we can do this.” During the year before The Gatehouse opened, Kayleen and the quilters from Sew Many Blessings, Bear Creek Quilt Guild, and other community members completed 360 quilts.

“Sewing quilts is expensive,” Kayleen explains. “A quilt can cost $100-$200 in materials and work. The Lord was helping bring people together who would help.” Generous donations of batting from Fiber Co. and the selfless contributions of quilters creating patterns and finishing quilts with long arm machines made this ambitious project feasible. Kayleen remarks, “People are so generous and giving, especially in the quilting community.”

Recently, The Gatehouse reflected on Kayleen’s impactful contributions: “Our founder, Lisa Rose, shares a sweet story from our early days (before our campus was built, when the original farmhouse on our property was a makeshift office and our campus was just a field of sunflowers) about a woman named Kayleen coming by asking if she could make quilts for us. Little did we know that Kayleen would mobilize quilters across the DFW Metroplex who, over the last nine years, have made more than 800 beautiful handmade quilts. These quilts, given to every new Member and child when they move in, have become symbols of comfort and hope, as well as lifelong keepsakes, reminding these precious women and kids of their journey to a brighter future. Thank you, Kayleen, and our wonderful quilting community, for the time and love you have sewn into these families.”

For the last nine years, Kayleen Allen has overseen the creation and donation of 10-15 quilts per month to Gatehouse Members, totaling over 800 quilts and counting. Kayleen’s unwavering commitment to service is deeply appreciated. One of the most touching aspects of her work is receiving heartfelt notes from graduating Members expressing gratitude and sharing that they have felt loved through the gift of their quilt. “Quilting has been a way to use my love of sewing and creative design to bless the lives of many and bring me in touch with many Christian women who share my love of sewing and using our talents to bless the lives of others.”

Thank you, Kayleen, for your unwavering service and boundless love. As The Gatehouse affirms, “One goal is that every woman and child know they have value.” Kayleen’s contributions stand as a testament to this mission, offering warmth and hope to those on their journey to a brighter future.