Photo byPierre BaminonUnsplash

Nestled snugly between Connecticut and Massachusetts, like a baby kangaroo in a pouch, is a truly magical place called Rhode Island. Don't be fooled by its name, it's not an island, but a state! A state so small, you could practically hop, skip, and jump across it. But oh boy, the kids in Rhode Island have discovered a secret, larger-than-life activity that is stitched together with fun, creativity, and a dash of magic. Meet the Sewing Squad - a group of kids with needles and threads as their wands and capes. They aren't ordinary kids, no siree! They are fabric wizards and stitch sorceresses. They can turn a simple piece of cloth into a majestic cape, or a boring handkerchief into an enchanted map. They also have a secret mascot, a chatty, sewing-obsessed porcupine named Pincushion Pete. Pete's got more needles on his back than any sewing kit and he loves to thread tales of their sewing adventures. While other kids are busy playing video games or rolling in dirt, the Sewing Squad kids are stitching their dreams into reality. They can sew a rainbow on a rainy day or stitch a smile onto a sad cloud. They've sewn more scarves for their snowmen than the number of clams on Rhode Island's beaches. They have an annual 'Sew-a-thon', where the winner is crowned the 'Sultan of Stitches' by Pete himself, with a crown sewn from golden threads. But it's not all just sewing and giggles. The Sewing Squad also sews blankets for the homeless, cute bandanas for shelter dogs, and quilts for babies in the hospital. They believe in stitching together not just fabric, but also their community, one thread at a time. So, in Rhode Island, tiny though it may be, the Sewing Squad kids are weaving big dreams and sewing their way into everybody's hearts.