Marina
In the heart of the Kansas City metro area, a remarkable story of service, craft and community has taken shape.
Veteran and shop owner Elizabeth Thomas has turned her passion into purpose at Plain Janes & Co., a quilt shop in Leavenworth, Kansas that now stands as a symbol of gratitude toward service members.
With roots in military life and a deep personal connection to giving back, Elizabeth is leveraging the art of quilting to honor veterans, support fellow service members and build a stronger community.
This article delves into her journey, the shop’s mission, the impact of this initiative, and what it means for veterans and civilians alike.
Background: A Veteran’s Path to Quilting
Elizabeth Thomas served in a key role on the Wounded Warrior Unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. Through her experience, she witnessed the toll of service and the need for healing, connection and community support.
Quilting entered her life as a way to stay connected with her mom during active duty. Through fabrics, threads and shared time, the craft provided solace, expression and meaning beyond the uniform.
Elizabeth then founded Plain Janes & Co. in Leavenworth—a city with deep military ties, located near Fort Leavenworth—with a mission that goes beyond business: to serve the veteran community, celebrate their service and create tangible tokens of gratitude.
Launching the Quilt Shop: Plain Janes & Co.
Located at 506 Delaware St., Leavenworth, Kansas 66048, Plain Janes & Co. is a bright, welcoming hub for fabric lovers, makers and community members.
The mother-daughter team behind the shop built it from the ground up, driven by a love for quilting and a desire to make a difference.
Their inventory includes modern bold fabrics, 1930s-style reproductions, kits and bundles—more than 290 collections and counting. Although the shop serves the general quilting community, Elizabeth has infused her veteran-centric mission into its operations.
Mission: Supporting Service Members Through Quilts
Elizabeth’s mission has three key pillars:
- Honoring veterans: The shop works with the organization Quilts of Valor Foundation to provide handmade quilts to those who served. These quilts become a symbol of recognition, comfort and gratitude.
- Free studio space: Plain Janes & Co. offers its studio space free of charge to non-profit groups and quilting collectives who want to create quilts for veterans and service members. This turns the shop into a community giving space, not just a retail business.
- Community engagement: With a large military-connected customer base in the Leavenworth region, Elizabeth gives back by offering donation-round-ups and encouraging quilting projects that integrate the veteran community. Her location near Fort Leavenworth means many of her customers are service-connected, so the mission resonates deeply.
Key Facts & Figures
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shop Name | Plain Janes & Co. |
| Location | 506 Delaware St., Leavenworth, Kansas 66048 |
| Owner | Elizabeth Thomas |
| Military Background | Wounded Warrior Unit, Walter Reed Army Medical Center |
| Primary Mission | Support service members & veterans via quilting |
| Community Offering | Free studio space for non-profits creating quilts for veterans |
| Military Community Presence | Heavy presence due to proximity to Fort Leavenworth |
| Fabric Collections | Over 290 collections ranging from 30s repro to modern bold |
| Target Groups | Veterans, service members, military families, quilting community |
Why It Matters: The Impact on Service Members and Community
For Service Members & Veterans
Receiving a quilt from this shop or from a Quilts of Valor volunteer means more than a blanket—it’s an act of recognition, gratitude and care. For many veterans, the physical warmth of a quilt reflects the emotional warmth of a community saying: “We see you. We appreciate you.”
Elizabeth’s free studio space ensures that quilting groups can focus on the mission—creating meaningful pieces—without worrying about rental costs. This directly amplifies how many quilts get into service members’ hands.
For the Local Community
Leavenworth and the surrounding Kansas City metro has a strong military presence, and Plain Janes & Co. helps strengthen community ties by offering a place where civilians and service-connected individuals converge through craft.
The business model itself is innovative: combining retail operations with a giving mission means customers know their purchases and participation support a cause. The shop isn’t just selling fabric—it’s selling connection and support.
For Quilters & Makers
Quilters often seek meaning beyond crafting; for many, stitching offers therapy, purpose and community. Elizabeth’s approach invites makers to volunteer, give back and create with intention.
By opening the studio, she lowers barriers, allowing more people to participate in the mission and deepen their skills in a supportive environment.
Inside the Process: How the Quilt Projects Work
The process at Plain Janes & Co. and partner quilters follows a heartfelt sequence:
- Design & Fabric Selection: Quilters pick from the shop’s wide fabric offerings, selecting colors, textures and motifs that will honor a specific veteran or service cohort.
- Creation Phase: Quilters transform fabric into sandwich layers—top, batting, back—and quilt the piece, often incorporating patterns that symbolize service or gratitude.
- Presentation & Recognition: Completed quilts are presented to veterans, sometimes at ceremonies or special events, often with a card or note of thanks.
- Community Sharing: Finished quilts may be showcased at the shop or uploaded to social channels, telling the story of service and the craft behind it.
The process is deeply personal: whether creating for a newborn, a veteran or a wedding, Elizabeth says, “the process is very personable.” Quilting becomes more than a task—it becomes a story of connection.
Challenges & Highlights
Operating a business with a social mission brings unique challenges. Balancing retail needs (stocking fabrics, running the shop, managing costs) with mission-driven offerings (free studio space, donation activities) requires skill.
Elizabeth navigates this by blending mission and commerce: the business supports the mission, and the mission enriches the business.
Highlights include the strong local support from military-family customers, the steady flow of volunteer activity in the studio and the dozens (if not hundreds) of quilts created and donated thanks to this union of business & service.
Looking Ahead: Plans & Vision
Elizabeth plans to expand the shop’s outreach: increasing the number of donated quilts, hosting more communal quilting events, and reaching out to veteran groups across the region.
She also hopes to forge partnerships with veterans’ organizations to further integrate quilting into service-member support programs.
By focusing on community gatherings, “quilting for good” nights, and enhanced volunteer recruitment, Plain Janes & Co. is poised to grow its impact without losing the personal touch.
From uniform to patchwork, Elizabeth Thomas’s journey speaks to the power of service, craft and community. In opening Plain Janes & Co., she’s woven together her military background, passion for quilting and commitment to giving back.
Through handmade quilts, free studio access, and a shop rooted in purpose, she’s creating a legacy of gratitude for the men and women who’ve served our nation.
For veterans, service members, quilting enthusiasts and community supporters alike, this endeavor is a reminder that acts of kindness—stitched carefully one seam at a time—can make a real difference.