Much like a quilt is a collection of fabric forming a comforting blanket, so too is a town a patchwork of people whose life together forms a community.

That was the inspiration for Lisa Montague to put together a project that embodies Craig and Moffat County in a unique and beautiful way.

Montague recently donated a unity quilt to Craig City Hall, a craft piece that now hangs above Council chambers.

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The quilt features as much of Craig and Moffat County as Montague could fit into it, with squares devoted to area businesses, community organizations, agencies and elected officials.

“I was just trying to put everyone together through it,” she said. “I started by putting the mayor in the middle and just branched out from there.”

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With 143 squares — 11 rows and 13 columns of 6-inch patches — the final outcome is a mix of dark blue, light blue and white capturing the essence of our corner of Colorado.

While the project started this summer, the crafting was the easier part for the experienced quilter — her biggest one — compared to a month’s worth of tracking down everyone to whom she was paying tribute in the quilt.

“I think it was 120 businesses, and it took a while to track them all down,” Montague laughed.

She added that materials were donated by Community Budget Center and Barely Spent.

Montague said she has made multiple quilts over the years for friends and has also dabbled in other media — such as a painting currently at Craig Middle School — though her own walls are quite bare.

“I never keep my artwork, I feel guilty if I keep it,” she said.

Accompanying the quilt in its current location is a certificate of authenticity verifying all the people and businesses it signifies.

The piece will hang at City Hall but may also be rotated among several locations around town, such as Museum of Northwest Colorado, the Yampa Building or Moffat County Courthouse.

“Whatever the town wants, because it is them,” Montague said.

Montague officially donated the piece in mid-October to city personnel.

City Manager Peter Brixius noted that he was moved by the amount of effort and care Montague had put into it and how well the quilt reflects local spirit.

“We had a citizen who had a passion for doing something that would further the description of unity and pride in our community,” Brixius said. “I think the city and county and businesses that participated in acknowledging that, I think it’s been a good thing for us to think about and be part of. We certainly appreciate her efforts, and I’m amazed at the commitment she showed to get them all on board.”