Checker Newsletter

The National Quilting Association created National Quilting Day in 1991.  This special day is celebrated the third Saturday in March each year.  Visit their website to explore ways that you can coordinate an event to honor the tradition of quilting in your area. http://nqaquilts.org/nqday/index.php

Each community chooses their own way of recognizing this event.  In our area, it is a day of service – quilters come together to sew for a common cause.  Thanks to the generosity of quilters everywhere, there are many national groups that coordinate these efforts and guarantee that these efforts find a good and deserving home.  Following is a list of some of my favorites:

Quilts of Valor

This program was started by Catherine Roberts in 2003 when her son was deployed to Iraq.  She wanted to cover all wounded and injured service members with a quilt.  Since it’s inception, this program has donated over 15,000 quilts to the cause.  Visit their website:  www.qovf.org for more information.

Quilts for Kids

Quilts for Kids began in 2000 with the following mission statement:

Quilts for Kids, Inc. transforms discontinued, unwanted and other fabrics into quilts that comfort children in need.  These children are fighting a life battle with cancer, AIDS, and other serious illnesses.  We also gift to children of abuse.  Our goal is to link design centers and other fabric sources nationwide to their communities, so that children in need in those regions may be served.

This program has been so successful because every effort is made to keep the quilts in the areas in which they are made.  Visit their website for a list of the organizations who accept donations:  www.quiltsforkids.org

Project Linus

Project Linus has distributed over 3,000,000 quilts since1995 through 378 chapters nationwide.  Visit their website to find an active chapter in your area: www.projectlinus.org Their mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriouslty ill, traumatized, or otherwise in ned through the gits of new, handmade blankets and afghans, created by volunteer “blanketeers”.

Make a Pillowcase Make a Difference

American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine has joined forces with many of the top companies in the industry to support an effort by quilters to produce 1,000,000 pillowcases.  These cases are distributed as a token of love to anyone that needs  a hug.  The recipient may be a cancer patient; a foster child, a battered woman, or a nursing home resident.  To participate, visit their website: allpeoplequilt.com

Hospital Gowns – Free Pattern

While this is not a national program, it is dear to my heart.  Rita Fishel wears many hats:  She owns a quilt shop in Southern Ohio, in an author with AQS, teaches all over the country, writes for Quiltposium magazine, and demonstrates for Creative Grids rulers.  But, when a dear friend was diagnosed with  , she dropped everything and created a pattern for a hospital gown that could be made out of the beautiful fabrics she loved and cheer up any hospital room.

Rita teamed with Joan Hawley of Lazy Girl fame to write a pattern in both adult and children’s sizes.  These patterns are available as free downloads on Joan’s website: www.lazygirldesigns.com/hospitalgown.php

We all know of someone in a nursing home or hospital that could use some cheer.  In my own case, I know two men in this situation – novelty prints with hockey or golf themes would be perfect – and much more appropriate than flowers!  How about a hospital gown out of the Maxine fabric I talked about last week for a favorite woman in your life?  Every nurse will smile – talk about a conversation starter!!!

Other Local Charities

Many local guilds and quilt shops have set up programs of their own that benefit local organizations.  Stop by your local quilt shop for more information.  They can get you in touch with a group or guild in your area that would be thrilled to accept your help.  And, remember, the need for donations is not just one day a year…..these causes need our support year round!