Quilting for Charity

FREE Wheelchair Tote Pattern

Quilting for charity can be a wonderful way to give back while putting your skills to use at the same time. While we enjoy quilting, we enjoy the act of presenting our creations to charitable causes that much more. Take a look at three charities we love.

Project Linus

Since 1998, Project Linus has donated over 5 million blankets to children in hospitals, shelters and social service agencies. National President Carol Babbitt and Vice President Mary Balagna direct and orchestrate the activities of Project Linus chapters located across the United States. Both have been involved with the organization since late 1998, as chapter coordinators and now as directors and officers. Project Linus has chapters in all 50 states and continues to grow. Blankets are collected locally and distributed to children. The Project Linus website has crochet, sewing and quilting patterns for blankets available in case of needed inspiration.

Quilts of Valor

Catherine Roberts began the Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF) from her sewing room in Seaford, Delaware.  Her son Nathanael’s year-long deployment to Iraq provided the initial inspiration, and her desire to see that returning warriors were welcomed home with the love and gratitude they deserved, provided the rest.

She hit upon the idea that linking quilt-toppers with machine quilters in a national effort could achieve her goal of covering all returning service men and women touched by war.  These wartime quilts, called Quilts of Valor (QOV’s), would be a tangible reminder of an American’s appreciation and gratitude.  Since 2003, QOVF has become a national grassroots community service effort, connecting the home-front with our wounded combat warriors and veterans.

A Quilt of Valor is a generous lap-sized quilt (minimum of 55 X 65) made by a quilt-topper (the “piecer”) of quality fabrics and beautifully quilted by a longarmer.   After it has been bound, washed, labeled and wrapped in a presentation case, it is ready to be awarded.  As of January 2014, there have been over 95,000 quilts awarded to service members/veterans.

Friendship Parade Quilt Pattern

Your Local Animal Shelter

Every city and town has an animal shelter. Why not use your quilting and sewing skills to make much needed pet beds for the four legged residents? It’s hard to imagine an animal having to lay on a cold, hard floor in a strange place twenty four hours a day. Making a pet bed is easy and also a great idea for using up your fabric stash. or cats and dogs who find themselves in animal shelters.  Your local animal shelter would be very grateful to receive them.  You can contact your local animal shelter, ask them how many they would want and make it a project for your quilting group.

Do you sew, quilt or craft for charity?