Have too many quilts but you love to sew and quilt? Why not let your next project be a quilt for a child in need?

Our guild members make quilts and donate them to our local hospital. Our hospital then gives them to children staying in the hospital. Below are some ideas and links for various quilts for kids.

Quilts for Kids
http://www.quiltsforkids.org/
This site also has some neat ideas for wheelchair bags, hospital bed bags and journals.
To find a pattern for the quilt pictured below...and many others
go to their website and click on 'Quilts.'

General Instructions for Making a Quilt

There are only 2 rules when making a quilt...

1. Fill it with love...because it really does shine through when we wrap a child in your quilt.
2. Have fun...use your imagination and enjoy.

Visit our Idea Gallery for inspiration and project plans.

Size: 45x55" is about most popular size...the maximum size is 50x55"

Pattern: Some recommendations are below or be creative. The only rule is that it is a patchwork and not two pieces front and back sewn together like a comforter.

log cabin
flying geese
trip around the world
sunbonnet kids
9 square
4 square
star bust
anything patchwork that makes your heart sing.

Prewash: Wash and dry fabric before making quilt so the glazes and chemicals come off. Some of you have asked about the chintz we use...it is great to work with and when you wash it the stiff chintz glaze comes off.

Batting: one thin layer of either poly or cotton batting is all we'd like. If you make it heavier then that it is too cumbersome for the kids to hold or carry to testing.

Backing: We supply you with enough fabric for front and back. Sometimes we have wonderful prints with scenes of dogs or horses or flowers in a vase. Please use those for the back and try and coordinate a patchwork front whose colors will coordinate with it.

Also, please do NOT hand tie the front to the back. All pieces must be sewn in securely so that there is no choking hazard.

Project Linus Pattern

Easy Quilt Blanket

This quilt pattern for an easy-to-make blanket is perfect for any charity effort. Quilts may be tied with crochet thread or machine quilted as illustrated in Figure B. Overall machine or hand quilting is acceptable as well.

Directions

Place two 36" x 42-44" pieces of kids print 100% cotton or baby flannel fabric right sides together. Layer a same size piece of batting (any type) on bottom.

Figure A.

Pin all four edges, leaving a 10" opening in the center of one side for turning.

Sew 1/2" seam around all edges, leaving the 10" section for turning open.

Figure B.

Turn and pin open edge closed.

Topstitch around entire quilt, approximately one “foot-width” from the edge of the quilt. Make sure that this stitching catches and closes the 10" open edge.

To finish the quilt, use a 20" square of fabric as a stitching guide. Pin 20" fabric square to center of quilt and stitch around the edge. This will secure the batting and fabric, keeping it from shifting. Do not sew the 20" fabric square to the quilt. This is simply a reusable stitching guide.

If you prefer, finish the quilt with overall machine or hand quilting. The quilt may also be finished by tying with crochet thread or pearl cotton thread.