I've been a little obsessed lately with making my own quilt kits for veterans quilts. I like making up kits so that when I go to sewing days, I always have something ready to work on. I might have gone a little overboard in making 22 kits!
But that got me thinking that I hadn't posted our info about the veterans quilt project in a while, so, for new members, here's all the scoop.
The quilts we make are donated to the Interventional Radiography Department at Richmond Veterans Affairs Hospital. They primarily gift the quilts to veterans with recent cancer diagnoses that are in their department to have chemo ports inserted. The staff says that the quilts are wonderful especially for patients who are extra stressed over their diagnosis.
- Optimal size for the quilts is 48" x 60". We can accept an inch or 2 smaller and a inch or so bigger, but the backing and batting is precut so we do not have a ton of flexibility. 47" - 50" is good for width and 58" - 63" is good for length.
- You can make any pattern or design that you want. As for fabric selection, patriotic quilts are always the first preference but anything masculine or non-gender is fine. Scrap quilts are great too. Avoid feminine quilts. They have so few female patients that those quilts rarely get distributed. Hanover Safe Place is a great option if you are making more feminine quilts.
- We now have several volunteer quilters so once you give us your tops we can usually turn them around within 60 days (2 meetings). They are quilted 2 at a time. We load one backing piece that's big enough for 2 quilts.
- If you want to quilt your own quilt I (Vicki) can provide you with backing and batting. All you have to do is ask. I'll even do my best to dye a matching backing for you.
- Please avoid using any fragrance when you wash the fabrics or quilts. I'm very allergic. The quilts and the tops might stay in my house for a couple of months and I just can't have fragrance in my house for that long. I can't quilt tops that have fragrance in them at all. When I have received quilts that have been washed in fragrance detergent I have to hang them outside (on a covered porch) for as long as 2 weeks before I can have them in my house. I don't like doing that to your quilts but I have no other option. Quilts are returned to sewing days and meetings for you to pick up and bind. If a quilt goes unclaimed for a couple of months we will seek out a volunteer to bind it.
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