love to quilt

I have made the shawl from Nancy's Notions. I made a couple for my Mom when she was in a nursing home. I put a trim along the bottom of the shawl and a matching emblem near the shoulder just to add color and a little design. It helped to keep her warm and comfy. This is really easy and quick. Good luck.

Snooks

Thank you for the link to the cozy shoulder shawl. I'll be moving back to AZ full time (my mother will need full time help - that's me), so money will be tight. But I have a nursing home in the same town that is near and dear to my heart. And just as Linda R said, many of the residents are alone. But the staff took such good care of my Dad, that I always try to do things to help out. Because when you help the residents, your also helping the staff. I try to make lap quilts each year, but the shawls will be great too.

Jcbdsew

I work at a hospital as well and I do know that at Christmas time they have a tree with pt names on a tag, I always pick someone who needs a blanket or quilt..I also embroidery on the blanket there name so that it goes back to that person with a angel on it..

lynnsv

I work at a senior center and we've been making lap quilts for local nursing home. Just using up scraps of fabric and sewing squares together. They're around 36 x 36. They are greatly appreciated.

johanna2le

Our guild makes lap quilts for local veterans and we make our blocks 12.5 x 12.5 and use 16 of them. I cut all strips 4.5 wide and cut for log cabin, or three strip in different colors or 12 4.5 inch blocks. I found using the quilts as you go method every easy. I sandwich the blocks and we quilt them with a five point star and then connect the sixteen blocks with 2 inch sashing. now you can use the quilt from both sides.

Greenheron

When DMIL was the nursing home, their practice was to get everyone out of bed, if it all possible. I asked the CNAs for clothing advice, they are the ones who do the practical care. Since DMIL could not help herself at all, they asked me to convert her clothing to make it open in the back. It was so much easier for the patient and the aides to slip on garments from the front and for ease and durability of washing I got 100% cotton sweats for her and it was easy to slit the backs of tops and pants sides to help with ease of dressing. I don't remember if ties or velcro was preferred--not snaps or buttons because they would be uncomfortable for an immobile person and damaging to their skin. When she passed, her clothing went to other patients in the home.

jeanredner

I would be happy to donate fabric for the quilts,I think its wonderful that you are doing this.Please let me know the details.

VickyS

Our guild makes over 100 wheelchair quilts a year. They range in size from 29-45" wide and 36" long. The bottom has the corners cut off to keep them from catching in the wheels. We attach ties or ties with Velcro to one side so that it can be looped over the arm of the wheelchair to keep it attached to the wheelchair - sometimes folks have to get up to use the facilities and this way they can just throw them over the arm to get up, and pull them back on when they sit back down.

Generally we use darker materials (to not show any food or drink spills), and they can be either just a strip of material or blocks. If blocks - use 10-12" blocks - totalling 9 blocks for the lap quilt. For the bottom, just do a HST on each corner.

Backing is usually flannel or fleece as cotton tends to be too slippery on their laps. If flannel, it is washed at least 3 times in HOT water to get maximum shrinkage done before cutting and they are quilted heavily to keep them from lumping.

These quilts go like hotcakes. Everyone loves using them. They are lightweight and feel great. This design has been worked on by our guild and the local nursing homes and VA hospitals. Anything you can do for them is greatly appreciated.

Rose_P

Yes, but please keep in mind that most of us have nursing facilities, VA hospitals, children's homes, etc. much closer to home and the money that would be spent on postage for sending things to Maryland could be better spent on more materials for our local organizations. Our guild has a very active charity effort, and most of us could easily hook up with something of that sort. The guild pools resources, such as donated fabrics and batting, so that people can donate the work without investing a lot of their own money. It's very satisfying activity, and a great way to practice skills while helping those in need.

grandmahoney

This is very true even In the state of Iowa you can not add ties to lay robes because it is considered a restraint. So check with the care center you are going to make your lap blanket for and see what they want in size and about the ties.