Debra Mc

A young man that I have know many years is shipping out to Afaganastan next week & I wanted to make him a quilt. What is a good size & should I use thinner or thick batting. He will be in the mountains & I know nothing about where he is going. I know they all want wipes & stuff like that & socks but wasn't sure on the quilt. Anybody help me with this.

carolaug

Good question...my guess would be 100 percent cotton and when you make him a quilt maybe you could make it with prints from memories of home. Sending prayers his way.

quiltingme

Might want to make the back from camouflage patterned fabric...just a thought.

maine ladybug

I've made several quilts going there and one thing they always say is DO NOT USE any fabric with sparkles. Some patriotic fabrics have them on them.

fayzer

I am not a military mom but am a military supporter. I have 3 adoptees. I currently have two that are in Afghanistan and they tell me the conditions there. You need to send twin size as most of them have cots and sleep in sleeping bags. The sleeping bags are kind of narrow at the bottom. These guys love a soft quilt or blanket to sleep under. You need to be long enough to tuck under their feet as it is very cold. Those guys in the mountains are knee deep in snow a lot of the time. I don't make anything camo because they see that every day. To be honest, I have only made sewn fleece blankets in masculine or patriotic prints. They love something on their cot to brighten their little area. I haven't made a quilt yet but am collecting patriotic fabrics now for my first to send to Afghanistan. I recently heard from a Lt. Col. that I sent a blanket too. He said that even thought he is home now, he still sleeps under his blanket every night. I hope this helps.

carolaug

My son is also in the service and when I made him a quilt I was going to put on fabric to do with the service fabric and he said Mom...would you want a desk, computer and a chair on your quilt...(My work..) he had a good point...he said that is his job...so instead I made him a quilt with his favorite love...besides his wife...his dogs. I made it with paw prints, dog bowls, trees etcs...he loved it but also asked if I could make him one with all of the sport in NE - Pats, Redsox, Celtics and Bruins...and a bit longer so it would cover his feet...; ) since you know this soldier and if he likes sports you could make one with his favorites.

Sheila_H

I make either a lap quilt or twin quilt for the same reason as others it has to fit in their cot or their sacks. I've made one thats patriotic and another I made with lots of his interests, fishing, hunting, cowboy boots, etc things he really likes to do when he's home.

Jim's Gem

A lap size quilt would be good. Use batting. It gets very cold there up in the mountains. My daughter loved having one of my quilts there with her. She also used it in her "office" cause she froze in there. She had the prettiest bed in her "hootch" and when she went to Iraq, I shipped it over there as well. She really appreciated having it. It was Teal and pink. Not really her colors but she loved it all the same!

pookie ookie

I was told specifically to make them larger than twin size for wrapping up in purposes. It gets cold in the Fall and cold in air conditioning now (for those who have it).

I was also told to use non-military type fabrics as reminders of home are pleasing. Mentioning their service on the tag is appreciated so they'll have a service reminder when it goes back home.

I use a flannel back and Warm and Natural batting.

A general rule of thumb is to ask the recipient what they want. Some gifts are a hassle to deal with while deployed. It's best to get the okay first. That goes for general care packages as well.

My DF's blankets are always full size or a little larger. And, this time (Afghanistan) he asked for even bigger. He's getting an appliqued front and a pieced block back. No American military anything other than the signature block. I'm using an Army Star and a house block to bookend the siggie. Everything on the blanket has personal meaning.

I expected the first blanket I made to be burned upon redeployment. No big deal. I made it with that in mind. You burn your garbage when you leave. He brought it home and now it's in Afghanistan along with one other and one more on the way. I lucked out and got a blanket fiend.

wanda lou

I send xl twin size and use alot of red white and blue star prints as well as dog prints.

and I always send candy..