I am putting together a quilt basket for a raffle for the school where my daughter teaches special ed. I have thought about what to put in it. But I was wanting to get ideas from all you smart and crafty quilters. Please let me know if you have any creative ideas for this basket. I have to put it together in 2 1/2 weeks. :thumbup:

Is it a basket for anyone? or are you trying to gear it toward quilters?

if its a "quilting basket" ...
fat quarters in a rainbow of colors, small size rotary cutter, 12" ruler, pack of decent hand needles, good qualty machine quilting thread, bent quilter's safety pins, seam ripper, maybe a small book of patchwork patterns? Maybe a GC to a LQS or JoAnn's if there's one close?

Sorry, those just all came to mind as ideas, I have no idea what your "budget" is, or if you will be giving her classmates a "list" for parents to each contribute (that's what we did)

ooohhhhh! and check JoAnn's right now if you can, their redtag fabrics are all on sale 50% off this week for Daffodil Dash ~ it would be really neat to "wrap" the whole thing in a shimmering sheer prom clearance fabric instead of the plastic wrap :D

It would be for anyone that wants to bid on it. But its theme would be quilting.

fabric for the wrap instead of basket wrap is a great idea. :thumbup:

Maybe a nice tape measure and a pretty thimble. And a pretty pin cushion.

Some easy things to make..
needle case
pin cushion
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box of nice pins / needles / nice thread / fat quarters
fat quarter friendly pattern / quilting magazine / seam ripper
small "travel" size cutting mat / rotary cutter / small bottle of Mary Ellen's Best Press (a treat for some!)

our kids' elementary would do this, it was a great PTA fund-raiser... every family from Teacher ABC's class would donate something for the theme... one year we had a "movie night basket" which was tallied at over $260 value... loaded with DVDs, theatre tickets, popcorn, giftcard for Blockbuster, etc... people were buying extra tickets to try and win it, and our PTA used the funds to send the whole graduating class to a minor league baseball game (Akron Aeros) for a day (whole class/grade outing). These are so fun!

Do you know how many quilters are likely to be at the auction? Or gear it toward a beginner with a simple pattern and materials for it?

Don't forget a seam ripper, pair of scissors, Maybe a nice book on quilting or sewing, should not be hard to fill the basket in a hurry. Depends on how much you want to spend and if it is strictly a quilting basket or any kind of sewing!

The school I worked had an annual basket raffle. Each class was responsible for a basket. Some classes were very creative. Pasta baskets, Chocolate lovers basket, Spa baskets, School supplies basket(put in a backpack), movie night basket, Game night basket, Cooking basket, Gardening basket, tea time baskets, coffee time baskets and BBQ baskets. It is late at night and that is all I can remember.
Hope this gives you some ideas. I like the idea of a quilter's basket, but I think it is way to limited for most people.

IF you're trying to reach a larger audience, how about a table runner, a couple mug rugs, mugs to co-ordinate, a variety of teas, something good to snack on, and a couple quilting magazines.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I knew I could count on you!! I am going shopping today.

If it's for folks who are already quilters to bid on, then maybe skip the seam ripper and rotary cutter (we all usually have these) and have some yummy fat quarters, a quilt booklet or mag, and some items quilters use up or would maybe like to try, like thread conditioner, glue baste-it, luxury thread like Aurifil, King Tut, YLI. Maybe a gift certificate donated by a LQS....

Hey, you're in IL! When you decide what you want to put in, PM me and I'll see what I have to contribute. :)

I think adding anything 'chocolate' even if it is a fabric basket would be welcomed by all quilters! Chocolate soothes the quilters soul I always say.

My suggestions: Chocolate (can be Dove, Hershey's Bliss, Hersheys Hugs and Kisses,) variety of coffee and tea packets, hot cocoa, etc.

If they choc is individually wrapped they can be sprinkled around on top of the other items ... tempting everyone else to see what else is hiding in the basket.

I am a teacher, and we love to see creative baskets! I would put sewing notions in it, even some odds and ends things that new quilters don't think of...binding clips, etc. I would also put a variety of fat quarters, some easy patterns, and a few quilting magazines.

I don't know what everyone else thinks, but I can never get enough safety pins, and an extra pin cushion would be nice. Do you know how to make them?

I am working on some for my sons small tricky tray the pto does towards the end of the year...

I am doing a table runner, placemats (that I made) I am going to add a candle,(also going to do one with a pot scrubby, and kitchen wash clothes, along with a candle or something...

depending on what you are going to put in there.. you could do a table runner for a holiday, nice teas, nice coffee, candle, crackers,something that makes a center piece.

I think you have had great suggestions here.
but i think a finished project would be better, because i think sewing people are far and few between....

mmmm.... Chocolate. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: