All Thumbs

Ah-h, Saturday was a rewarding day for me and I would like to share with you my Project Linus project.

About 20-25 women showed up for our semi-annual blanket day. Oh, we complained as we trekked across the hot parking lot in the blasted full summer's sun dragging our machines and supplies but once we got set up and partook of coffee and donut holes, we were off and running for six hours of sewing. Heat index was well over 100 degrees when we left around 3p.m.

This particular day we were making autistic weighted blankets. (Photo below.) It was explained that a weighted quilt induces chemicals within an autistic child’s mind and results in his/her becoming calmer. These quilts have six velcor pockets containing wide strips of recycled hospital blankets.

The expensive commercial quilts have poly pellets in them but some thought a pet or child could possibly chew through the fabric making a hazard. Therefore, a member in our area has come up with local hospitals donating sheets (sterilized of course) and after ripping them into wide strips, rolling the strips, and stuffing into the tubes, they make a perfect weighted blanket which can also be washed. Great Green Earth idea too! Now, attaching that heavy velcor is like fighting a bear and a half. But we struggled our way through the day making a total of 40+ quilts.

Project Linus is a national chapter; does anyone else work as a volunteering blanketeer? It is very beneficial to children and generally results in a full day of fun and giggles amongst a bunch of quilters.

woody1229

As the mom of a severely autistic child, we are so grateful when wonderful people like you do something so meaningful and helpful for our kids! Do you know that those weighted blankets cost $70-$150 retail? Schools and agencies have had their budgets slashed so these kinds of items are hard to come by these days. Not to mention that parents with autistic children have unbelievable financial burdens. You are truly doing God's work, and we thank you!!!!

Rhonda

Such a wonderful thing you are doing! I have a 9 yr old autistic grandson and yes these blankets are a life savor. They help so much when the child is feeling overwhelmed and can't deal with his emotions. An autistic child has so much to deal with that is hard to imagine if you haven't been around someone who is autistic. They need the physical stimulation of sensory(textures)to be calm. Zach has what we call meltdowns and this is one way of calming him.

My daughter made her own version of one. They are quite expensive if you buy one.

littlehud

What a wonderful thing to do. What a great productive day.

bearisgray

How do you wash these? Do you remove the rolled up pieces of fabric before washing them?

susiequilt

Neat idea! Could you tell us the size and approximate weight when finished with the weight in the blanket in case we want to give it a try?

All Thumbs

Thank you everyone for your kudos in working with charity functions, but I really was not looking for praise--just wanted to share my blanket experience. I am so hopeful that the child who sleeps under it will soon have a good night and that the entire family will benefit too.

Yes, bearisgray, the parents would take all the sheets out from the tubes which have velcor closings. The entire blanket is washable. Then reroll sheets and restuff.

susiequilt, if you visit
http://www.projectlinus.org/patterns/wb.html
one can see the instructions. However, please be advised that this is a copyrighted pattern and there are restrictions in using it. You might want to read through the home page as I am not a chapter coordinator so do not know the procedure for making contributions nor obtaining permission in using the pattern. I just know there are rules about it. Are there any other Project Linus people here on this Board? Maybe you would have knowledge about this copyright.

Rhonda

I would like to explain the function of these blankets. They are not for sleeping they are for rolling the child in it when they are in need of calming. At least we don't use them for bedding. When Zach was younger he would climb in between the bottom sheet & the bare mattress. It would do the same thing with blankets on the bed. He would find an edge and tunnel under all the bedding. It soothes his nerves.

It is sort of like when you have a migraine and you retreat to a dark room. It is a sensory issue not necessarily bedding. It is a tool to use when they have a hard time dealing.

rootyr

Kudos to all of you!

Ditter43

Thank you all for sharing this information. I think it's great that so many volunteer thier time and money for this most worthy cause. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: