sewingladydi

I use what's in my stash, buy new if I need to, use donated. But I don't ever use any fabric that isn't brand new. Any quilts I donate are the same quality as that which I make for family or special friends.

ging10ging

I wouldn't use anything for someone else I wouldn't use. I have bought fabric for two rag quilts for Japan because I didn't have enough at home. I would use the pieces I have at home or do the same as when I crochet to give away I make sure I have enough to complete the project. Sue

kydeb

I do several (about 6 to 8) charity quilts for kids a month. I use fabrics that I love! I don't have a reason to make so many kids quilts but I LOVE to make them so I get to make something I love and have the satisfaction of know some child loves it. I like to use simple patterns so that I can finish a quilt in a day!

SandraQuilts

The thing about giving to charity here is that folks give what they don't want. I give what I WOULD WANT!!!!~
I go in my stash and use something I have and I ONLY buy 100% cotton and use cotton, or silk or bamboo batting. So, hope that answers your question.

desertrose

Hi Roxie, I also live in AZ and make charity quilts, almost exclusivrly. I use the same quality fabrics I would use for my personal quilts becasue I think children going through illness and hard times deserve a quilt that will up life there situation. I accept remnants and scrap donations to help defray the cost, since I'm a retired widow and cash is tight. The group I donate quilts to requires we machine quilt them because of the nedd for frequent laundering.I buy my fabrics online when the reputable QS have their sales and also from our QB members when they have their destash sales. I'm made life long friends buying from our members who find themselves over flowing with beautiful fabrics by their own doing or inheriting from loved ones. :-D

cherrio

EXACTLY!

CanoePam

One of the reasons I don't quilt with my church's quilting group is that they make dreadful quilts! Not all of them, but many. The woman in charge says "they can't complain about what they get for free" and doesn't care if the are tied 8-10" apart (the batting will never withstand washing) and with a mixture of cotton, polyblends, and polyester knit in the same quilt! Then they serge the quilt instead of binding it.

I do think that the end use of the quilt matters. The homeless shelter really likes quilts made from polyester knit and with a backing of fleece, but for children or most other charities I use tightly woven 100% cotton fabric because it withstands washing and "loving" better. I can find good fabric at lots of places (though it's easier at some stores than others!). I always use a double-fold binding because it lasts better than others, but everything is machine quilted and the binding attached by machine.

Pam

Diane on Summit

I always cut extra strips for my projects, and use that - so it's always good quality. As many have mentioned, these quilts often need extra washings, so I'm careful that they are strongly quilted with double bindings. For quilts needed by the visually impaired, I mix bright fabrics and interesting textures (like Minkee or corduroy), and sometimes will add extra dimension (like triangle 'flags' inserted).

hope4me

I use whatever I'd want for myself. Once, many years back I was homeless due to the loss of my husband and with 3 small children. I was so embarassed for some of the things people gave to me and my children. I felt I had lost my husband, my home, but not my taste. That first Christmas I found myself and two children in a homeless shelder, I asked for a doll, for my then 4 year old daugher, a doll she could cuddle and comfort her and a dress she could wear for Chrstmas day, more for me than her I think, anyway, she received a Barbie doll, with one arm missing. and a torn dress. I cryed. Since then God has blessed me, and I make as many fancy dresses and Raggedy Ann dolls dressed to match, as I can each year and take them to homeless shelders. Unfortunately, lately, the shelders tell me that little girls no longer wear "fufu" dresses and send me away. Go Figure?

anniec55

I use alot of scraps and some from my stash. As far as quick quilts to make, check out the "potato chip" quilt (named that because you can't make just one!!), also the 1600 (see "http://blog.heirloomcreations.net/?p=1897) and you can make either one beginning to end in less than a day. Have fun with it.