Charity Quilts
08-09-2011, 10:37 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: martinsville Indiana
Posts: 4,461
I'm sorry but I dont agree, A local church makes quilts for the homeless. Every Tuesday they get together in a donated building, bring sewing machines and cutting mats. They take donated clothing cut them into large squares, using donated stained blankets for batting and sometimes donated batting, they make quilts. The clothing is usually ripped or stained, those parts are cut away and not used. The Homeless shelter in Indy is very grateful for these ugly non perfect quilts. And from what I understand those that sleep in the ally are grateful also. The things we find unsatisfactory or ugly is a treasure to someone living out of a shopping cart. So never think that your quilt cant be loved or needed just because the fabric didnt come from the LQS, or because the stitches are uneven, or they simply dont match. Charity is giving to those in need, not giving to those that are picky and could go to the store and buy one if needed, IMHO.
08-09-2011, 10:48 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: martinsville Indiana
Posts: 4,461
I also will not put my name on a charity quilt, only city and state and year. Recognition isn't my goal, only to help someone in need. True charity comes as selfless act, not someone needing to be recognized for how wonderful they are. And you may think well maybe mine are so ugly that I wouldnt want my name not used but thats not so, this is a charity quilt, http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-140582-1.htm
08-09-2011, 10:54 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 2,969
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Not sure if this belongs here or in GCC - or if it will get deleted.
A Charity Quilt -
What does it mean to you?
What it means to me:
A quilt that will given to someone I probably do not know.
But what if that quilt WAS given to someone that I know - or that knows me??
I still want that quilt to hold up to many washings and hard use. (Hopefully, not abused - but the line gets murky between hard use and abuse)
I would not want to be embarrassed to have my name as the maker of it emblazoned on it.
I want it to look "planned/intentional" versus "scraps off the floor" or "clean out the closet" - even if it was made of "scraps off the floor"
Material can be decent/good, even if relatively inexpensive.
Workmanship - it's as easy to sew at least a 1/4 inch seam as a 1/16 inch one.
I want it to be clean when it leaves my custody.
If a practice piece is truly a disaster - why would someone else cherish it?
Who knows? Someday, I or someone near and dear to me might be on the receiving end.
A Charity Quilt -
What does it mean to you?
What it means to me:
A quilt that will given to someone I probably do not know.
But what if that quilt WAS given to someone that I know - or that knows me??
I still want that quilt to hold up to many washings and hard use. (Hopefully, not abused - but the line gets murky between hard use and abuse)
I would not want to be embarrassed to have my name as the maker of it emblazoned on it.
I want it to look "planned/intentional" versus "scraps off the floor" or "clean out the closet" - even if it was made of "scraps off the floor"
Material can be decent/good, even if relatively inexpensive.
Workmanship - it's as easy to sew at least a 1/4 inch seam as a 1/16 inch one.
I want it to be clean when it leaves my custody.
If a practice piece is truly a disaster - why would someone else cherish it?
Who knows? Someday, I or someone near and dear to me might be on the receiving end.
08-09-2011, 11:29 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Out searching for some sunshine :-)
Posts: 58,856
Originally Posted by leatheflea
I'm sorry but I dont agree, A local church makes quilts for the homeless. Every Tuesday they get together in a donated building, bring sewing machines and cutting mats. They take donated clothing cut them into large squares, using donated stained blankets for batting and sometimes donated batting, they make quilts. The clothing is usually ripped or stained, those parts are cut away and not used. The Homeless shelter in Indy is very grateful for these ugly non perfect quilts. And from what I understand those that sleep in the ally are grateful also. The things we find unsatisfactory or ugly is a treasure to someone living out of a shopping cart. So never think that your quilt cant be loved or needed just because the fabric didnt come from the LQS, or because the stitches are uneven, or they simply dont match. Charity is giving to those in need, not giving to those that are picky and could go to the store and buy one if needed, IMHO.
08-09-2011, 01:09 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 4,829
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While this year's LQS offerings may be the only thing acceptable to some, others may have pleasant memories sparked by a bit of fabric that was buried at the bottom of a bin. The colors that may seem dated and old-fashioned to one may be a comforting and familiar to another.
I hope every quilt made, charity or not, finds a person to cherish it.
I hope every quilt made, charity or not, finds a person to cherish it.
08-09-2011, 03:10 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Southwest
Posts: 454
I think a charity quilt to me means something I make with love for someone who needs it. I try to be picky with what material I buy anyway for quilts, so a lot of it does match and it's good use able quality. I do spend some time coming up with a pattern to make sure I have enough of the material and to make it attractive.
I have made quilts out of clothes in good shape, and they turn out well. If it's a scrappy quilt I think there is more leeway on patterns and colors. One quilt I made out of khaki pants and it's one of the most durable quilts. LOL
I guess for me, as long as it was made well and with thought that's the big part.
I have made quilts out of clothes in good shape, and they turn out well. If it's a scrappy quilt I think there is more leeway on patterns and colors. One quilt I made out of khaki pants and it's one of the most durable quilts. LOL
I guess for me, as long as it was made well and with thought that's the big part.
08-09-2011, 03:28 PM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Eastern Washington
Posts: 3,807
I think you made a very good point. I was making charity quilts every year for kids and this year because of health reasons I was really unable to get any out. I met JDIANE on the board here thats at Project Linus and I get to send fabric and they do all the sewing there. Its a win win for me. One thing I can do and do well is go yard saling. This has been a great fabric finder year for me so I get to send all my great fabric finds to her at Project Linus. I can still feel good about doing something for Charity that way. I just look at it as sending unassembled quilts :thumbup: When I was making them before I'd look at them like "is that something I would make for me or friend".
Thanks for the great post.
Thanks for the great post.
08-09-2011, 05:10 PM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So. Central MO
Posts: 2,759
I went to a quilt show at a HUGE church several years ago and they handed out some guidelines for quilts to be made for the poor in some foreign countries (their mission work) and they requested that not much time or money be put into any of them because the women had to wash their clothes/bedding in creeks, rivers, lakes, etc. and beaten on rocks. They did not want any time-consuming hand quilting on them either. Just machine quilted or tied.
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