My husband was just in the hospital for a "tune-up" and I had the opportunity to talk with the social worker for the transplant unit. I want to be able to give back something to the people who saved my husband's life and I thought quilts for transplant patients might be a good idea. Some of them are there for months and I think a pretty quilt would be good to help brighten their days. I know there are quilters here on this board who do quilts for charity and wondered if you have any helpful hints for me. I do know that it will give me a chance to work on some of the easier patterns that I haven't had a chance to try yet. And I will also be able to use up some of my scraps! Any help here is greatly appreciated.

I don't know of any ongoing programs, but if there aren't any, you could start one :) Go for it, the simple patterns are easy, loved, and so appreciated :) I do lots of NICU quilts, Project Linus, Quilts for Kids, and Quilts of Valor. No such thing as an ugly fabric for them, they appreciate anything!

I'm just done sandwiching a quilt for Joplin, MO. Sent one to Alabama for the tornado people, and a couple for Japan...
Mine are just simple 4" squares...all scrappy.
I have used up an entire brown grocery bag stuffed full of scraps. :-D I still want to do a couple more kid ones...but inbetween some other sewing.

There are many easy quilt that I'm sure would be greatly appreciated.

It doesn't have to be fancy. Cuddly, soft backing, such as flannel or fleece, is much appreciated. And, make sure its washable in warm water. It will most likely be cleaned in the hospital laundry, so it needs to withstand a bit of punishment. Put your heart into it...the recipient will know you did and appreciate it all the more.

Are they adult sized ones? I might have a cple kid sized one if interested pm me!

My quilt group did some for Alabama and Missouri. We did quilt as you go. Put batting and backing 1 and 1/3yard each and spray with 505 or spray baste. We cut different size strips and just sewed them to the batting and backing. Square up, bind, done. We did 8 in one night. Some were cutting strips some sewing, some binding. We switched jobs every so often, brought food, it was fun. Ours were all for kids and some were for boys with various sports strips and some for girls in pinks and flowers and ballerinas
All donated from our staches. There is a tutorial on MSQ of a baby quilt or table runner done this way, thats where we got the idea.

I'd suggest you talk to the unit nurses. They have a very good idea of what is needed.

Or talk to some of the volunteers, they know what is needed all over the place, and if not will lead you to someone who can tell you exactly what size and what fabrics.

great pattern is called chinese coins recomend using a light weight strip as foundation[vilene]--you can use all your scraps

The quilts our group has done for local area hospitals have three requirements:

All Cotton - allergies and dust.

Prewashed with non-allergic soaps and no scented dryer sheets.

Size generally 45" - 60" by 50"-70". Neonatal are usually 45" squares minimum to cover the units so it doesn't look so sterile. The children are only wrapped in them when they go home.

Hope this helps.

Pinwheel, Rail Fence, Turning Twenty, Chinese Coins and 9 patch are my favorites for my charity quilts. All can be scrappy and help use up stash! I use Warm & Natural for batting because it is lightweight.

thank you all for the great ideas....I like the idea of getting a group together and having a sewing day!....I can see my girls and I spending the day yakking and sewing and generally having a great day all while doing a good thing for someone else. I am waiting on an email from the person who will distribute the quilts to give me requirements and then I will get busy! I also think that I will go to LQS and see if she has any scraps (especially batting) that she would like to donate.

if the quilts will be used at the hospital/facility a couple things to keep in mind is,,,

quilts should fit hospital size beds- not hang down alot because of equipment/tubes ect...

commercial laundry! the quilt will go through a hot wash- and a hot dryer===make it sturdy. wash the quilt when it is completed- no fabric softener- you need to remove all chemicals-oils-soil before giving

machine stitch the binding top and bottom- hand stitched bindings can *catch* iv's- pic lines and rip them out.

put a label on the quilt with at least your name, location and date....families appreciate this.

Most of the quilts I make are comfort quilts, and they go (with others from the guild) to the local hospital's oncology unit. Because fabric is shrinking in width, I have adjusted the size I make to 39x60 (or so). That way, I don't have to buy wide backing. I know, I know, I could sew a wider backing, but I just hate doing it, so I don't. The majority in our group tie the quilts with embroidery floss, and then the binding is sewn on both sides with the machine. I found a tutorial online somewhere that showed a beautiful way to do this. Last year I made 47 tops, the tying was done by the person that works for me here at the frame shop, and the binding was done by another woman in the guild. Since I've already made a queen and 2 twin quilts this spring, I doubt I will make 47 this year. I use a lot of scrappy patterns so I don't have to buy as much fabric. In fact, this week I am making crumb blocks from a tutorial I found on this site. Dig around on the net and find patterns that use strips or scrappy pieces, and you can whip them out in no time.

Have you checked out Prayers and Squares. These are tied quilts and each knot on them is ties with a prayer for this person, whatever the adversity. They are so appreciated. The organization is nationwide and they have free patterns on the internet. You would have to start your own group but it is only 30.00 to start. I think this would certainly be what you might be looking for. I believe on the internet it is spelled Prayers & Squares.