Momo

I am looking for ideas to keep the ladies interested in this new group at church beginning January 2026. We had a meeting to discuss if we want to have a sewing ministry. The outcome is positive. I'm looking for ideas that would keep the momentum of the group. We all do quilting at some level or other. Not all are on the same scale of expertise, that means mostly me not being so advanced. I have made a few quilts for family, never one for myself. I plan to do one for myself.
We discussed pillow cases for Vets, Quilts of Valor, blankets for Pregnancy Center and NICU etc.. I guess I am just nervous that I won't be able to keep it going and interesting. Would it be best to bring our own projects to work on, or plan to work on a central project or items? I would like to know what is working for others just to get an idea of things to toss out to the ladies.
I haven't been on the Quilting site for a while, so hope you will forgive me for just popping in like this for ideas. Thanks and blessings to all.
Carolyn (Momo)

quiltedsunshine

I sew with a "humanitarian group." There are 7 women and Paul, who keeps us organized and cuts all the fabric for us. He has 6 vintage Berninas and a serger set up on some tables. We make newborn kits (receiving blanket, baby gown, hat, burp cloth, bib, fleece booties and flannel diapers [for Ecuador]), we sew children's clothing (pants, skirts, t-shirts and dresses), and quilts from baby to full size. We give what we've made to our local groups first (The Family Place or Refugees). Then we send what we can to Ecuador.

We go to Paul's home on Mondays and sew for up to 4 hours. He will have items cut out and ready to sew. And we each choose what we want to sew, and try to get it all done before we go home. It's enjoyable to meet with other like-minded women, and feels good to give service.

I think you need to decide where the items you make will go.

b.zang

quiltedsunshine, I love how your group makes more than just quilts. Not everyone is a quilter. Even quilters enjoy a change from making quilts and sew other things. Your group sounds like great fellowship.

dluvs2quilt

There are about 14 quilters in the quilt group I belong to.We do a service project once a year and the rest of the time we bring our own stuff to work on and sometimes , one of the ladies will teach a class.

railroad

We had a charity group that met at my house once a month. We made a lot of string quilts, so the foundations were cut and marked by someone, and then strings of fabric in assorted lengths and widths were taken home by the quilters and blocks were made and sometimes brought back for trimming and someone else to assemble. We tied a lot of the quilts but had a volunteer that had a long arm and she did those as a donation.
We framed panels, made I Spy quilts for the county Tummy Time quilt program. Once you get started, there will be lots of ideas. It was one of the most satisfying projects I ever worked on. We started as a result of being asked to supply quilts to Japan for the Tsunami disaster. People that had Thrivent investments could use their $250 grant money for fabric or backing, thread. etc.Carolyn

"cat"astrophy

Our church ladies cut, sew and tie quilts for World Relief. They have just added more local places also in need of quilts. Getting together every Tuesday in the church basement. Also anyone wanting to work on the during the week either comes in or takes projects home to finish. It's a time of busy work and conversation.

WMUTeach

One othe groups I participate with makes: fleece hats and mittens for Head Start children, taggies for the YWCA homeless shelter, heart pillows for the cancer center, 8 inch Christmas stocking for the Veteran's Hospital (they fill them with daily essential items and some candy) and we make simple tied quilts that go to our homeless shelter, we make small surgical gowns for the local hospital for the children's stuffed toy/doll can wear to surgery and we make burp cloths that are included in new baby kits.

We meet once a month a local quilt shop but many work on projects from home. Some bring in machines and others do hand work. A very eclectic group that has been functioning for 20 years!!

Iceblossom

My Tuesday sewing group supports a couple of groups that don't want quilts, but do want flannel type receiving blankets and burp cloths. We keep in touch and they let us know how their need is, we are happy to do a couple of donations per year but if the need is great, we are there too. We usually have about 6 people per week and they/we donate maybe 100+ blankets a year, I don't handle the donations myself. Is just hemming around the edges, is nice to have the large library tables to work on.

Different members do different things, soft cloth bags for cell phones, wheelchair suitable lap blankets and organizers. Bed side organizers. Placemats for Meals with Wheels. Quite a few quilts of valor. I typically do larger projects for aging foster kids and resettled families. We also work on our own projects sometimes, but those do tend to be ones that are planned to be donated.

We meet at the local library for 4 hours once a week. The group is technically a closed/private group (we have to pay for the room), but we have the doors open and have many visitors some of whom have joined the group and others that will just come for a chat, or for a basic sewing question, or sometimes machines we can help them with. Toddler story time happens about the same time we meet and we have a couple of the newest generation of potential quilters who come visit us -- it helps when we have candy

The library has a fund raiser of baskets of (donated) goods each year, each basket is to express a theme. The group makes many fancier/artier things for that. There is a library-supported crafts and yarn group (they don't have to pay for the room) that also joins in, there is some cross over between our groups. Typically the "Home for the Holidays" or the "Kitchen" themed baskets (which are heavily sewing/craft made items) are the highest bids. This year though, the "Pride" basket looked really good!

Onebyone

I have belonged to a lot of quilting groups over the years. Believe me the ideas will come when the group gets to sewing and talking. Suggest that you tube sewing/quilting videos be watched. So many ideas on youtube. One group made items for a sale table at the local craft fair. We made enough to pay for gas and lunch for a day trip to a big fabric shop. A church sewing group can make quilts for the church nursery or for daycare if the church has one. Foster care kids love quilts and big roomy bags to carry their belongings. The ideas are endless. Some groups met and sewed what they wanted to sew for personal use. The group will find their purpose if it's giving or just being at peace together for a day.

tranum

Our church quilters make quilts (of course) all sizes for local giving,
big bags and pillowcases for kids in foster care,
potholders, machine embroidered kitchen towels, sofa pillows,