(This block travelled all the way from England to be part of "Kids Quilt #2")
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"Quilters For Comfort"
(AKA: "Quilters For Charity")
"Quilters For Charity" are a group of dedicated, giving quilters that
make quilts to give to women and children in shelters across America.
When these gentle souls arrive at shelters they often have nothing more
with them than the clothes on their backs. Each
time one receives a quilt, they have something they can call their
own. Something comforting in it's warmth and at the same time carrying a message
of hope that someone cares about them.
The idea to work together in this project came from Mrs. Cathryn
Butkovich of North Huntingdon, PA. The folks making these quilts had
orignally met online at www.ArtisticThreadWorks.com where
they share a common interest in machine embroidery. When they heard about
the need for quilts, they volunteered to work together making these
gifts. They started with five quilts in the last quarter of 2006. Their
group has grown and they have produced 30 quilts in the first three months of
2007.
In the old days a group of quilters would gather at one person's house
and quilt together completing several quilts for the beneficiary - usually a
bride-to-be or expectant mother. But this group makes their quilts in a
more high-tech "Round Robin" system where each member makes a square or
several squares then sends them on to one member that finishes the quilt by
putting the pieces together and adding the trim.
Here's more about the quilters from Cathy Marshall-Butkovic...
Many Parts make the whole, Quilters for Charity is
made up of many parts.
Countless creative hands go into the making of the Charity Quilts. We are an
open group of Embroiders who happen to make quilts and donate them to
charities.
Choosing a monthly theme and color scheme starts the process. A filler quilt
block is designed so the entire quilt isn't embroidered blocks. Also decided are
what charity (s) will receive this months Quilts, this sometimes determines the
size.
All this is discussed with everyone in a chat room on ATW. Everyone's
opinions are heard and valued. During these discussions volunteers are asked for
to be the months assemblers and quilters.
As a group we generally divide our quilts into two age groups. Juvenile age 3
to 10 cutesy and cartoon type designs, Junior Age 10 to 17 more realistic and
mature designs. This gives the block makers a chance to use what designs they
have.
As a member of the group you are sent a questionnaire asking you what you can
help with this month. You reply with what ever you are comfortable with. Blocks
for one of the age groups, or both, or just filler blocks your reply is entirely
your decision, you can even reply you can't help this month.
After the replies are gathered and the assemblers and quilters are confirmed,
all volunteer block makers are then notified the final particulars to make the
blocks. This notice includes the address of the assemblers to send your blocks
to, and when they need to be mailed by.
We also ask each block maker to send a $1.00 along with the blocks to help
the assembler with the cost of batting and backing. This is totally volunteered,
not required.
The assembler then waits for all the beautifully created blocks to come in
the mail. Once all have arrived, the blocks are cut to the correct size and
attached to one another in a quilt top. From there the top is sandwiched with
batting and backing then quilted and bound. Once finished the quilt is donated
to the designated charity.
Along with the block quilts the same group usually makes two row quilts to go
with the months theme. 6 volunteers for each quilt, who make and sew an entire
row, attach it and send it on until it reaches the 6th person, who then finishes
the row quilt. The two row quilts are also donated to charity.
With every ones help, and sharing the work, we get a beautiful quilt made to
give to someone less fortunate then us.
Please join us and see how much fun we have, and how good it feels to be so
creative and giving.
Cathy Marshall-Butkovich
To date this group whose dynamics change constantly, according with who
volunteers have created over 30 quilts.
June -- Nov 2006
2 Alphabet and
Animals
1 Bug and Insect
1 Lil' Boy
Stuff
1 Dog/cat Row Quilt
January 2007
2 Juvenile Girly
Stuff
2 Junior Girly Stuff
2 Girly
Row Quilts
February 2007
2 Juvenile Sea-Creatures
2
Junior Sea-Creatures
2 Sea-Creatures Row quilts
March 2007
2 Juvenile Bears quilt
3 Junior
Bears and Wildlife
2 Bears Row quilt
April 2007
Flower
quilts
2
roses
1
tulip
2
daisy/sunflower
3 wildflower/any
flower
1 flower row quilt
May 2007
Theme dragons, fairies and
mythical things
June 2007
Hot Air
Balloons
July, August, September, October, and November all still are up for
discussion and final confirmation.
All of 2006 quilts were donated to Kids In Distress in Boca
Raton Florida.
Four (4) of the January 2007 quilts have gone
to Project Linus.
February and March have been marked to go
to the Kids In Distress.
April Flower quilts have been
designated to go to several Woman Shelters.
If you're interested in helping out - contact Cathy Butkovich via email at cabmarshall@yahoo.com
In the photo gallery below are picture of the quilts in various stages of
being made. Each quilt has a theme. We hope you enjoy the photos...
Click on any image to see full size Displaying 1 thru 100 of 1103 Found. Next
Displaying 1 thru 100 of 1103 Found Next
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