Members of the Charlottesville Area Quilt Guild share their love of quilting in many projects which benefit our local and national community. In recent years, guild members have donated over 250 quilts annually to several worthy causes. Here are some of the current projects as well as projects that we have supported in the past.
PILLOWCASE CHALLENGE (ONGOING)
The Crozet Chapter annually makes colorful pillowcases for the Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE). SHE gives safe shelter to victims or domestic abuse. Children often use these as a pillow covering or a knapsack for their few possessions. Crozet invites all CAQG members to contribute to this cause. Chapter representatives will arrange delivery of pillowcases to the Crozet Chapter.
Instructions for making a pillowcase are available here.
The Crozet Chapter annually makes colorful pillowcases for the Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE). SHE gives safe shelter to victims or domestic abuse. Children often use these as a pillow covering or a knapsack for their few possessions. Crozet invites all CAQG members to contribute to this cause. Chapter representatives will arrange delivery of pillowcases to the Crozet Chapter.
Instructions for making a pillowcase are available here.
BRIGHT STARS (ONGOING)
Since 2008, CAQG members have contributed quilts to children in the Bright Star program in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. This is a high quality preschool program that provides early-learning experiences for four-year-olds. Each child receives a book and a small nap quilt designed to match the book's theme. The children love their school quilts and are thrilled to be allowed to take them home for keeps at the end of the school year. CAQG members contributed 236 quilts and books to this effort for the 2020-21 school year meaning that every child enrolled in Bright Stars in Albemarle County received a quilt and book. We are proud to touch the lives of so many children in this way. If you would like to participate in this project, contact member Kirsten Niemann or Robin Hamill-Ruth.
Bright Star Quilt Specifications
In general, Bright Star quilts should be 40” by 50” and made with fabrics that can endure many washings. Note: If someone else is machine quilting the quilt, the top and bottom should be squared off and straight, and the batting and backing should be at least 4 inches wider than the top on every side. The long-arm quilter needs this extra to attach the quilt to the machine. One option to avoid having to piece the backing is to sew a 4-inch strip to each side that will be cut off after the quilting has been done.
Fabric should NOT have a bible theme or a mass-market commercial theme (e.g., no Disney princesses or Marvel superheroes). Quilts should have a CAQG label attached; labels are provided by the guild and available from chapter representatives. Labels may be machine attached as long as it does not detract from the quilt.
Quilts NEED to be washed before being given to chapter representatives. Make sure that there has been no bleeding of colors, make sure the binding is secure, and trim off all threads.
Find detailed information on making Bright Stars quilts here.
Examples of Bright Stars quilts:
Since 2008, CAQG members have contributed quilts to children in the Bright Star program in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. This is a high quality preschool program that provides early-learning experiences for four-year-olds. Each child receives a book and a small nap quilt designed to match the book's theme. The children love their school quilts and are thrilled to be allowed to take them home for keeps at the end of the school year. CAQG members contributed 236 quilts and books to this effort for the 2020-21 school year meaning that every child enrolled in Bright Stars in Albemarle County received a quilt and book. We are proud to touch the lives of so many children in this way. If you would like to participate in this project, contact member Kirsten Niemann or Robin Hamill-Ruth.
Bright Star Quilt Specifications
In general, Bright Star quilts should be 40” by 50” and made with fabrics that can endure many washings. Note: If someone else is machine quilting the quilt, the top and bottom should be squared off and straight, and the batting and backing should be at least 4 inches wider than the top on every side. The long-arm quilter needs this extra to attach the quilt to the machine. One option to avoid having to piece the backing is to sew a 4-inch strip to each side that will be cut off after the quilting has been done.
Fabric should NOT have a bible theme or a mass-market commercial theme (e.g., no Disney princesses or Marvel superheroes). Quilts should have a CAQG label attached; labels are provided by the guild and available from chapter representatives. Labels may be machine attached as long as it does not detract from the quilt.
Quilts NEED to be washed before being given to chapter representatives. Make sure that there has been no bleeding of colors, make sure the binding is secure, and trim off all threads.
Find detailed information on making Bright Stars quilts here.
Examples of Bright Stars quilts:
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MEALS ON WHEELS (ONGOING)
CAQG provides lap quilts for adults who receive services from Meals on Wheels (MOW). There are 250 Meals On Wheels recipients on an ongoing rotation so the need is great. These donated quilts are used as a surprise for a birthday or other special occasion. The quilts warm the body and the soul and are very much appreciated by their recipients. If you are looking for a smaller project, please consider making a quilt for Meals on Wheels.
Meals on Wheels Quilt Specifications
Lap-sized quilts are very flexible! They should be no smaller than 30” x 52” and can be as large as 40” x 60”. Quilts may be quilted or tied. Flannel backs are nice so quilts don’t slip off of laps but it’s not required. Many of the patterns in the Bright Star document are suitable for these quilts. Please think about some masculine quilts as well. There are some fine gentlemen out there who would love a quilt.
Quilts NEED to be washed before being given to Cat Stanley. Make sure that there has been no bleeding of colors, make sure the binding is secure, and trim off all threads. Please label your quilt using one of those provided by the guild or one that you make.
If you have a quilt to donate, please bring it to Cat at the Monday morning (Grateful Threads) guild meeting (10-12, The Center at Belvedere), Moonlighters meeting (2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6-8pm, The Center at Belvedere) or contact her to arrange a pick-up.
Please contact Cat Stanley if you have any questions.
Examples of Meals on Wheels items:
CAQG provides lap quilts for adults who receive services from Meals on Wheels (MOW). There are 250 Meals On Wheels recipients on an ongoing rotation so the need is great. These donated quilts are used as a surprise for a birthday or other special occasion. The quilts warm the body and the soul and are very much appreciated by their recipients. If you are looking for a smaller project, please consider making a quilt for Meals on Wheels.
Meals on Wheels Quilt Specifications
Lap-sized quilts are very flexible! They should be no smaller than 30” x 52” and can be as large as 40” x 60”. Quilts may be quilted or tied. Flannel backs are nice so quilts don’t slip off of laps but it’s not required. Many of the patterns in the Bright Star document are suitable for these quilts. Please think about some masculine quilts as well. There are some fine gentlemen out there who would love a quilt.
Quilts NEED to be washed before being given to Cat Stanley. Make sure that there has been no bleeding of colors, make sure the binding is secure, and trim off all threads. Please label your quilt using one of those provided by the guild or one that you make.
If you have a quilt to donate, please bring it to Cat at the Monday morning (Grateful Threads) guild meeting (10-12, The Center at Belvedere), Moonlighters meeting (2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6-8pm, The Center at Belvedere) or contact her to arrange a pick-up.
Please contact Cat Stanley if you have any questions.
Examples of Meals on Wheels items:
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FIDGET BLANKETS (ONGOING)
Fidget blankets are therapeutic quilts including different items. These items offer sensory stimulation that has a calming effect on Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. The blankets help alleviate boredom and provide a means of performing repetitive behaviors that are often comforting and distracting.
Detailed instructions and specifications can be found here.
In addition to the above mentioned Guild projects, individual chapters of CAQG also create and donate quilts for the benefit of others. Here are some recent examples:
- Crozet Chapter: Members of this group donated a quilt of honor.
- Nelson County Chapter: In the past two years, this chapter has produced three quilts of valor, two quilts for auctions to benefit a hospice in Lynchburg, three quilts for raffles to benefit the Piney River Fire Department, and 11 nap quilts for the preschool program at Tye River Elementary School in Nelson County.
- Grateful Threads Chapter: In 2012 the members of this group created 33 small wall quilts that were donated to the Virginia Quilt Museum. The quilts were part of the "Little Quilts, Big Talents" Silent Auction and the funds that were raised helped to support the Museum and its mission.
