Quilts of Charity
Over the past few years, we accumulated many Blankets of Love/Charity Quilts that were given to friends suffering an illness and waiting for a kind message. We received lovely “Thank You” messages from those who loved the quilts and the work that went into each one. Our Charity Quilts are really a hug from quilters. We only have two bed size quilts remaining and in the past there usually are a couple of requests at our Annual General Meeting by someone needing a “hug”.
An exciting article in our latest CQA magazine told about a guild in Kenora, Ontario making Touch Quilts for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Touch Quilts provide patients in the later stages of Alzheimer’s with an opportunity for sensory stimulation. (CQA/ACC, Spring 2013). There will be a sample at our AGM along with the article from CQA. The Touch Quilts would be a wonderful project in each of our communities for the Ocean Waves Quilt Society. There will be a motion to include the Touch Quilts with our Charity quilts, at our AGM meeting. Please think about it so that a decision can be made. There will be a sample of a Touch Quilt. There will also be several copies of the article Touch Quilts from the Canadian Quilter magazine that you will be able to take with you to your quilt group for discussion.
Pearl has included in this newsletter, the directions for making a Touch Quilt, it is so easy and simple, yet provides great comfort for patients with Alzheimer’s.
By Barb MacIntyre
HOW TO MAKE AN ALZHEIMER TOUCH QUILT
To make an Alzheimer Touch Quilt, you’ll need 36 six inch squares of assorted, textured fabrics.
Suitable fabrics include seersucker, fake fur, velvet, fleece, satin, corduroy, wool and textured, home decorator fabrics. Squares with pockets or zippers are also good. Fabrics should be washable and durable enough to withstand the hot water washing typical of healthcare facilities. Brightly colored fabrics make the quilt lively, but remember that the textures are the most important factor.
Join the squares in six rows of six squares, mixing them for a variety of texture and color If using lace, silk or silk like fabrics, use a stabilizing fabric with them. In the case of see through fabric, such as lace a contrasting color fabric works well.
Sew the rows together. Layer with a backing and batting and baste the layers together. Using a wide zigzag or serpentine stitch, quilt in the ditch. Trim excess batting and backing to the size of the quilt top. Bind the edges. For additional warmth and comfort it is recommended that flannel or fleece be used for the backing. If a good quality fleece is used for the backing, it is not necessary to use batting.
An alternative to binding the quilt is to layer the batting and the backing right side up, the quilt top right side down (right sides together). Sew the layers together around the perimeter with a ¼ - ½ inch seam allowance leaving approximately 6-8 inches unstitched for turning. Trim excess batting and backing to the size of the quilt top. Turn the quilt right side and hand stitch the opening closed. Then quilt in the ditch using a wide zigzag or serpentine stitch.
Quilts may also be embellished with buttons securely sewn in place or ties that are hand or machine sewn.
Once the quilt is finished, it is very important to add a label on the bottom right had corner, indicating who made the quilt and when.
Instructions provided by the Kenora/Rainy River Districts Alzheimer Society
Suitable fabrics include seersucker, fake fur, velvet, fleece, satin, corduroy, wool and textured, home decorator fabrics. Squares with pockets or zippers are also good. Fabrics should be washable and durable enough to withstand the hot water washing typical of healthcare facilities. Brightly colored fabrics make the quilt lively, but remember that the textures are the most important factor.
Join the squares in six rows of six squares, mixing them for a variety of texture and color If using lace, silk or silk like fabrics, use a stabilizing fabric with them. In the case of see through fabric, such as lace a contrasting color fabric works well.
Sew the rows together. Layer with a backing and batting and baste the layers together. Using a wide zigzag or serpentine stitch, quilt in the ditch. Trim excess batting and backing to the size of the quilt top. Bind the edges. For additional warmth and comfort it is recommended that flannel or fleece be used for the backing. If a good quality fleece is used for the backing, it is not necessary to use batting.
An alternative to binding the quilt is to layer the batting and the backing right side up, the quilt top right side down (right sides together). Sew the layers together around the perimeter with a ¼ - ½ inch seam allowance leaving approximately 6-8 inches unstitched for turning. Trim excess batting and backing to the size of the quilt top. Turn the quilt right side and hand stitch the opening closed. Then quilt in the ditch using a wide zigzag or serpentine stitch.
Quilts may also be embellished with buttons securely sewn in place or ties that are hand or machine sewn.
Once the quilt is finished, it is very important to add a label on the bottom right had corner, indicating who made the quilt and when.
Instructions provided by the Kenora/Rainy River Districts Alzheimer Society