Saturday, August 14, 2010

Details on Quilt-a-thon

The Great Northeastern Quilt-a-thon


To benefit Quilts of Valor (www.QOVF.org).


You can make a difference! Help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Make a Difference Day.


Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of helping others, is sponsored annually by USA WEEKEND Magazine and its 700 carrier newspapers. Make A Difference Day takes place on the 4th Saturday in October each year.


I’m throwing down the gauntlet. I’m issuing a challenge to the quilters of New York and New England: I think we can make 1,000 Quilts of Valor between today, August 14 and Make a Difference Day, October 23, 2010. I need you all to help me get the word out. Forward this to your local quilt shops, to your quilt guild, to your sewing buddies. Post on Facebook, tweet on Twitter, call your Grandma. Not from New York or New England? So what? You can still participate.


Rev up those sewing machines and put the pedal to the metal!


Here’s what you can do:


Stitchers: Piece quilt tops, alone or with friends.


Longarmers: Volunteer to quilt QOV’s. You can sign up to be a longarmer on the QOV website


Quilt guilds and quilting groups: At your next meeting make QOV’s. Or ask members to bring in blocks and put the blocks together.


Quilt shops: Have a QOV class/workshop day or days. PIck a simple pattern so all levels of stitchers can participate. Or invite customers to work on their own QOV’s. Keep it free and easy- drop in for an hour or stay all day.


Ask participants to bring in their own fabrics- stick to red, white and blue, or go across the color spectrum (just a note from personal experience, be specific - people tend to bring in more medium and dark fabrics than very light ones). Ask for larger quantities for quilt backs.


Don’t forget to make a presentation case for each quilt.


Don’t forget to make a label.


Do refer to the QOV web site for specifics on how to make a QOV (sizes, materials, etc.).


Do email me if you have any questions. Barbara@QOVF.org


Have fun with this.



Barbara Chojnacki

Quilts of Valor Regional Coordinator,

Region 10 (NY and New England)

Great Northeastern Quilt-a-thon


I'm inviting quilters from New York and New England (and anywhere else, for that matter) to make a difference. Let's celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Make a Difference Day by making at least 1,000 Quilts of Valor between today and October 23, 2010.