Quilting for community—you get more than you give

The second round of quilt blocks for the Great Cuddle Quilt Quest (sponsored by the Choo Choo Quilters, Chattanooga) was collected last week. In addition to over 20 Friendship Star blocks (shown here), 2 quilt tops and 3 finished quilts were contributed toward our goal of 51 cuddle quilts for the children of Chambliss Center. Working together as a team, we should be able to meet and surpass this goal! It is heartwarming to be part of this generous group of people.

On Friday, I attended an open house tour of Hatch's House of Hope, a pediatric cancer clinic in Chattanooga. The tour was given by my good friend and stitching sister, Pat, who is the clinic's Director.

Pat welcomed a group of quilters and sewers who have been making quilts and pillowcases for the cancer patients and their siblings. She talked about the history of the facility, the services it provides, and shared touching stories about and Thank You notes from recipients of the quilts. My Round Robin quilt group created and contributed this quilt to Hatch's House.

In an earlier post, I offered a FREE lap size quilt pattern that I designed for charity and community services projects such as these mentioned.

This pattern (left) is "fat quarter friendly" and sews up quickly. It uses 7 fat quarters and the finished size is 36" x 48". Just e-mail me at veronicaquilts@gmail.com and I'd be happy to e-mail you a copy.

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Once upon a time, I worked with a person who grumbled when our group was approached with a volunteer request. "Someone wanting another handout," she muttered, "I don't have time for them." She claimed she supported certain animal shelters and this or that fund-raiser, but when it was time to "give legs to words" or to "write the check," she had an excuse of some sort and routinely made herself unavailable. She couldn't see the bigger picture. Co-workers thought how lonely she must be. It was sad.

None of us lives on this earth alone. It's more rewarding—and waaay more fun and interesting—if you give something of yourself along the way.

Hatcher Foundation "Hope Quilts" free pattern

My friend and fellow quilt guild member, Pat, is championing the establishment of a new pediatric cancer center, Hatch's House of Hope, here in Chattanooga. Pat works in the medical field, and about two years ago I remember talking with her in the parking lot after a guild meeting. I listened as she relayed the devastating experience her friends, one of which was a co-worker, were having. Their newborn child had been diagnosed with brain cancer. 

Recently, Pat told me about the foundation her friends had established in honor of their son, who had died of the disease at 9 weeks old. It is called the Austin Hatcher Foundation (www.hatcherfoundation.org). They are in the process of securing sponsors and volunteers to raise funds and awareness. As a quilter, Pat had the idea of making "hope quilts" that could be given to the children, siblings and family of the cancer patients. I wanted to help her make this idea take flight.

Hope Quilts—A Fat Quarter friendly quilt pattern
With a passion for patchwork and puzzles and inspired by the grid-based paintings of Pieter Mondriaan (Piet Mondrian), I have designed a lap-size quilt (36" x 48") that uses 7 coordinating fat quarters. This quilt is based on a modular system and all the fabric pieces are a multiple of 3"so the layout possibilities are endless! This quilt could also be made with scraps. For a FREE PATTERN and instructions, send an e-mail to veronicaquilts@gmail.com. Dig into your Fat Quarter stash and give hope to a child or a family.