Terry Kohl, Guest Blogger for Nancy Zieman
When I think of quilting I think of love. Those two words go together like hugging and kissing. So when I decided to spearhead a fundraising project that benefits a library and kids in crisis, guess who I thought of? Yup, quilters.
Partnering with Madison Area Chapter of Project Linus, the little public library in Princeton, WI, has launched a rather daunting global campaign called, The Quilt That Built a Library. Here’s the premise: The library needs a new building addition and Project Linus has an ongoing need for blankets. As Charles Schulz’s Linus character from the PEANUTS® comic strip was comforted by his blanket, Project Linus strives to do the same and more for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.
The Quilt That Built a Library project is targeted towards quilters who span not only continents but also cultures. As a blanket, a commemorative covering, and a work of art, the quilt is a nearly universal cultural artifact. It is being recognized as one of our most compelling symbols of cultural diversity and as a secondary story, one that tells the power of women. It is this power we are tapping into.
We are asking quilters to sew and donate a child’s themed block, and along with sending in that block we ask for a $5 donation. The blocks will be made into quilts by the Madison, WI Project Linus Chapter and the tax exempt monetary donations will go to the Princeton Public Library building fund. Seems like a win-win to me.
The project goes through March of 2013. Once all the blocks are in, a team of judges, including Nancy Zieman, will choose 30 blocks from all the entries. These distinguished blocks will be made into a full-sized quilt. Everyone who sews a block and donates $5.00 will be eligible to win this quilt in a raffle to take place before Mother’s Day 2013.
We also have a challenge for you in the form of a 9-piece star pattern. Choose your fabric and someday, somewhere, a child will be wishing upon your star.
For more information, including dimensions and address to send your block and donation to, visit the website of Princeton Public Library.
Donated quilt blocks
Back to Nancy!
Thanks to Terry Kohl for giving us the update on this clever fund-raiser. I grew up with a small-town library near (it really was a book mobile) so this fund-raising campaign brings a smile to my face.
The criteria for the quilt block was to create a block with a children’s book theme. I chose L is for Lone Star by Carol Crane and illustrated by Alan Stacy.
The block was made with the Trace ’n Create Quilt Template—Lone Star Collection. Like a children’s book, the block is easy to sew–made without the traditional and trying Y-seams! Here’s how!
- Gather a few fabrics. Scraps are welcome!
- Trace in the die-cut areas as indicated on the template for each of the three templates: A—B—C. There are two right-triangles (Templates A & C) and one diamond shape (Template B).
- See, scraps work well!
- Cut out along the traced lines. Be sure to use a rotary cutting mat!
- Lay out the cut pieces, according to the template instructions.
- You’ll lay out half of the shapes as mirror-images.
- Piece together fabrics from sections A to B.
- Save time and chain piece the fabrics together.
- Clip between the chain stitches.
- Press the seam toward the diamond piece.
- Add the fabric from Template C.
- After chain stitching, clip the threads again.
- Create four units. Then create another four that are mirror-imaged.
- Lay out the units as pictured. Look grandma, no Y-Seams! (Oh dear, I’m a grandma!)
- Straight stitch the units together. Now, that’s easy!
Always looking!
My staff and I are always on the look-out for groups or individuals who are helping others through the gifts of sewing, quilting, and embroidering. If you know of a group who is “sew helpful,” let me know!
Bye for now,
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I always wondered how the stars went together. Hemmm they are so simple. Sorry I have not tried one before. Well maybe my next quilt. Cough! I have about 5 in the works I have to get done first. A couple of them I am giving away, one to a friend (their son was born last July…I started it back then)(your child colmun quilt…it is fast to get together and fun…but we tend to get distracted with other projects…I can’t wait to finish it. I am making it toddler size now) and one to my aunt who just moved from N.J. to Virginia. She has never lived anywhere else in her life. A house warming gift. The other 3 are for our church, we call ourselves “The Piecemakers”. There is 4-6 of us there at a time. We wish more would come. But we are kept very busy with potholders at Thanksgiving and Christmas to go in the food baskets or quilts for people in need or single parents with a new baby. Sometimes we make one for someone who is in the hospital with chemo treatments or elderly going into a home. There is always a cause. One lady is making some curtains for a lady who had to move from her apartment and can’t afford curtains. We do that sort of thing. But we are not a big group. We just help out when we can.
You might say we get caught up on a mission…and do what is needed for someone…and distracted from what we are there for…quilting quilts. I will try and make a star for that library. That’s the least I can do.
This is a great idea! And a great opportunity to try out some new patterns. Will have a few blocks to send their way. Quilters for Comfort is a quilting group, of which I am a member. We make quilts for different organizations who need help, such as the Wounded Warriors, NeoNatal units, foster group homes, etc. It is an internet group, who also meet once a year and have a “SewFest” to put together quilts for our military men and women. It’s wonderful to be a part of something and be able to give back, even if it is just one quilt block at a time. Thanks for sharing this story, Nancy