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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Kids' Quilts Blog Hop: Day 1

We are so excited to share this week's blog hop with you! 
Quilters on the whole are an extremely generous group of people--they share their time and their talents (and even their fabric!) with others. At the same time, there are so many organizations actively soliciting quilts to give to children who are sick, scared, or lonely for one reason or another.

This week's blog hop brings those two concepts together: the featured designers have created easy tutorials featuring some of our fun new novelty prints, and each day we'll be highlighting an organization that accepts quilts for children in need. We hope you'll enjoy seeing the quilts we're sharing this week and consider making one yourself, either for to donate or to give to someone in your life.


Here's the week's line-up:
Day 1: Benartex blog team featuring Monkeying Around
Day 2: Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts featuring English Rosey
Day 3: Emily from Mommy's Nap Time featuring Doodle Dog
Day 4: Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict featuring Yard Dog



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Welcome to Day 1 of the Kids' Quilts Blog Hop here at Sew in Love with Fabric! 

Today the Benartex design team is sharing a big block pattern using the brand-new Monkeying Around fabric collection, paired with a couple Fossil Fern prints. Make sure to read all the way to the bottom of the post to find out how you can enter to win a fat quarter bundle of the Monkeying Around fabric.


With a name like that, the obvious choice for a quilt design was the Monkey Wrench block. But rather than sew a bunch of blocks, this pattern uses one giant block, surrounded by two borders. Talk about a quick sew! Fun, easy, and perfect for the striped border print of monkeys! 

Finished quilt size: 43" square

Want a sneak peek at the Monkeying Around collection by Greta Lynn for Kanvas? Here it is, and you'll be able to find it in your local quilt shop in May!

To make this quilt, you'll need:
  • 1/3 yard monkey stripe on green
  • 1/4 yard orange Fossil Fern print
  • 1/3 yard lime green Fossil Fern print
  • 2/3 yard orange floral
  • 1/3 yard large leaf with orange
  • 3/4 yard large blue/green leaf
  • 3/8 yard binding print
  • 2 yards of backing fabric
  • 49" square of batting


Cutting directions:
From the monkey stripe on green:
Fussy cut (4) 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" pieces to center a monkey stripe (see illustration below for example)


From the orange Fossil Fern:
(4) 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" pieces

From the lime Fossil Fern:
(2) 11" squares

From the orange floral:
(2) 11" squares
(4) 2-1/2" x 42" strips for inner border

From the large leaf with orange:
(1) 10-1/2" square

From the large blue/green leaf:
(4) 5-1/2" x 42" strips for outer border

From the binding fabric:
(5) 2-1/2" x 42" strips

Make the Quilt
1. Sew a 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" monkey stripe on green piece to a 5-1/2" x 10-1/2" orange Fossil Fern piece. Make 4.



2. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 11" lime Fossil Fern square with a fabric marking pen. 

3. Lay a marked square right sides together with an 11" orange floral square. Sew 1/4" on either side of the drawn diagonal line. Cut on the line and press open to create 2 half-square triangle units. Make 4 half-square triangle units.



4. Lay out the 4 half-square triangle units, 4 monkey stripe on green units, and the 10-1/2" large leaf with orange square into 3 rows as shown. Sew the units into rows and join the rows. 

5. Sew 2-1/2" x 42" orange floral strips to the sides of the quilt center. Press and trim excess. Sew the remaining 2-1/2" x 42" orange floral strips to the top and bottom. 

6. Add the outer border in the same way using the (4) 5-1/2" x 42" large blue/green leaf strips. (You'll use pretty much the entire strip, which is slightly longer than 42".)



7. Layer with backing fabric and batting and quilt however you like. Use the (5) 2-1/2" x 42" binding strips to finish the quilt (we're going to use the orange floral to mimic the inner border).
8. Give the quilt to your favorite charity or kid! (This quilt will be going to Project Linus; see details below.)

Enlarging one block to be the entire quilt design is a great way to make a quick and easy quilt, especially for children, since the size is just right! You can try it with some of your other favorite quilt blocks as well. Make the block, add a few borders, and you're done!


Meet a Charity:

Project Linus
Launched in 1995 by Karen Loucks, Project Linus now has chapters in all 50 states, coordinating donations of quilts, afghans, fabric and supplies, and financial support to distribute quilts and blankets to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or "anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug."
The organization accepts new, handmade, washable quilts that will be given to children ages 0-18. Quilts can be as small as 36" square, though most are somewhere in the 40" x 60" range. 

The Project Linus mission:



  • FIRST



  • Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
  • SECONDProvide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.


To find a chapter near you and/or learn how you can get involved or donate a quilt, visit the Project Linus website.

  

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Monkeying Around collection, simply sign up to follow this blog, either through Bloglovin' (or another blog reader service) or email (both options are in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you follow. In your comment, let us know if you've ever given a quilt to charity before. Leave a second comment and receive a second entry by following us on Facebook and letting us know. This giveaway is 

open through Saturday, March 1 at 11:59 PM EST. 


Make sure you check out all the tutorials from the Kids' Quilts Blog Hop:
Day 2: by Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts, featuring English Rosey
Day 3: by Emily from Mommy's Nap Time, featuring Doodle Dog

Day 4: by Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict, featuring Yard Dog

124 comments:

  1. I am a follower through bloglovin'. I have never given a quilt to charity until now.

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  2. I am a follower with GFC. When younger, I have helped my mom sew lap quilts which she and her friends donated to the local nursing home.

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  3. Following via bloglovin. I haven't made a quilt for charity, but I sew stuffed toys for the Fluff Project and other projects through Hopeful Threads.

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  4. I follow by email. I haven't given a quilt to a charity yet, but it is a beautiful idea.

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  5. I follow via Bloglovin. I've given preamie blankets to the local NICU. My neighbor was a nicu nurse and helped me get connected.

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  6. I follow by GFC and I have donated many 'comfort' quilts to charity...thanks for the chance to play with some monkeys. Enjoy your week!! Happy stitching, Pauline

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  7. I follow via GFC. I have given many quilts to Project Linus, several to groups supported by Hands 2 Help (at confessions of a fabric addict blog) and some to local charities. Love the monkey fabrics!

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  8. I am a follower by email. I have not yet given a quilt to charity, but I am interested!

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  9. I'm Bloglovin. Project Linus has been my charity of choice over the last year. Goal to try & have at least 1 quilt a month. 100 Quilts for Kids help push me well past my goal.

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  10. I follow you by email. I haven't donated any quilts to charity yet as I'm still making quilts for grandchildren ( another one on the way) but I do knit chemo caps for a charity called Knots of Love.

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  11. I'm already a follower through GF and Bloglovin. I've done lots of charity quilts, mostly for kids, and really enjoy making them. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  12. I follow you by email. Last year I made my first quilt for local hospital Preemie ward, and I have made and donated two quilts to Hospice, the first one was in memory of a family friend, and the second was made with donated blocks.

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  13. Yes, I'm an email follower! I try to make several donations quilts every year.

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  14. I follow you on Facebook too!

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  15. I follow bloglovin and I have worked on blocks for charity quilts in my guild.

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  16. I follow by email. I made several quilts for the local hospital that were given to families whose premature babies died and they needed something warm and soft to wrap those little ones in as they said goodbye.

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  17. I follow on Facebook. I also made several quilts for my church fundraiser to build a church building.

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  18. I follow your blog via Bloglovin'. I've contributed quilted items to many charities over the years.

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  19. I follow Sew in Love via e-mail. As I'm fairly new to quilting, I haven't donated a quilt yet. I do think Project Linus is a wonderful cause.
    Monkeying Around is a cute fabric. Thanks for this opportunity & the easy pattern.

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  20. I follow on Feedly. I am a new quilter and am in the process of making my first quilt for Project Linus.

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  21. GFC follower!
    I've made quilts for our local cancer charity!

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  22. I already receive your newsletter. What a fun and easy block. I'm putting that on my 'to-do' list.

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  23. Just printed your directions out. Looks like a fun and quick quilt for babies. Thanks! Helen

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  24. I follow your blog through email. I've never given a quilt to charity, however I have donated 9 large trash bags full of fabric to our local charity for quilts for cancer patitents.

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  25. Love your Monkey Wrench quilt. I've made quilts for charity before.

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  26. IBeautiful 'Monkey Wrench quilt,I`m a follower by email!!

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  27. I follow you on FB too I haven't given a quilt to a charity yet, but it must be great do it!

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  28. I have made quilts for raffles before.

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  29. I follow by e-mail. I've made a couple charity quilts that were raffled.

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  30. I follow on Bloglovin. kcannon@anwsu.org

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  31. I donated a quilt to a charity auction last summer. I made a single Swoon block for the center and then added two rows of fussy cut "I Spy" blocks around it. kcannon@anwsu.org

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  32. I donate to several chatities thru the year - large, childrens and doll quilts.

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  33. I follow you on Bloglovin. I've made children's quilts for Quilts for Kids.

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  34. I follow by blog lovin I have made several quilts for children. I worked in the emergency department at a childrens hospital. I made some quilts for some of the children who lost everything including their parents in auto accidents.

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  35. that quilt is perfect for a donation quilt. I am going to make this one for the charity our guild donates quilts to. We donate to preemies at our local hospital.
    I do follow via email.

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  36. I already follow thru Bloglovin & Email. Loooove this Quilt!! so cute!

    I di give lil' quilt to a charity before...a friend was getting them for a local Hospital Nursery. Has been several years ago.

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  37. I have never made a quilt before! But one day I will. I follow by Bloglovin.

    jachelno at gmail dot com

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  38. I follow on Facebook!

    jachelno at gmail dot com

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  39. I am a follower and I have given several quilts to charity. It's a bit harder now because I used to take them on overseas missions trips. Can't take as much luggage anymore.

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  40. I follow on bloglovin and yes, I make a quilt every year for the local Cystis Fibrosis fundraiser auction.

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  41. I follow you by email. Years ago the quilt Group that I belonged to made quilts for charity. I've been trying to find a Guild or even just charity that would use them here in Mexico.

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  42. I follow on FB as Kathy Newsom Davis.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  43. I am a follower. This Monkeying around quilt is uber cute with this fabric collection. Great Project Linus size. Creative Quilting Bliss. Thank you sew much for hopping...

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  44. I follow by bloglovin. I' ve never made a quilt for charity, I am not quilting long enough. Thanks for the chance!

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  45. I follow using you with Bloglovin and I "Like" you on Facebook. I have made and donated quilts to two different charities - Project Linus and Quilts for Kids

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  46. I follow you through emails and Bloglovin'! I do make an occassional quilt for local charities - very fulfilling to do so!

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  47. I follow along with you on FB. Gotta covered!

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  48. I follow by email. I just donated my first quilt last month. I'm a new quilter and already I'm hooked. That monkeying around fabric is perfect for a donation quilt.

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  49. I have made quilt blocks and tops for Quilts of Valor and Quilts of Honor, and I've crocheted blankets that were sent to storm victims. I need to do one for Linus.

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  50. I follow your blog via email and bloglovin, and I'm a follower on Facebook.

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  51. I follow via email. Thank you for the quilt pattern. I make quite a few quilts for Project Linus and other children's' charities.

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  52. I like your Facebook page, too. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  53. What delightful fabric! I love the monkeys. I follow you via Bloglovin.

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  54. I follow with RSS Feeds. I've never given a quilt to charity just family and friends so far.

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  55. I also follow Sew in Love (with Fabric) on Facebook. Thanks for the fun!

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  56. I am a follower by email and have not, as of yet had the opportunity to donate a quilt to charity.

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  57. I follow on FB.Thanks for the pattern.

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  58. I follow you on bloglovin. I worked as a NICU nurse and bereavement counselor. We made micro preemie envelopes from fabric and lace for parents to be able to hold their extreme preterm infants to say goodbye. I also made some blanket dolls for moms to put next to their skin and then it would go on the life flights with their preemies to level 3 or 4 NICU. Mom's smell on the blanket doll helps the preemie with the stresses in the NICU. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  59. I also follow on facebook... crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  60. I follow you through Blog Lovin. I have made quilts for charity through the guild I used to belong to and an on-line group I am in.

    Sandy A

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  61. I also like you on facebook!
    Sandy A

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  62. I follow via email. I have not made any quilts for charity, however I have donated fabric to a group who makes quilts for charities.

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  63. I have just found this site. I give crocheted items in the Dub, IA and Cedar Rapids, IA, for silent auctions. I have not quilted yet, but would enjoy my first with the monkey material which fits perfect for a sad child to feel happy by hugging my 1st quilt. Thanks for your giveaway chance. I will be using e-mail but your profiles don't allow it. love2give

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  64. I follow by Bloglovin . I love making quilts for babies and children and have donated several through our church outreach.

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  65. I follow this blog on Bloglovin' and I've donated many quilts to all kinds of charities.

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  66. I follow by e-mail and bloglovin'. I have worked on charity quilts with my guilds.

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  67. I'm a follower with Bloglovin'. I've made a number of donation quilts for my quilt group. We just finished a project of making quilts for the Meal-On-Wheels program. And I just donated 2 quilts for our new project of making quilts for the children's unit at a nearby school of medicine hospital. Thanks for the cute pattern & the chance to win.

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  68. I follow you on Facebook too. Thanks again.

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  69. I follow you through email, and I work on many charity quilts each year, given away through my church's quilt ministry. Last year I worked on probably 100+ quilts for the ministry!

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  70. And I follow Benartex on Facebook, too!

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  71. I am a follower via e-mail. I have not gave a quilt to charity yet.
    Have only finished one quilt so far. :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  72. I also follow on FB :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  73. I follow your blog on Bloglovin. Yes I have made donation quilts for Hospice.

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  74. I follow you with Bloglovin'. I have given several wall=hangings to oversea orphanages. I got my daughters and son involved in it. We had a great time during the summer doing this.

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  75. I also follow you on Facebook.

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  76. I am a follower on Bloglovin and I donate a lot of quilts to charity through my Quild.

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  77. I have done a quilt of valor quilt and make small "tummy time" quilts for infants. Monkey fabric is great for kids.

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  78. I follow you via an e-mail subscription. I have 4 kid/baby quilt flimsies in line at the sewing machine right now to be layered and quilted. I have been donating them to Operation Homefront-Texas. I love Benartex fabrics and this line is no exception. What fun! I find their precuts to be precise, unlike other manufacturers.

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  79. I follow you wth RSS feeds. I love that it just comes to my email reader all in it's own little folder.
    I've made a QOV and make pillow cases to give away locally and to other organizations. I even take fabrics and bind them for animal shelters. I haven't been quilting long but feel it's a great way to quilt AND help out.

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  80. Oh I'm back :) I also follow you on FB

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  81. I follow by Bloglovin. I haven't given a quilt to charity yet, but am still a learner quilter & haven't made much. Would give a quilt to charity in the future though.

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  82. I make charity quilts and our quilt guild donates them to local charities.

    I follow via email.

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  83. I follow through bloglovin'. Yes, have made many quilts for outreach through my quilt guild.

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  84. I haven't ever made a quilt to give to charity. I follow you via Bloglovin.

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  85. following have given quilts to charity

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  86. I follow by email. I belong to a small quilt group and one of our members does Project Linus quilts all of the time. We have 'adopted' her and do a block of the month and then someone takes them all home and puts them together into a quilt for her to add to her ever growing list of giving. Not well put, but you know hat i mean! yessewingisfun@yahoo.com

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  87. What a great idea, I love how the one large block looks! I follow on bloglovin' pbstrand@msn.com

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  88. Oh, and I also follow on Facebook! pbstrand@msn.com

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  89. I follow the blog via email. I have made several quilts for charity--for auction, for Project Linus, for Downey Quilts for Kids.

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  90. I follow through Google and email. I've donated quilts to Quilts for Kids, Project Linus, Margaret's Hope Chest, my local Women's Shelter and make quilts for auctions for the local animal shelters. It's always good to know that quilts are giving comfort.

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  91. LIKE YOU ON FB

    cobaltt16@yahoo.com

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  92. FOLLOW ON BLOG LOVIN' !
    HAVE MADE MANY CHARITY BABY QUILTS! SUCH A JOY!
    THANKS FOR YOUR GIVEAWAY!

    cobaltt16@yahoo.com

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  93. I am a follower via email.

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  94. I follow with bloglovin', I am in a group that makes quilts for a children's group called "Siblings Together", I also make stuff toys for "Fluff for Foster"

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  95. My daughter's been a Project Linus recipient twice. So thank you for spreading the word! She even had one made at an event by the co-director! ;-)

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    Replies
    1. I didn't even know about the giveaway - didn't read that far.

      I have several WIPs for charity - NICU, Project Linus, and cancer programs. I have made non-quilts (hats, scarves, bags, pillows, eye masks/bags) for several cancer survivors (I am one).

      I follow you on Bloglovin'

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  96. I get the blog via email, am a Facebook follower and get the preview packs. I have not given away a quilt on my own, but my quilt group does and I have made smaller projects with them

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  97. I signed up for your block by email. I help my quilt guild make quilts for the foster care system, and victims of fires.

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  98. I am a follower w/ Bloglovin.. I have not yet sewn a quilt for charity - I am a new quilter and thank you to the link for the charity quilts for Kids!

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  99. Love the fabric and pattern. It would be really nice if you did a printer friendly version though. I always do several charity quilts every year.

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