Service Activities & Opportunities
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Our holiday charity projects — making stockings and stuffed animals — are well underway. I’m pleased to report that in November we received donations from over 50 members, including stockings, drawstring totes, stuffed animals, other toys, toiletries and various types of clothing for children of various ages. On Saturday, November 19 nearly twenty members gathered at The City Quilter to make stuffed animals and stockings. Armed with glitter and glue the stockings were joyfully decorated. I thank Cathy Rizzo for so generously donating the use of her shop and providing snacks and drinks. We all had a great time and couldn’t believe how quickly the four hours passed.
As you get ready for your winter holidays I hope you will continue to make stockings and animals and bring them to the December meeting. The more we get the more we can give to the holiday festivities for the children and families in NYC shelters, who otherwise might not have other gifts this year. In addition to the handmade articles we’re glad to collect and distribute other items. So, for those who would rather buy a gift (or more than one) here are some of the things we are permitted to include in the stockings: toiletry items such shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, soap; playing cards, coloring books and crayons; paper and pencils or pens; other small toys, stuffed animals; hats, gloves, mittens, socks; books for all ages of children. Please donate only new items (not used or hand-me-downs — they won’t be accepted). Do not contribute any opened toiletries or makeup, as they won’t be accepted. Any food items that are donated must be individually wrapped so they can be distributed at the three shelters’ holiday parties. It will be helpful if you place toiletries in Ziploc bags, which will eliminate a great deal of work for the committee in assembling toiletries into bags/stockings.
We are asking for members to help put together the stockings and gifts following the December meeting. Mary Butler has secured a workspace for us on Sunday, December 11, at 339 West 24th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenue), Community Room 2B. This is a FREE workshop! We’ll start at 10am and we have the space until 5pm. With lots of helpers I expect we can get all the stockings stuffed, and the other gifts packaged in a few hours. Bring friends and family — the more the merrier. We’ll provide snacks and some soda. You can let us know if you’re coming, or just drop in for a spell. It will be fun and we’ll all feel so happy.
Jennifer Bigelow, Marilyn Korn and Tina Barth
Charity Coach and Chat
Posted: August 21, 2011 – We mentioned in May and June that the Service Committee will start a new monthly activity in September called “Charity Coach and Chat” . Jennifer Bigelow, Marilyn Korn and Tina Barth will take turns moderating the sessions through which we want to bring together members with all levels of skill, experience and time in the Guild to buddy up and coach each other on all sorts of quilting skills. Our aim is to develop a 'live' social network, bringing together ‘seasoned’ members with new members, through friendly chatting, and hopefully create more quilts and other items for our various charity efforts. At the September meeting we’ll focus on planning a quilt and the tools you need to get started.
Long-standing members: Please email Jennifer at Jennifer.Bigelow@chase.com and let her know if you would like to help by attending one or more of these Charity Coach and Chat sessions or to answer questions from newer quilters. The sessions will be held from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, before our regular meetings.
Newer quilters: Make your charity quilts with us! By coming to these Charity Coach and Chat sessions, you’ll learn all you need to know about making beautiful, useful charity quilts. During these sessions, you’ll learn how to plan, cut, sew, and finish your charity quilt. And we’ll also talk about making other items — like the holiday stockings and teddy bears.
Marilyn taught a series of such sessions a few years ago. The members who attended not only learned how to make charity quilts, they picked up techniques they now use to make their own beautiful quilts.
This is open for all members and guests. We look forward to having a lively time with many people.
Jennifer Bigelow and Marilyn Korn,
Service Committee Co–Chairs
and Tina Barth
Charities Express Appreciation
Posted: April 14, 2011 – Numerous organizations are the recipients of quilts made by our members. Here is a sampling of the notes sent in acknowledgement of these gifts.
Americares: "...between the economy and the weather, this winter has been particularly difficult for these patients and their families, so your gifts of kindness really mean a lot to both the staff and the families they are serving."
Family Homelessness: "A hand-stitched quilt is a gift that will continue to provide warmth to these families even as they move into stable housing."
Room-to-Grow: "As ever, the quilts are so beautiful and we greatly appreciate the care and love that went into making them for the families and children we serve."
The Firemen's Home: "On behalf of the members of the Firemen's Home, ... thank you for the donation of four (4) handmade quilts ... for our retired volunteer firefighters, ladies auxiliary members, and spouses."
Our Annual Charity Work Day
Each year we have one meeting dedicated to assembling quilts for various charities. It is a fabulous time to learn and work together. There are so many people in need, and we can use your help. Our most recent Charity Work Day was, March 5, 2011. Our next Charity Work Day will be March 10, 2012. Please plan ahead. We'd love to have you join us!
Basic Service Project Guidelines
Do you want to help, but you're not sure how? Here are suggestions to get you started, and some great ideas of projects you can do over the summer.
Use these shortcuts to go directly to a specific section:
• Quilt Patterns • Stuffed Animal Patterns • Wheelchair Bags •
Preemie Caps •
• Organizations We Support • Other Charitable Opportunities • Help Wanted •
Suggested Quilt Sizes (Approximate)
- Preemie Quilts — 16" x 24" quilted by hand or machine and washed in Ivory or Dreft. Absolutely NO tied quilts, no buttons, no pompoms.
- Crib Size — 36" x 36" – no larger than 45" x 45"
- Nursing Home (Wheelchair) — 36" x 36" No larger, please, as we do not want our beautiful quilts to get caught in the wheels.
Easy Assembly Suggestions — Option A
Thank you to member Marge Geary for these easy assembly instructions:
On a large flat surface, layer (top to bottom): Batting, Top Fabric (right side down), Bottom Fabric (right side up). The right sides of your top and bottom fabric will be together. Sew around the border of three sides, and 3/4 of the way around the fourth side. Leave an opening and turn the quilt inside out. Your top layer will be in place, with the batting in the middle and the bottom layer on the bottom — just where they all belong! You are now ready to quilt or tie!
›› Print These Instructions (PDF Format) ‹‹.
Easy Assembly Suggestions — Option B
This is another way to finish off quilts rather than doing the pillow turn method or making separate binding and sewing on. This works up very fast for charity quilts.
This should be done with a machine with walking/even feed foot.
The top and batting should be the same size with the backing about 3" larger.
Lay the backing face down with the top and batting centered on it, face up.
Quilt as desired.
Trim the backing to 1" all around.
Turn the backing in ½" to meet the top/batting.
Turn in again ½ to cover the edge of the top/batting.
Sew down on machine.
›› Print These Instructions (PDF format) ‹‹
Charity Quilt Pattern #1
Finishd block size is 7" and there are 30 blocks total, five rows of six each. Each row is the same with rows 2 & 4 upside down.
Start with a 6" square of a print fabric – 30 needed.
Cut 30 2" x 6" pieces of assorted solid or small prints.
Cut 30 2" x 7½" pieces of assorted solid or small prints.
Sew the smaller 2"x 6" border to the squares. PRESS to border.
Sew the 2"x 7½" to the square. PRESS to border.
Sew in rows of six alternating the side border right then left, border always on bottom. There are five rows. PRESS.
Sew rows together. PRESS.
To assemble, lay batting down smooth, lay backing on top, face up. Put top face down and pin baste around edges. Sew ¼" from edge of top all around leaving a 6" opening. Turn right side out and quilt by machine or tie. Close opening.
›› Print These Instructions (PDF format) ‹‹
Charity Quilt — Giant Log Cabin
Start with a panel or large focal print measuring between 16"-22" x 22"-26" or two smaller panels with sashing in between.
You will want your finished quilt between 36-40" wide and 40-44" long. If your panel is 16"x24" you will need 10" each side to make 36" x 44"
36" – 16 = 20" / 2 = 10" 
44" – 24" = 20" / 2 = 10"
This 10" border for each side can be two 5" borders or three 3-4" borders. All strips can be different or same, 1 long or pieced.
This is like a giant log cabin block with the center the focal fabric.
If you have a serger, this is a good place to use it, as ¼" seam allowances do not have to be accurate.
Sew strips to each side, then top and bottom. Repeat. When finished, PRESS. It is just nine or 13 pieces and very fast.
To assemble, lay batting down smooth, lay backing on top, face up. Put top face down and pin baste around edgges. Sew ¼" from edge of top all around leaving a 6" opening. Turn right side out and quilt by machine or tie. Close opening.
›› Print These Instructions (in PDF Format) ‹‹.
Rag Quilt
These instructions are compliments of Elaine Jansen of Sewright in Bayside.
Thank you, Elaine!
SUPPLIES:
- Sewing Machine
- Walking Foot
- Machine quilting needle size 90
- Thread: 40wt. Cotton (Mettler / YLI var.)
- Rotary cutter / ruler / mat
- Batting: cotton or thin poly
- Scissor (Fiskars softouch micro-tip recommended)
FABRICS: Yarn dyed woven cottons or cotton flannels work best (homespun, flannel, madras). WASH or NOT? If there is any question of color running — WASH!
YARDAGE:
- Baby Quilt: 30" x 36" (5 x 6); 30 pair (60 total) 7" squares = 3 yards
- Lap Quilt: 42" x 54" (7 x 9); 63 pair (126 total) 7" squares = 5½ yards
To calculate the amount of different fabrics needed, divide the total yardage by the number of fabrics — i.e. baby quilt: 3 divided 6 = ½ yard of 6 different fabrics.
BATTING:
- Baby: cut 30 6" squares
- Lap: cut 63 6" squares
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Cut fabric into 7" squares
- Cut batting into 6" squares
- Sandwich batting between fabric
- Sew an "X" from corner to corner. This completes the block.
- Sew blocks together using a zig-zag stitch and a ½" seam, to desired size.
- When size is reached, in place of a binding, sew a zig-zag stitch ½" from raw edge around the entire quilt.
- Snip raw edges on seams and border 1/8" to ¼" apart.
- Take the completed quilt to the laundromat and wash and dry. It may take two washings to completely the edges to your sasisfaction.
›› Print These Instructions (in PDF Forma) ‹‹.
Stuffed Animal Toys
We collect stuffed animals for the holidays to be distributed to shelters, etc. for children. Use any fabric you have to make the animals. We will collect the stuffed and sewn animals at the November and December meetings only. We cannot store these stuffed toys in any of our homes, so we will collect them as close to the holidays as possible. Eyes, nose and mouth can be either drawn on with a Pentel Pen or embroidered on the animal. No buttons, doll eyes, doll noses, please. If you have a piece of fabric left over that will make a nice stuffed toy for a child, please go ahead and make it — some child will just love it.
To download patterns (in .pdf format), click on the icon:
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 |
 Bear1 |
 Bear2 |
 Happy / Sad |
 bunny |
 Small dinosaur |
 Small Seahorse |
 Large Seahorse |
 Cat |
 Horse |
 Duck |
 Dog 1 |
 Dog 2 |
Wheelchair bags
The finished size of the bag is 18" wide and 15" deep. A pocket on the outside is also a good idea. Use ½" seam allowance and double reinforcement. The handles finish to 6" (cut 12½"). Sew handles to the very edge of each side to hook onto the wheelchair handles. Any type of material can be used for this project. Material that is a little heavier would wear better. By doubling the length of the material, you will not have an extra seam.
›› Print These Instructions (PDF Format) ‹‹.
We also have patterns to print (in .pdf format) for wheelchair pockets and walker pockets. Select which instructions you wish to view:
Files in .pdf format require Adobe Acrobat Reader — a free program from Adobe. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it by clicking the Adobe Reader icon: 
Knitted and Crocheted Preemie Caps
Select which instructions you wish to download. The instructions are in .pdf format.
Organizations Supported by Empire Quilters
Throughout the year quilts and other service projects are delivered to the following organizations by Empire Quilters.
- AmeriCares (AmeriCares.org)
- Beads of Courage (beadsofcourage.org)
- Bronx-Lebanon Special Care Center (Bronx-Leb.org)
- Harlem Hospital Neonatal Ward
- Hour Children (HourChildren.org)
- Jacob's Light Foundation (JacobsProgram.org)
- Metro Family Shelter
- Maternity Infant Care – Women's Health Services
- Mt. Sinai Child Health Program (MountSinai.org)
- National Center on Family Homelessness (FamilyHomelessness.org)
- New Era Veterans, (www.neweraveterans.com)
- New York Hospital of Queens (nyhq.org)
- New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans (nysvets.org)
- Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk, Connecticut (NorwalkHosp.org)
- Project Linus (ProjectLinus.org)
- Quilts for Kids (QuiltsForKids.org )
- Ronald McDonald Family Room (rmhc.org)
- Room to Grow (RoomToGrow.org)
- Sephardic Home for the Aged (SephardicHome.org)
- Soaring Words (SoaringWords.org)
- The Bridge to Life (TheBridgeToLife.org)
- The Fireman's Home (firemenshome.com)
Other Charitable Opportunities
The following charities have asked that we tell our guild members about their requests for quilts or other handmade items. If you are interested in participating in their efforts, please contact them directly at their web address.
- A Case for Smiles (conkerrcancer.org)
- Quilts of Valor (for wounded soldiers) (www.qovf.org)
- Marine Comfort Quilts (www.marinecomfortquilt.us)
Help Wanted
VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired has a quilting class for adults who are blind and visually impaired. They are looking for volunteer quilters to help expand their programming. If you or a friend would like to start a class or help with our current class, please call Melissa at (646) 486 - 4444, ext. 12. For more information about Visions, see their website: www.visionsvcb.org.
Their quilting classes are held on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Visions at Selis Manor, 135 West 23rd Street.
Annual Service Reports
To see reports of service activities, and lists of donors for various years, see the following pages:
© Copyright 2005, Empire Quilters. All Rights Reserved.