Get Ready for Make a Blanket Day 2010!

Attention all our wonderful Blanketeers!
Join us for a day of fun at our annual
2010 Make a Blanket Day!
(look to the right for direction and parking links)

**Thank you to Marbles Kids Museum for donating the Venture Hall ****
(this is a very large room- a lot more space than last year)

Sewing? bring your sewing machine, current proejct* and extention cord
Knit or Crochet? bring your needles and current project*
Want to volunteer other ways? you can learn to fleece - tie blankets!

* precut quilt kits will be available - first come first served- come in and get started on a quilt top!
* yarn, fabric and batting will be available -at limited quantities

Set up will start at 8:30am. If you can help, please come! email Deanna if you want to help

A big blanket hug to all of our wonderful supporters!
Marbles Kids Museum (http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.com/)
Mill Outlet Village (http://www.milloutletvillage.com/)
Carolina Sew n Vac (http://www.carolinasewnvac.com/)
Quilts Like Crazy (http://www.quiltslikecrazy.com/)
Sew Unique http://www.sewunique.com/
Bernina World of Sewing (http://www.berninaworldofsewing.com/)
Wish Upon a Quilt (http://www.wishuponaquilt.com/)
Patsy Aiken Designs (40 yards of flannel fabric!) (http://www.chezami.com/)
SCHMETZ Needles (www.schmetzneedles.com)
Coats and Clark Thread (www.Coatsandclark.com)
Trader Joe's of Raleigh (http://www.traderjoes.com/)
Le Bleu Water of Raleigh (http://www.lebleu.com/)

Snacks will be provided. Roly Poly sandwich restaurant is in our same building. Subways is across the park-or please bring a lunch.
Let's go green!
Thanks to Le Blue Water, a water dispenser will be available- please bring a drinking bottle/containter to fill. Recycleable Cups will be available (while supplies last)

if anyone would like to donate a box of Food Lion Leaf bags to package the blankets when we're done, please contact Deanna. Thank you!

Thank you to our supporters

Please be sure to thank all of our wonderful supporters when you use their services or products. They are all very generous. Our most recent donations is from Patsy Aiken designs (www.chezami.com) - They are donating about 20 yards each of two super soft flannel!

Coming Soon - MABD 2010

Save the date! This year's Make A Blanket Day will be on Saturday, February 27. Join us in Venture Hall at the IMAX Theater in downtown Raleigh from 10:00 - 3:00. Have fun, meet new friends, and make a blanket to comfort a child in need. Want to help? Contact Deanna.

Over 160 blankets were finished, tagged, and bagged at last year's Make A Blanket Day, and many more were started. It was a huge success, and a great time was had by all!

Ways YOU Can Help

Individuals - Youth and Church Groups – Scout Troops - Quilt and Sewing Guilds - Civic Organizations - Businesses

Volunteer - If you can quilt, sew, crochet, or knit, please consider making a blanket for a child who needs a hug. Fringed fleece blankets require no sewing. You don't have to be an expert to create a blanket that is beautiful to a child. Volunteers are also needed to help organize and support Project Linus events, such as the annual Make A Blanket Day.

Donate - Washable cotton fabric, flannel or polar fleece, low-loft batting, acrylic or cotton yarn are used to make blankets. Cash donations and gift certificates to local quilt shops, fabric stores, or office supply stores help pay for blanket making supplies and chapter expenses such as blanket labels, photocopies, postage, etc.

Please contact Susie Holmes (Chapter Coordinator) regarding current needs.

Blanket Guidelines

We accept new, handmade blankets--quilts, afghans, fleece and flannel blankets.
You are encouraged to attach your name and address to your blanket, as many parents like to send thank you notes to acknowledge your treasured gift.
We always have a need for "boy" blankets and teen sized blankets. Blankets with animals, cars, and sports teams (Hurricanes, Panthers, NC State, UNC, ECU, etc.) are GREAT!

Blanket Sizes:
Baby - 30" x 30" or 30" x 36"
Child - 40" x 60"
Teen - 45" x 72"
These are approximate sizes - kids AND blankets come in all sizes. These are guidelines to help you and are not rules.

Fleece Blankets - Please cut off the selvage on the edges of the fleece before finishing the blanket. You may fringe the edges or finish them with a crochet or serged edge. There are many ways to make a fleece blanket that do not involve sewing! Look in the "Links" section for ideas...
Quilts - Please make quilts from cotton or flannel. Quilts need to be washable and durable since they will be laundered many, many times. Low loft batting is preferred. Secure the batting into outer seams and tie or quilt it every 4". Batting will disintegrate if quilted too far apart. Cut yarn and crochet thread ties no longer than 1" -1½" in length. DMC thread is colorful and easier to use than yarn.
Afghans - Use small knitting needles or crochet hooks and soft yarn to make preemie/baby afghans. Little fingers and toes, and medical instruments, can get caught in big stitches. If you prefer using larger size crochet hooks or knitting needles, please consider making bigger afghans in larger child and teen sizes. Weave in all yarn ends on crocheted and knitted afghans, do not just tie and cut them off since yarn stretches and knots may come apart on your wonderful work!

General Guidelines:
Make blankets from new, clean, washable materials in infant, child or teen friendly colors. Remember, these blankets should be colorful, cheerful, and cuddly. Crochet, knit, quilt or tie your blankets, or finish the edges of polar fleece.
Please check, double check, and triple check your blanket carefully for straight pins. It's better you find that pin and not the child who receives your blanket. Don't attach buttons or similar decorative items to a blanket. They can be a choking hazard to children.

Please Don't...Don't make blankets out of tapestry, upholstery fabric, burlap, felt, vinyl, wool, wool yarn, or any other scratchy fabrics or laces. Don't attach buttons or similar decorative items to a blanket. They can be a choking hazard to children. Don't use paint to decorate a blanket. The thick stuff peels off - we don't want a child eating it. Other kinds of paint rub off.
Please DO...Do have fun and include love in the blankets. Do know that even one blanket makes a difference in the life of a sad or ill child or teen and their family. You make a difference in Project Linus!

Project Linus chapter coordinators are instructed by Project Linus National Office to ONLY accept blankets that are of excellent quality and free from contaminants including smoky smells, pet hair or any chemicals which could cause problems for a child. If unusually strong smells due to detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, mold and mildew or smoking products are apparent, most hospitals will discard the blanket rather than jeopardize the health of a patient.

Thank you for helping to make sure that Project Linus blankets are safe and healthy, and will bring only comfort and security to a child in need.