VQG usually has an annual Charity Quilt Challenge to encourage members to create one or more quilts for donation to an organization of their choice. Each quilt displayed provides a chance to win a prize – probably more fabric!
Guild Events
Blankets of Love Charity Quilts 2021/2022
Attention all VQG members: Blankets of Love is a national charitable organization that provides quilts to those in hospital suffering from mental health issues. Mental health issues are often overlooked and with Covid more people will be suffering from these concerns. The Vancouver Quilters’ Guild is asking members to make quilts to donate to this cause. The optimal size quilt is 60″x60″ but other sizes are acceptable provided they are large enough to be wrapped around a person.
- Please consider starting your charity quilt now if you have sufficient materials to make a quilt.
- We need donations of cotton quilting fabric including jelly rolls, charm packs, layer cakes, orphan blocks, larger pieces suitable for borders, bindings and yardage for backings. Please do not donate any polyester/cotton blends, canvas, twill, wool or other fabrics used in garment making as we cannot use these to make quilts.
- The donated fabrics will be assembled into packs to make a 60″x60″ quilt top. As soon as we have packs available, we will advise you. Our goal is to initially donate a minimum of 50 completed quilts.
- Batting can be supplied if required.
- Backing and binding availability will be dependent on donations from our members.
- Hopefully you will be able to quilt your charity quilt. The quilting can be very simple or you may want to try out some of the quilting designs you have learned in the Vancouver Quilters’ Guild workshops.
- Use your favourite quilt pattern or check out some easy patterns at https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/free-charity-quilt-patterns.
- To arrange a drop off or pick up of donation fabric, if you need help with any part of making your charity quilt or have any questions, please contact one of us. Our contact information can be found in the VQG newsletter and on the membership list.
Thank you for making a charity quilt. It will be cherished by whomever receives it.
— Sherri D and Nancy B
VQG & Our Social Fabric team up to offer workshops
2019/20 Charity Quilt Challenge
OUR SEVENTH ANNUAL! Wow … this is lucky number seven! The rules are same as before, with one addition – The PANEL CHALLENGE COMPONENT. This does NOT mean that you have to use a panel – it just adds a bit more variety and challenges our creativity. As before, all VQG MEMBERS are invited to participate in this Challenge – Regular portion or Panel portion. The purpose of the Challenge is two-fold: (1) to encourage our members to make a quilt for Charity, and (2) to have fun while doing just that. Each Charity quilt shown at a VQG meeting entitles its maker to a ticket for some prizes which will be drawn at the June 2020 meeting. Here are the rules:
- Your Charity quilt must be completed and turned in by the June 2020 meeting – so please plan to bring your quilt to that meeting.
- Give your name and number of Charity quilts you have completed and pick up ticket(s) for the draw from our “tally counter”.
- YES, Charity quilts shown and already turned in at an earlier VQG meeting are eligible for the draw – again just give the info to our “tally counter”.
- SIZE: YOU DETERMINE THE SIZE AND TYPE OF QUILT YOU WISH TO MAKE: BABY; CRIB; TEEN; ADULT; SENIOR; WHEELCHAIR; LAP or any other size/type.
- Your Charity quilt will be distributed to various organizations, some of which in the past have included: Quilts of Valor; Sunny Hill Hospital; Wilson Heights United Church; Central City Lodge; Atira House (women’s shelter); Children’s Hospital ICU & Oncology; ST. Paul’s Neo-natal Unit; Union Gospel Mission men’s quarters; Brock Farnhi (Veteran’s unit) Hospital; Ronald McDonald and Union Gospel Mission Sanctuary (new mothers & babies).
- If you wish to have your quilt go to a specific location … no problem … JUST SAFETY-PIN A NOTE TO YOUR QUILT STATING JUST THAT. We will see that it gets to where you want it to go.
As I have stated with each one of the last six Challenges: All of us, who have made a quilt to be passed on to a stranger-in-need, knows the special feeling of joy you have when you make a quilt for someone you will probably never meet. However, you know that you have touched their lives, and you know that you have done a really nice thing.
Mary B.
2018 Charity Quilt Challenge
ALL VQG MEMBERS are invited to participate in the FIFTH ANNUAL CHARITY QUILT CHALLENGE!!! The purpose of this challenge is to: encourage members to make a quilt for charity and to have fun doing just that! Each finished Charity quilt shown at a VQG meeting entitles its maker to a ticket in the June 2018 draw for prizes.
Here are the rules:
• Your Charity quilt must be completed and turned in by the June 2018 meeting – so please plan to bring your quilt to this June meeting and have your name entered in to the draw for a prize. Yes, Charity quilts already turned in this fiscal year (July 2017 – June 2018) in count – so make sure you get a ticket for the draw in June 2018.
• Your Charity quilt may be made for a Baby, Child, Teen, Adult, or Senior. YOU determine who you wish to make the quilt for!
• Your Charity quilt may be ANY SIZE: baby, child, lap, single bed, double bed, queen or king size. YOU determine the size you wish to make.
• Your Charity quilt will be distributed to various deserving organizations. In the past, these have included: Quilts of Valor; Sunnyhill Hospital; Wilson Heights United Church; Central City Lodge; ATIRA House (women’s shelter); Children’s Hospital – ICU & Oncology depts.; St. Paul’s Neonatal; Union Gospel Mission; Brock Farnhi (Veterans’ unit) hospital; and Fort McMurray, Alberta to help the fire victims.
• If you wish to have your quilt go to a specific location… no problem…. just (safety) pin a note to it stating that…. and we will see that it will get to where you would like it to go. Please do not plan to just tell me where you want your quilt sent (coz I ain’t gonna remember). All of us who have ever made a quilt to be passed on to a stranger-in-need know the special feeling of joy you feel when you take the time to make a quilt for someone you will probably never meet…. but you know that you have done a really nice thing.
Mary B.
Supported Organizations
Organizations that our members have supported by providing quilts:
Associated Groups
There are two groups associated with VQG which create quilts for hospitals and charitable organizations. Both groups also sell quilts to the community, and use the sale proceeds to purchase further quilting supplies. These groups offer learning and/or mentoring opportunities for Guild members.