Making quilts, lap or baby size, for worthy causes occupies many quilters, either singly or in groups.  Also school children often become involved in class projects that result in quilts for babies and youngsters in hospitals.  I’ve often helped the sixth graders in our school when they put their creations together.
Recently I read of a group of ladies who made quilts they donated to the birthing center of a local hospital.  The donation was made in memory of a past president of their guild who apparently suggested the idea.
One lady made lap quilts for elderly in nursing homes, “to help …read more

As long as you’re not planning something intricate, involved, and time consuming, you still have time to make gifts and decorations for Christmas.  As I glance around the various online stores, I find ideas that don’t take much time.
Look around for fabric printed with Christmas and holiday designs.  You can use these to make pillows, wall hangings, placemats and quick lap quilts that don’t have to be pieced.  Then you can sew around the designs by hand or by machine to add a quilted effect.
To add adornment to the wall hangings, sew on beads, buttons, and bangles and other embellishments. 
                                                      

My daughter made quilts for both of her grandmothers to comfort them in nursing homes. And they were very different quilts to meet the needs of each grandmother.
 My mother had Alzheimer’s so didn’t really notice the pattern.  My mother-in-law wanted a small quilt to hang on a particular wall in her suite.
So we decided Mother would enjoy a lap quilt most, made of soft fabrics.  We actually used patchwork printed fabric, filled it with thin batting and backed it.  Then we tied it.  This was well used and worn when Mother passed away.
The quilt hanging for Mum’s wall consisted of four star …read more