QBB delivers quilts to children in underserved areas around the world, often orphanages or shelters. They started several years ago in Ethiopia and have branched out to many others since their beginning. Some places I am aware of that have received quilts: shelters both in the U.S. and around the world, schools in needy areas, refugees, Navajo people in the U.S., orphanage in Ethiopia, and there are many more initiatives. They are a well organized and impressive group of volunteers.
Here's how the Fat Quarter Challenge (FQC) works:
1. Use one of your own fat quarters, or I can send you a FQ, or if you happen to attend Quilt Festival in Houston, pick up a FQC kit at the QBB booth!
2. Use the FQ and other fabrics of your choice (100% cotton) and make a quilt that is approximately 40" x 60". Any pattern goes.
3. Machine quilt and machine bind the quilt. Include your name, phone number, and email address. Then send it to me! I will give you my address when you are ready to send. Let me know at my email address: merryhands(at)gmail(dot)com
4. Send in the quilt any time between November 1, 2019 and October 31, 2020. Your name goes into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop, a very nice online store that has supported QBB over the years.
5. Here's the good part -- your name STAYS in the drawing. You have a chance to win any month beginning with the month in which you submit your quilt. You could potentially win more than one month! So early submission gives you better chances of winning.
6. At the end of the year, one person wins $100 cash!
The real winners are the kids who will receive and love your beautiful quilts, but it is fun to have the possibility of a little prize for you as well, don't you think?
I made a FQC quilt this year, but as the coordinator, I am not eligible for the prize. That's OK, because some child or teen will enjoy this quilt, and I had fun making it. The pattern is (I forgot the name) by M'liss Rae Hawley. She has a lot of patterns that are FQ friendly. If you need ideas, check her out. Or just make anything you like to make: pinwheels, nine patches, your favorite star patterns, etc etc. There is also a link to free patterns on the bottom of the Fat Quarter Shop home page. Check that out.
Here is the quilt I made last year:
You may notice that I'm not a fancy quilter. You don't have to be! I usually do straight lines or stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, and that is FINE. It doesn't have to be fancy for a kid to love it. (Of course, we do try to make them beautiful, as all people deserve some enjoyment of color and art. I'm trying to reassure you that it doesn't have to be a fancy pattern or fancy quilting in order to be loved.)
Here are some adorable kids receiving quilts:
ASK if you have questions. I would love to see a lot of you wonderful readers participate in this fun challenge.
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