Right: “Hometown Afternoon” from Red, White, and Sometimes Blue.
Quilters are a bighearted bunch. When we learn about people who have sacrificed or suffered, we talk to each other. We organize. And using the skills we’ve honed, we find a way to help.
It’s the compassion and generosity of quilters that led to the creation of Quilted in Honor, an organization dedicated to rallying quilters to support returning veterans and their families. Spearheaded by Island Batik Fabrics, Quilted in Honor has a multipart mission—to inspire quilters to get involved through donations, challenges, free patterns, prize drawings, and a product line that provides everything you need to start your own Quilted in Honor quilt (with a portion of proceeds benefiting Operation Homefront, an organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to veterans and their families). Finally, a special exhibit of more than 50 Quilted in Honor quilts, made by popular designers, will travel the US through October 2014.
Elizabeth Phillips, project coordinator for Quilted in Honor, is here to share more about the effort to get quilters involved in this extraordinary project.
Quilted in Honor (QIH), led by Island Batik, is a fund-raising initiative for Operation Homefront, one of the top military fund-raising organizations, and is intended to harness the collective power of the quilting industry to give back to the ones that need it most. Individually, each organization could donate something, but if we all worked together to support this outstanding organization—what could we really achieve?
Quilted in Honor Press Conference, Portland Quilt Market 2013. Left to right: Caleb Willis (President and CEO, Island Batik), Adam Jennings (Medically Retired, US Marine Corps), Eleanor Burns (Quilt In A Day). Photo by Erin Sampson.
The overarching goal of the initiative is for the quilting industry to come together as a whole to support our returning veterans and their families. Operation Homefront was chosen to be the beneficiary of the Quilted in Honor project because of their programs, their top rank among military charities in the United States, and because of the need they have expressed for quilts and quilted projects. It’s a perfect partnership for the quilting industry and one that aligns both our industry focus and our grass roots infrastructure to drive as much involvement as possible.
RETAIL PRODUCTS
The Quilted in Honor initiative features a collection of retail products led by a unique batik line from Island Batik. Program partners have developed complementary products, available for purchase alongside the vibrant fabric line, giving you a complete package containing everything you need for all of your Quilted in Honor projects. A portion of sales from all of the products will be donated to Operation Homefront.
Downloadable Patterns from PatternSpot.com
Quilted in Honor – Eco Tote from C&T Publishing
Free Patterns from Top Quilters
GET INVOLVED
The Quilted in Honor initiative exists not only to raise funds for military families in need, but to connect veterans, wounded warriors, and military families with actual quilts! Using some or all of the products above, you can make a quilt for a loved one, a person in your community, or for someone you have never met! Operation Homefront has a network across the country ready to accept and distribute quilts. Click here to learn more about making and donating quilts.
See over 50 designer quilts that have been made in support of the Quilted in Honor initiative in the Quilted in Honor traveling exhibit. The exhibit features quilts from celebrity designers including Alex Anderson, Eleanor Burns, Carol Doak, Pat Sloan, Ricky Tims, Angela Walters, Rob Appell, and many more.
"And the Flag Was Still There" by Rob Appell
The exhibit is making many stops on its tour. Visit the exhibit page to see if it will be at a show close to you, or on display at a show you are planning to attend.
The Quilted in Honor initiative has organized a variety of challenges in which all quilters will have the opportunity to participate. Each challenge will benefit Operation Homefont and provide winners with prize packages filled with goodies from program partners and sponsors. Click here to learn more about and enter open challenges!
You Can Win and So Can Your Favorite Quilt Store!
Help military families directly by donation. With each $5.00 donation, you are entered in the Quilted in Honor Free Draw for PJ Anderson’s "Stars of Glory" quilt! Plus, if you fill in the name of your favorite quilt store on the entry form, they’ll have a chance to win a workshop with Eleanor Burns!
"Stars of Glory" was pieced and graciously donated by celebrity designer PJ Anderson in honor of the service men and women in her own life.
"It is with great pride and humility that I donate this quilt to Operation Homefront to raise money for the soldiers and their families in times of great need."—PJ Anderson
The stunning quilt is a Quilted in Honor exhibit highlight that cannot be missed. When the exhibit tour is over, the quilt will be awarded to one winner and the workshop to one winning store!
All donations gathered by this initiative go directly to United States military families in need through the charitable organization Operation Homefront.
Visit your local quilt shop to find Quilted in Honor products and learn more about the program!
Quilted in Honor Partners and Sponsors
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PARTNERS Animas Quilts |
SPONSORS Accuquilt |
Thank you for stopping by to share the exciting news about Quilted in Honor, Elizabeth.
Visit the Quilted in Honor website to learn even more about how you can help.
What organizations have you donated your quilts to in the past? Share in the comments how you helped someone with your stitches.
I donate quilts to Missouri’s Festival of Sharing quilt auction which the money goes to buy blankets for those in need – nationally and internationally. My mother requested I make some because she donates hers to "Backpacks of love" for kids going into foster care. She makes simple lap size quilts – this year only 120 or so but then she is 86 and taking care of her 8 year old great grandson.
—Cindy Wienstroer on August 29, 2013Love to see all the interest in making quilts for our returning heroes, and they are heroes. I’ve been fortunate to make several quilts for the "Wounded Warrior" project where stretcher-sized quilts are given to the wounded on their flights out of the battlefield areas to hospitals in Europe and the USA. They are distributed by an American Legion Post at a nearby Air Force Base and flown on MATS transport to where they are needed. Thanks Amer. Legion!
—Carolyn Cardoza on August 29, 2013My church makes quilts for several needy organizations. One more recent one is called "The Eagles Healing Nest". A group took over a compound that was standing empty for many years and is refurbishing the buildings one at a time to house veterans with a variety of problems like homelessness, mental issues due to war, a family that has broken up, etc. When a veteran arrives he or she is given a quilt and they take that quilt with when they leave. They are counseled and helped to heal while they are there and they help with the refurbishing and maintenance while they are there.
—Sheila Watschke on August 30, 2013I’ve donated quilts to: Quilts of Valor; Hurricane Katrina survivors through the Salvation Army; the Life Path Hospice House and Community Center in Tampa, FL.; Linus Project; Quilts Beyond Borders; Shriners Children’s Hospital; and Bandanas for our overseas troops.
Keep smiling,
—Lynnita Shipman on August 30, 2013I went to the website for more information and could not find any information as to the specifics for donated quilts. No mention of size requirements, pattern,long arm specifics or other guidelines. Are they looking for tops, or a finished quilt? The website could be more informative on the specific needs. It also mentioned Quilts of Valor, which made me wonder if the quilts are going to that organization. More information would be helpful please.
Hi Bonnie, they are definitely looking for finished quilts and you can find suggested patterns here. They will also be announcing the first Quilted in Honor challenge on October 2nd, and you can read more about that here. I hope this is helpful. If you have more questions you can email the Quilted in Honor organization at quiltedinhonor@islandbatik.com. ~Jenny
—Bonnie on August 30, 2013Our quilt makes QOV that are donated locally. I’m always looking for new patterns, thank you.
—Mary Ann on August 31, 2013I donate a quilt every year to a nature site to help feed the wildlife, a yearly raffle quilt to my local church, and am working on my second veteran "thank you" quilt.
—Clarice D on September 4, 2013I have lots of scrap material left from other projects I do. I would like to donate a quilt to veterans. My quilt would be an abstract type quilt of good quality material (usually), batted and backed with either flannel or cotton.
—David A. on July 8, 2016????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????