The quilts/blankets are all homemade with tender loving care, which is another way of saying “Someone loves you”.  Ours is a group of women who meet about once a month at the Agricultural History Farm Park on 18410 Muncaster Rd. in Derwood.  We knit, crochet, cut and sew material and have a wonderful time meeting old and making new friends. (calendar) Our yarn and fabric has been generously donated by individuals.  Crafters use their own imaginations in creating the quilts, which makes each one unique.  So far we’ve made over 24,000 blankets.  In addition, we’ve made approximately 13,000 newborn and baby hats.

Blankets are distributed to shelters, such as Stepping Stones, the Betty Ann Krahnke Shelter for victims of domestic violence, Heart and Home, local hospitals, including Holy Cross, Montgomery General, Shady Grove, NIH Ronald McDonald House and Children’s National Medical Center.

Our expenses include batting for the sewn blankets and sewing machine repairs; we have been blessed with financial donations to FCE for this project.

Guidelines for Blanket Making

Thank you for all your hard work in sewing, knitting and crochet blankets for children of all ages.  We have provided over 26,000 blankets to kids during the past 21 years and we wish to continue this wonderful adventure.    

Fabric Quilts

1.     All fabric must be washed.

2.     Kid’s print fabric is needed.  Brightly colored designs and patterns are also acceptable.  Approx. 2 ¼ yards is needed for one blanket.

3.     Plain bright colored fabric is needed and can be used  for backs.

4.     Blankets need to be a minimum of 36 x 36.  They can be longer approximately 36 x 45 to 50 to accommodate a pre-teen/teenager.  Cotton fabric blankets must have batting.  Flannel blankets do not have to have batting.

5.     Pin blankets/batting carefully so that sewing is easier.  When sewing, be careful with tucks and puckers, check both sides.  When pinning, flatten out batting. 

6.     Use like fabrics, i.e. cotton with cotton, flannel with flannel.

7.     Quilt a maximum of 6 (six) inches apart.

8.     To assist in tying quilts at the max of 6 inches apart, cut cardboard squares that are 5 ¾ inches to use a guide.

9.     If you smoke or someone in your house smokes or have pets and you make a blanket at home, you MUST wash the blanket and immediately put it in a plastic bag after removing from the dryer. 

 Knitted and Crochet Blankets

1.     Blankets should be at least 36 x 36.  They can be longer, approximately 36 x 45 up to 45 x54 to accommodate a pre-teen/teenager.

2.     Use acrylic, acrylic blends, polyester, nylon or cotton washable yarns.  No Fringe.  Weave in all ends.

3.     If you smoke or someone in your house smokes or have pets and you make a blanket at home, you MUST wash the blanket and immediately put it in a plastic bag after removing from the dryer. 

4.     ALL ends MUST be weaved (pulled) in.  Please take the extra few minutes to do this before turning in your blanket.

5.     When putting squares together, be sure they are secured to each other.  A good method is to crochet the squares together but if you can’t do that, sewing is acceptable.  Just be sure the ends are in and the squares are securely held together.

Fleece Blankets

1.     Single pieces (as opposed to double) are preferable.  Check out www.projectlinus.org/pdf/No_Sew_Fleece_Blanket_#1.pdf for instructions.  We recommend cutting out a 5 or 6 inch square instead of a 4 inch square in the corners.

2.   Blankets can be sewed, fringed or tied.  Check out various web sites for different types of finishing.

3.     If you smoke or someone in your house smokes or have pets and you make a blanket at home, you MUST wash the blanket and immediately put it in a plastic bag after removing from the dryer. 

WE WELCOME EVERYONE to our meetings.  Some people come and stay all day, some only long enough to drop off a finished quilt and pick up more supplies.  Some women work behind the scenes doing their work quietly on their own and sending the finished blanket with a friend.  So come on over, bring a sandwich and a smile and we will supply materials, a drink, and dessert.

 For more information please call Kathie at (301) 270-5367.