No one wants to talk about it. We all wish it would go away. Unfortunately it happens every day. Women and children are abused and battered in their own homes. They're forced to leave their lives and possessions behind in a trade for personal safety.
What can we do to help?
We're quilters. That's what we do in addition to being wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, workers. Our quilting can help comfort a woman or child in need of a soft hug. Our quilting can let her know that someone cares. Our quilting can make a difference.
Please join us in our Mission of Hope Project.
| GOAL | To provide cuddly quilts for women and children in shelters. This is to be a totally voluntary project for our membership. |
The coordinator for this project can be reached via our mailing list. Due to the need for anonymity, her name is not made public on this site.
INTERNATIONAL QUILTERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THIS ACTIVITY.
Please contact our coordinator if you would like to hostess this project in your own country.
| QUILT SIZES | We are collecting quilts ranging from baby quilt size to up to twin bed size, and anything in between.
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| HOW MANY QUILTS TO SEND | As many as you feel comfortable sending. There is no maximum or minimum.
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| FABRIC REQUIREMENTS | All fabric must be pre-washed. |
| FABRIC COLORS ALLOWED | Use any color or block or even a collection of orphan blocks or a UFO.
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| EMBELLISHMENTS | No buttons or other ornaments that are not firmly attached and will tolerate heavy wear and laundering. Please do not add embellishments on quilts for small children.
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| CONSTRUCTION TIPS | Since these are “love” quilts, the “heart” has been chosen as the symbol for MOH quilts.
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| If you have cats or dogs or if you smoke, your quilts should be freshly laundered prior to being sent to your coordinator. Quilts must be neat and clean with no stains. Please take the time to trim all thread tails and run a lint brush over the quilt if needed. The quilts can be quilted or tied.
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| ACCEPTED PATTERNS | Quilts can be any pattern/design/color EXCEPT NO CHRISTMAS QUILTS. Holidays are very difficult times for those living in the shelters, especially women who have children, and several of the shelters specifically requested no Christmas quilts. If possible please include a heart somewhere on the quilt. The quilts do not need to be
difficult designs;
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| LABELING INSTRUCTIONS | LABELING YOUR QUILT -- VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ...CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS GUIDELINES!!!! Due to the anonymous nature of battered women’s shelters and concern for the safety of all involved, we would like to keep our efforts anonymous also. Please DO NOT put your name, city/state, or any reference to The Quilting Post OR Mission of Hope on your labels. Your label should simply contain the words “ A LOVE QUILT FOR YOU.” Quilts that have already been received with labels containing personal information will have their labels removed and a new label placed on them containing the above phrase.
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| PACKAGING INSTRUCTIONS | Packaging any way you choose |
| MAILING INSTRUCTIONS | Contact your coordinator for mailing instructions |
| A FINAL WORD | Beginners are welcome, quilts do not have to be complex, but they do have to be well made. You can be sure your quilt will be a comfort to those women and children who need a soft hug and a reminder there are people who care.
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| On-line Resources for Battered Women |
http://www.vaw.umn.edu/documents/vawnet/welfare/welfare.html http://www.thehelpline.net/abused.html http://www.helpabusedwomen.org/ http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/health/ht/ht_support.htm http://www.sallyhuss.com/advocate.html http://womensissues.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/aatpabusebooks.htm http://www.actabuse.com/whyshestays.html http://groups.msn.com/SurviveDomesticAbuse/home.htm
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and Corel
Paint Shop Pro X by Sheryl Till