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HELPFUL LINKS
Email us below!
Members:
Linda & Judi
Judi & Linda 
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PLEASE NOTE--THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES CAN BE SELECTED AND COPIED. SIMPLY SELECT THE TEXT THAT YOU NEED AND 'PASTE SPECIAL' ON YOUR EDIT TOOLBAR INTO A WORD DOCUMENT. AFTER PASTING, THE TEXT FONT CAN BE CHANGED AND YOU CAN MANIPULATE THE TEXT TO YOUR NEEDS. TO COPY THE PICTURES, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE PICTURE AND CLICK ON 'COPY' OR 'SAVE PICTURE AS'.
To copy the "Kids Helping Kids" brochure,download THIS Adobe PDF file
NOTE: This should be cut in half horizontally and folded in half, yielding two brochures per page.
To introduce your scout troop, classroom or youth group to Project Linus, please consider the following guidelines. There are 2 options when creating a Kids Helping Kids blanket.
__In order to complete the quilt with the decorated squares, we request that you purchase one and one half yards of flannel for each 10 squares that your group will be creating. Typically, we use twenty five squares, twelve decorated and thirteen flannel, for the quilt top with the remainder of the flannel used for the backing. You are of course welcome to make a quilt of your choice using the decorated muslin squares.
NOTE--SIMPLE ENVELOPE QUILT PATTERN APPEARS UNDER THE QUILT PICTURED BELOW ___You will need a supply of fabric markers or fabric crayons or Aunt Martha's Fabric paint. They can be found at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Walmart or K-mart. One brand that we have had success with is Marvey-The Fabric Brush Marker. Other brands may be acceptable, however make sure that they say permanent FABRIC markers. Please note that the decorated squares must be heat set with a dry iron or placed in a hot dryer. This sets the colors so they do not fade or disappear when laundered. __Provide plain white paper as some children like to practice a design before drawing on the muslin. This paper should also be used under the muslin to protect the work surface.
** About 1/4 inch of the edges of the muslin square will become the seams of the quilt. Remind the children not to draw on the edges. **Encourage creativity. Some children have difficulty thinking of a subject to draw. Simple suggestions (such as sports, flowers, pets or even the alphabet) can be helpful.
**A question and answer session is a wonderful conclusion to your presentation. Many children will have personal stories to share and questions about the project. ** The children will be using their brains to imagine a design, their hands to draw and most of all their hearts to create pictures that will bring happiness to the children who receive our blankets. When you are ready for donation, please donate as follows:
__Pack the completed squares in the zip-lock bag we have provided. Include your name and address.
Please read all instructions
before beginning.
DECORATED COTTON SQUARES **The children decorate 8" squares of muslin OR WHITE COTTON SQUARES with either fabric markers or fabric crayons.
FLEECE BLANKETS
WE LOVE FLEECE BLANKETS-BUT PLEASE MAKE SINGLE PLY AS THE DOUBLE THICKNESS FLEECE IS TOO BULKY AND HEAVY FOR THE CHILDREN **"NO SEW"Blankets can be made of single layer, soft fleece by fringing the edges and tying them into knots.
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**Remember--There are no mistakes in Art!!
**Since Project Linus blankets are given to children of all religions, we request that your children do not include any religious symbols in their designs.
Return them to Judi Goldman, 637 Charlemagne Drive, Northbrook 60062. They can be dropped off at Judi's house at any time. Judi keeps a Project Linus in basket on her porch.
ENVELOPE QUILT
INSTRUCTIONS
YOU MAY USE ANY PATTERN
TO MAKE A QUILT WITH THE 8 DECORATED SQUARES.
WE SUPPLY THIS PATTERN AS A FAST AND EASY OPTION. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE BATTING AND
TAKES A SHORT TIME
TO COMPLETE.
1) PURCHASE Fabric:1Ύ yds flannel (45 wide) or 1½ yds fleece(fleece is generally 60 wide)-12 decorated squares (enclosed)
2) MACHINE wash and dry flannel. PRESS. If using fleece, skip this step.
3) CUT 13-8 squares.
4) CUT 4-1½ x 45 strips from backing fabric.
a. Reserve the remainder of the
fabric for the quilt backing.
5) Using Ό seams, sew 8 squares together in rows of 5, alternating the flannel/fleece fabric with the decorated squares. Press.
6) SEW row 1 to row 2. Sew this to row 3 and then to Row 4, and finally row 5 to complete the
pieced quilt top.
Flannel-13
Decorated-12
7) SEW 1½ strips to opposite sides of blanket.
8) FINISH top by sewing 1½" strips to last two opposite sides. PRESS.
9) PLACE backing fabric, right side up, on cutting surface. Lay pieced quilt top, right side down, on top.
10) CUT backing slightly larger than the pieced quilt top. BASTE together with long running stitches or pin baste using large safety pins. Please Note-Count pins before using to make sure they are ALL removed before donating blanket! THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!
11) KEEPING right sides together, stitch ½ seam around sides of
blanket, leaving an 8 opening. REMOVE BASTING STITCHES
OR PINS- count pins.
12) TURN right sides out. Press 1/2" seam allowance on open end and machine stitch closed.
Press blanket.
Project Linus Chapter Coordinators
Judi 847.498.3987 or Linda 847.498.6074
Linuschicago@aol.com
www.orgsites.com/il/projectlinuschicago
You are welcome to complete this
quilt in any way you wish.
We are always so touched by your
talent and creativity.
THANK YOU!
The following introduction to Project Linus is a great way to start your presentation. Follow this with some of the heartwarming stories below.
About 7 years ago a woman in Colorado saw a picture of a little girl, who was undergoing chemotherapy, clutching her blanket. The woman knew how to knit and decided to bring a blanket to the local Children's hospital to give to a sick child. The little girl was the inspiration for an all-volunteer organization that has grown from one blanket to over 300 chapters providing blankets nationwide. Since 1995, we have donated over 600,000 blankets to critically ill and traumatized children. Each child is asked to choose their very own blanket and keep it forever.
There is a small white tag sewn into each blanket with a picture of Linus and his blanket along with the message:"Made with tender loving care for Project Linus."
Stories of children who have received blankets: Note--Please read the stories before you read them to your group. Several may not be appropriate for young children.
**Fourteen year old Whitney wrote a letter to Project Linus after she received a blanket. She had two surgeries and was facing another one because she broke her back. Being in the hospital for such a long time was making Whitney very depressed until she received a Project Linus blanket. She wrote that it gave her comfort when she needed it, it dried her tears when she cried, but most of all it gave her courage to go through another surgery and the long road to learning how to do almost everything all over again. The love that the person who made the blanket came right through to Whitney and changed her life.
**There was a crabby little 3 year old boy at the hospital. He was crabby because he just didn't feel well. The nurses tried everything to cheer him up-toys and games and even ice cream just didn't do it. They brought in the Project Linus wagon piled high with blankets. He chose one that had six crayons of all different colors. He was even crabby as he directed the nurse not to leave any wrinkles in the blanket when she put it on his bed and he wanted the crayon points to be near the pillow. All of a sudden, the little boy went to the back of his hospital room and took a running leap onto his bed, wrapped his new crayon blanket tightly around him and gave the nurse the biggest and the first smile she had seen since he had been hospitalized!
**When the nurses took around the Project Linus wagon piled high with blankets, they noticed that one blanket was never chosen. The blanket was made with brown, green and black yarn and no one seemed to like it. One day, a little boy chose that blanket. The nurses were so happy, but they wondered what made the little boy choose the blanket. Out of curiosity they asked him. He was quiet for a few minutes and then he proudly answered, "Because it reminds me of my grandpa's argyle socks!!
** A seven year old boy had just been diagnosed with cancer. He was confused and sad and angry. The nurses came in to give him a Project Linus blanket and he chose a fleece blanket that had been fringed and tied around all of the edges. The little boy took one of the fringes and rubbed it between his fingers all day. It was the only thing that soothed and calmed him in the midst of a very scary day.
**A little girl chose a bright pink blanket. She immediately cuddled with the blanket and had a big smile on her face. When asked why she was smiling, she stuck out her hands and said "my new blanket matches my nail polish!!!" Her mom had tears in her eyes because, for one minute, her daughter was happy and it touched her that someone who didn't know her daughter took so much time to make a blanket for her. **There was a mom of two little boys. As she left the house to go to the hospital to deliver her third child, she promised her boys that she would be bringing home a new baby. Sadly, the new baby was too sick to survive. The baby had been given a Project Linus blanket to comfort him during his short life. Despite her grief, the mom remembered her promise to her sons who were waiting at home to meet their new baby. The mom didn't have to walk in the house empty handed. She had the Project Linus blanket which she was able to tell her children had belonged to their brother. He couldn't come home to them, but he sent his blanket to them to comfort them when they were sad.
**A 10 year old girl had been sick since she was 4. Because she was so sick, she didn't have a lot of choices in her life. She couldn't join girl scouts, she couldn't go out for recess, she couldn't sleep overnight with a friend. She and her mom were at the hospital waiting to see the doctor. The little girl asked her mom for a blanket because it was chilly in the room. Her mom went over to the volunteer at the desk and asked for a blanket for her daughter. Hospital blankets aren't very pretty or cuddly so the volunteer decided to give the little girl a Project Linus blanket. The little girl choose a blue and white one to match her shirt. Her mom was thrilled because her daughter was able to make a choice and have some control when her life presented her with few choices. Being able to make a choice might not seem like much to you because you are able to make choices all day without even thinking about themwhich kind of snack do you want? Who should you play with after school? Being able to choose a blanket made this little girl and her mom very happy.
**A very special little boy was named Mitchell. He was taken away from his parents because they just didn't know how to take care of him. They couldn't tell when he was hungry or cold. He was living with his Grandma. Mitchell was in the hospital and received a Project Linus blanket. The hospital photographer took a picture of Mitchell. When he gave the picture to Mitchell's grandma, she was so thrilled because it was the only picture that had ever been taken of her dear grandson Mitchell!
Streamwood Brownies collecting yarn for Linus!
Quilt Poem
By: Kate Stewart
The three colors won't fade
On the quilt that we made
Red, ,and blue of all types
On all the stars and the stripes
It was created for the ill
We showed our good will
But better yet
The quilt they won't forget
Because we know it's not a toy
We made it with love and joy!
Stars and Stripes
By: Claire Salata
Our quilt was really a lot of fun.
Stars and stripes for everyone.
We had many ideas like sports and bears,
but we definitely needed to show that we care.
It is going to kids sick in bed
"Wishing to get better" they said.
The quilts that we made are hanging on the wall,
I really hope that they won't fall!
Quilts
Wildly creative
Making, quilting
and sending
Soft, fuzzy, lovable and caring
Quilts
By: Michael Trifunovich
