Posted on 11/28/2009 6:25:04 AM PST by quintr
I was so surprised when I learned that some 20+ veterans in one of our local nursing homes were veterans who are in need of lap quilts.
So I thought, how quickly can I make a lap quilt?
The answer is simple. One afternoon. That's from start to finish -- cutting out the material, sewing nine inch squares into rows, putting the rows together, then putting the back side, the batting, and the quilt top together.
I fund material at a local fabric store that has 12" squares of beautiful insignias for each branch of service. By the time I cut the the wide margin away from insignia, it was a perfect square that fits exactly in the middle of the middle row of the lap quilt that's five 9-inch column by six 9-inch rows.
After watching the video series about World War II with my husband, I am overwhelmed by what these servicemen had to tolerate from the weather.
Oh, sure. They were in the war. But it was 28 degrees yesterday and when I stepped outside to go to the fabric store, I thought how horrible it would be to have to take a trench shovel out of my pack, then dig a fox hole with it in northern Europe, then spend the night shivering in the fox hole.
These men were cold! Freezing cold. I can't do anything about that because it's history that's come and gone. But what I can do is something that will keep them warm when they are sitting in wheelchairs in nursing homes.
So I'm calling on all quilters to make some lap robes for these vets. The director at the nursing home where I went said that some of the folks don't get visitors anymore and certainly not presents, so they're going to wrap up my lap quilts to give to them for presents.
That's probably okay. But I told her I'd rather they start getting warm right away. They can still be enjoying a nice, warm lap quilt on Christmas as easy as they can today.
This particular nursing home has 1 Marine, 3 sailors, 3 air force men, and 14 soldiers.
-- Jane Reinheimer (www.janereinheimer.com has more about this project)
If more people had your attitude we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. People who do for themselves don't vote for more government.
God bless you.
Thank you for your kind words. I sent you a private email.
Jane Reinheimer
This along with what we do for a local nursing home (Christmas stockings), adult bibs for a altzimer day care, and quilts for Le Bonheur Children's hospital and the Shriners for the burned/disabled children they treat, and we supply quilts to a local PD for children who have been in wrecks or fires.
Look for a quilting guild in your area. We have about 65 active members in ours the youngest is 8 the oldest is in her 80's.
I am teaching young girls (youngest is 6 years old) how to make quilts. There are ten who meet every Saturday morning at church. Some of making the quilts for vets with me; the others are making baby quilts for a pregnancy center here in Effingham that are used for the layettes.
Your idea of finding a quilting guild is a good one. We’re fairly new here in town and I know there are lots of quilters.
I quilt with our church group and we make quilts that are shipped overseas via Lutheran World Relief (459,000 quilts shipped out this past year).
God bless your work in Memphis. Sounds like you’re keeping plenty busy.
I posted this around to my quilting friends.
Great! There’s still lots of time before Christmas, but I think any time is a good time to give a vet a lap quilt.
The lap quilts I make are 9” squares, 9-patches alternating with a solid color. Then, smack dab in the middle is the military branch’s insignia that’s also a 9-inch square. The nursing home I’m making the quilts for prefers the quilts to be five 9-inch squares wide, and 6 rows for the length.
— Jane Reinheimer
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