One Member – One Preemie
Quilt Contest

School time, back to art, letters, and times
tables for the kids, or at least that was the way it was for many of us a few years back. Remember when you got to the 12’s timetables? You had really arrived when you knew that 12 x 12 = 144.

This year, preemies is celebrating 144-3 ½“ squares. 12 rows by 12 rows of 3 ½” squares makes a 36” square finished preemie quilt. Use a feature fabric that we will provide in September through April and enter your 144-square quilt in the One Member One Quilt Contest and have a chance to win $144.00! Watch the preemie quilt growth chart to see how many members have participated. There will be additional smaller prizes added to the pot as we pass 25, 50, 75, and 90%.

So challenge your friends, have a mini quilting
party, and cheerfully cut 3 ½” squares, sew them together, quilt, bind, and label them, then hand them in.

	Another stack of preemie quilts arriving at: Children's & Women's Health Centre of BC,		Preemie Quilt Program What are Preemie Quilts? Why do we make them? Preemie Quilt Specifications: Since the beginning of 1990 when we started the program, we have given well over 9,000 quilts, an average of about 400 each year. Downloadable preemie labels in a word document that you can add your name to and print on fabric. For larger labels with our banner showing and 4 per page Click here. For a smaller label with 8 per page click here. Take a look at the lower right hand of this page for sample pictures.	Pictures from our latest Preemie Workshop Free Patterns: Stars & Boxes preemie Sept - June 2010/11 Patience Corner block Sept-.June 2009/10 Challenge block Easy Preemie Quilt Pattern Rail Fence Pattern
	We will continue the Queen, and Princess of the Preemies in 2011 - 2012 for those of you who wish to make more than one quilt. Just as a reference point here are last year’s statistics: Queen Beth Laugesen-19 quilts, Princess Rosemarie Pugsley-12 quilts, total number of quilts anded in by members - 310. Royalty made 31 quilts or 10% with 279 coming from members – bravo! We also received generous donations from smaller groups around the province and they will be written up in the next newsletter. Thank you to Fort St. John Quilters for sending us 26 premmie quilts.	What are Preemie Quilts? These are small quilts which the Guild donates to the Special Care Nursery of the Children's & Women's Health Centre of BC, Vancouver BC. The quilt accompanies the baby when it is time to leave the hospital. Sadly, some babies do not make it, but the parents get to keep their quilt - sometimes it is the only memento they have, and they are treasured. Why do we make them? The Guild is a non-profit association, and as such is required to meet certain conditions, one of which is to participate in a community or charity project. Some years ago the Guild chose to support the program for the Special Care Nursery. This is not an option - it is an obligation. Some 30-40 babies on average pass through the Nursery each month, making a total of 360 to 480 quilts needed per year. As we have often stressed, if every member of the Guild made just one quilt a year we would be very close to our total commitment.		One Member – One Preemie Quilt Contest School time, back to art, letters, and times tables for the kids, or at least that was the way it was for many of us a few years back. Remember when you got to the 12’s timetables? You had really arrived when you knew that 12 x 12 = 144. This year, preemies is celebrating 144-3 ½“ squares. 12 rows by 12 rows of 3 ½” squares makes a 36” square finished preemie quilt. Use a feature fabric that we will provide in September through April and enter your 144-square quilt in the One Member One Quilt Contest and have a chance to win $144.00! Watch the preemie quilt growth chart to see how many members have participated. There will be additional smaller prizes added to the pot as we pass 25, 50, 75, and 90%. So challenge your friends, have a mini quilting party, and cheerfully cut 3 ½” squares, sew them together, quilt, bind, and label them, then hand them in.

		Preemie Quilt Specifications: Preemie quilts should be 36 inches square (approximately) They can be appliquéd or pieced by hand or machine in any pattern of your choice. There are some very nice cheater panels with very cute pictures on them that are suitable. Fabrics should be prewashed 100% cotton for the tops -- do not use fabric with glitter or harsh metallic threads. Backing must be prewashed flannelette. Batting can be polyester or cotton. Use 100% cotton thread Quilting can be done by hand or machine, but PLEASE put enough stitching on the quilt to hold it securely together. Use at least 1/4 inch seam allowances so the patchwork is going to stay together. Do not use any monofilament or metallic thread as it is too harsh for the fragile skin of the preemie babies. Also do not tie the quilts. A label is attached to the back of the quilt. These labels are available at the preemie table or you can create your own label. It must contain your name and the mailing address and email address of the Guild. The date is optional. Remember -- These quilts do not have to be elaborate. A simple nine patch, or four patch quilt can be lovely!		Labels for Preemie Quilts Downloadable preemie labels in a word document that you can add your name to and print on fabric. For larger labels with our banner showing and 4 per page click here. For a smaller label with 8 per page click here. Sample of larger label (4 per page) Sample of smaller label (8 per page)
		For further information about the Preemie Quilt Program, please Email
Home \| Membership \| Guild Meetings \| Block of the Month \| Quilt Shows \| Preemie Quilts \| Show & Tell \| Links \| Contacts Copyright 2012 Fraser Valley Quilters' Guild