Tuesday, February 22, 2011

February Newsletter


February 21, 2011
Blankets Delivered - 6470

Dear Blanketeers,

Welcome to the new Blanketeers who have joined our chapter during the past month. We have exciting news – We’re starting a BLOG for our local chapter. The address is slcprojectlinus.blogspot.com. On the blog you’ll find the current newsletter, updates on blanket donations, instructions for making fleece blankets (great for people who don’t attend Make a Blanket Days and want to make fleece blankets), and do’s and don’ts. Kristin Vance is the fabulous blanketeer, with loads of energy and enthusiasm who suggested we start this blog. I’m learning about it as we go along and I encourage you visit the blog and add your input – what would you like to see there?

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be march 7th ... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2. Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be march 15th at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00. We’re building a nice size group, the ladies are very friendly and welcoming, I hope you’ll join us.

This past month we delivered blankets to; the Guardian ad Litem office downtown and West Jordan, just a note, we are the only organization that gives blankets to Guardian ad Litem, the Neighborhood House, Primary Children’s (the NICU and PICU), Shriner’s Hospital, The Road Home, St. Mark’s NICU, and Lutheran Social Services, the Children’s Justice Center. Thank you so much for your continued support!!!!!!

It’s time to start working on TAPS blankets. For those of you new to Project Linus, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) mission is to:

provide ongoing emotional help, hope, and healing to all who are grieving the death of a loved one in military service to America, regardless of relationship to the deceased, geography, or circumstance of the death. TAPS meets its mission by providing peer-based support, crisis care, casualty casework assistance, and grief and trauma resources.

The blankets we send can be fleece or quilts of medium or large sizes. We usually send red/white/blue blankets. I found out last year that TAPS prefers no knitted/crocheted blankets because they are too bulky to travel with the children. Please deliver your blankets to the drop-off location you prefer by May 10th. Last year we sent 135 blankets of the over 900 needed. For more information about TAPS go to www.taps.org

Project Linus National Headquarters launched “The Blanket Beacon,” our NEW Quarterly Online Newsletter, in January of 2008. The newsletter features stories, patterns, coupons and the latest and greatest Project Linus News and more! Go to www.projectlinus.org and click on Newsletter for more information. This is a great newsletter, sign up today.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County. Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis.

Hugs to you all,

Kathy

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Blanket making guidelines

Project Linus blankets must be new, homemade, and washable.

The blankets may be quilted, crocheted, knitted or fleece (no wool yarns, please)

They are given to children from birth to 18 years old.

Please use kid friendly designs; colorful fabrics and yarns. Be creative and have a good time!

Be sure to weave loose yarn back into yarn blankets.

Secure the batting into the seams of quilted blankets.

Please be sure a double check blankets for pins.

**Please note, we can no longer accept tied fleece blankets** There are many patterns on the main website: www.projectlinus.org

St. Mark’s Hospital and Jordan Valley Hospital need blankets specifically for their Neonatal Intensive Care Units. These blankets should be 36” x 36” and made from flannel/cotton, two layers without batting. You may also make knitted/crocheted blankets.

thank you for all you do - we couldn't do it without fabulous blanketeers!

Friday, February 4, 2011

January Newsletter

January Newsletter
January 20, 2011 - blankets delivered: 6330

Dear Blanketeers,
Welcome to the new Blanketeers who have joined our chapter during the past month. Usually not more than 3 days go by before I receive a phone call or e-mail from someone interested in Project Linus. A dear blanketeer said me this past week that she gets great joy from making blankets and giving just that little bit of herself to a child…………… I’m so grateful that you too feel that way.

“MAKE A BLANKET DAY” FOR THE NORTH VALLEY WILL BE FEB. 7TH ... COME JOIN US AT OUR SAVIOUR’S LUTHERAN CHURCH 3900 S. 2500 E. FROM 10-2. BRING YOUR LUNCH – WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!!

THE NEXT SOUTH VALLEY “MAKE A BLANKET DAY” WILL BE FEB. 8TH AT THE SOUTH JORDAN LIBRARY FROM 10:15 – 2:00. WE’RE BUILDING A NICE SIZE GROUP AND I HOPE YOU’LL JOIN US. IN JANUARY WE HAD 12 PEOPLE – IF WE KEEP THAT MANY PEOPLE COMING WE MAY NEED TO FIND A BIGGER SPACE, WHAT A GREAT PROBLEM TO HAVE!!

This past month we delivered blankets to; the Guardian ad Litem office downtown and West Jordan, just a note, we are the only organization that gives blankets to Guardian ad Litem, the Neighborhood House, Primary Children’s (the NICU and PICU), Shriner’s Hospital, The Road Home, St. Mark’s NICU, and Lutheran Social Services, the Children’s Justice Center. Thank you so much for your continued support!!!!!!

There are 5 groups in the Salt Lake Valley that meet and make blankets, some of which are donated to Project Linus. These groups are always looking for more members. If you need contact information just let me know. Holladay Knitting Group, meets the second Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:30 at the Holladay City Offices, Square Corners Quilters, meets the third Wednesday at 6:30 at Wasatch Presbyterian Church (Salt Lake City), the West Jordan Senior Center sponsors a quilt tying group every Tuesday from 10-2 and on the second Tuesday the blankets they make are given to PL, Mt. Vista United Methodist Church ( West Jordan) has a quilt group every Thursday from 1-3 and they donate regularly to Project Linus and a group of ladies meet at Christ the King Lutheran Church ( South Jordan) the fourth Friday from 10-12.

Project Linus National Headquarters launched “The Blanket Beacon,” our NEW Quarterly Online Newsletter, in January of 2008. The newsletter features stories, patterns, coupons and the latest and greatest Project Linus News and more! Go to www.projectlinus.org and click on Newsletter for more information. This is a great newsletter, sign up today.
In Oct. we donated 150 blankets to “Shop with a Cop”. They were very appreciative of our donation. The blankets were given to children chosen by their schools as needing some “good” contact with law enforcement. The blankets were included in a bag with small toys, gloves, markers, etc. The South Jordan Dept. of Public Safety is looking for a group to make the bags. They are made from any sort of colorful fabric, 18” x 45”. They are very easy to sew and I have a couple of bags as samples. If you know of a group (Girl Scouts, 4-H, Young Women, youth groups) who would like to help with this project, it would be deeply appreciated, just let me know – thanks.
Hugs to you all,
Kathy

Thursday, February 3, 2011

blanket sizes

I always have to stop & think about blanket sizes when buying fabric. Recently I came across a scribbled note from a visit with Kathy. These blanket sizes are "finished" sizes.

Small & infant blankets 36x36 inches (1 yard of fabric)

Medium size for todder size children 40x50 (most fleece is 50 inches wide, so I buy 1 1/4 yards of fabric

Large blankets for tweens & teens 60x72 (2 yards of fabric, but make sure it's 60 inches wide)

Also keep in mind when buying prints that the size you purchase matches the age group. It's hard to donate a teen blanket with little ducky print. We appreciate all that you do. Blanketeers are the best! Looking forward to February work days!! North Valley on Monday February 7th & South Valley on Tuesday February 8th. Hope to see you there :)