FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PREEMIE QUILTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PREEMIE QUILTS
1. IS IT A REQUIREMENT OF A GUILD MEMBER TO SEW A PREEMIE QUILT?
No, this is totally a volunteer thing to do.
2. WHO RECEIVES A PREEMIE QUILT?
Preemie quilts are delivered to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the QE II Hospital and distributed by the nurses to babies who are in the NICU. Sometimes our quilts are given to other babies born at QE II where the nurses feel there is a need.
3. HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMPONENT OF OUR GUILD?
You can sew as many Preemie quilts as you would like! Every quilt is treasured!
4. WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT OF OUR GUILD FOR DONATING QUILTS TO THE NICU?
Every three months our guild donates 40 quilts. This is a total of 160/year. Between 2009 and 2014 we donated 720 quilts.
5. WHAT DOES THE GUILD PROVIDE FOR MEMBERS WISHING TO SEW A PREEMIE QUILT?
The guild has several KITS made for members to take home and sew. Sign one out at our next meeting.
The guild provides BATTING for any charity quilt you wish to make.
The guild provides PATTERNS suitable for preemie quilts. You can get these from members of the Community Action Committee, request a pattern by email-through our website-or request a pattern on our Facebook page.
Kits, batting and patterns are all available at most guild meetings.
6. WHAT SIZE DOES THE QUILT HAVE TO BE?
Preemie quilts should be square and any size between 24 x24 to 28 x28
7. WHAT KIND OF FABRIC SHOULD I USE?
Please use 100% cotton for all parts of the quilt.
8. MAY I USE FLANNEL IN MY PREEMIE QUILT?
Yes, you can but be careful to select good quality flannel that will not pill.
Flannelette is NOT good to use as the weave is quite loose and it will pill with washing.
The pilling of fabrics will compromise the health of the Preemie babies as it can get in their tiny lungs…
***********ALWAYS PREWASH THE FLANNEL AS IT SHRINKS!!!!**********
9. WHAT TYPE OF THREAD SHOULD I USE?
Cotton thread is the best to use.
*********ABSOLUTELY NO INVISIBLE THREAD******as it will NOT break and if a tiny finger or toe gets caught in it, there can be serious consequences…
10. HOW SHOULD THE BINDING BE SEWN?
Binding can be stitched by machine or by hand
11. SHOULD I MAKE A LABEL FOR THE QUILT?
Labels are provided for each quilt and should be sewn on the back. You can get a label from a Charity Committee Member at any guild meeting. Labels are included in all KITS. We do have a group of sewers that will add labels to the quilts.
Please remove the paper backing before you sew it to the quilt and turn under the raw edges, especially if sewing on by hand, to prevent fraying.
12. SHOULD I WASH THE QUILT ONCE IT IS COMPLETED?
We have a group of volunteers who wash every quilt and add a card with our guild name and contact information. However, if you have a pet, it would help if you gave the quilt a quick brush to remove any pet hair.
13. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY COMPLETED PREEMIE QUILTS?
Bring your quilt to the next guild meeting and share it at Show and Tell-we all want to see your beautiful creation-then give it to the Community Action Committee.
14. WHERE DID ALL THESE FANTASTIC PATTERNS COME FROM AND MAY I USE THEM FOR OTHER PROJECTS?
A former member of our guild, Allison Lincoln prepared the majority of our patterns. She graciously agreed that they could remain with our guild to use for our charity quilts when she moved from Grande Prairie. Other members, Alice Lorenz, Karen Burgess, Roma Kosyk, Tanya Ironside, Louise Dutove(apologies if we missed anyone here…) prepared some of the other patterns.
It is important to respect the work that others have spent many hours preparing. We ask that you use them only for sewing Preemie quilts and for personal use. Please do not use the patterns for projects that you intend to sell.
15. I AM A NEW QUILTER AND NOT SURE IF MY QUILTS WILL BE ‘GOOD ENOUGH’ TO DONATE. SHOULD I STILL MAKE PREEMIE QUILTS?
Absolutely you should make Preemie quilts! Every quilt is precious and yours will be too. Making Preemie quilts is an excellent opportunity to do a small project, practice your quilting or to try a new technique. There are several quilters in our group who are more than willing to answer any of your questions and share their vast knowledge of quilting.
We hope this document is helpful to you. If you have any other questions, please ask at our next guild meeting!
1. IS IT A REQUIREMENT OF A GUILD MEMBER TO SEW A PREEMIE QUILT?
No, this is totally a volunteer thing to do.
2. WHO RECEIVES A PREEMIE QUILT?
Preemie quilts are delivered to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the QE II Hospital and distributed by the nurses to babies who are in the NICU. Sometimes our quilts are given to other babies born at QE II where the nurses feel there is a need.
3. HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMPONENT OF OUR GUILD?
You can sew as many Preemie quilts as you would like! Every quilt is treasured!
4. WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT OF OUR GUILD FOR DONATING QUILTS TO THE NICU?
Every three months our guild donates 40 quilts. This is a total of 160/year. Between 2009 and 2014 we donated 720 quilts.
5. WHAT DOES THE GUILD PROVIDE FOR MEMBERS WISHING TO SEW A PREEMIE QUILT?
The guild has several KITS made for members to take home and sew. Sign one out at our next meeting.
The guild provides BATTING for any charity quilt you wish to make.
The guild provides PATTERNS suitable for preemie quilts. You can get these from members of the Community Action Committee, request a pattern by email-through our website-or request a pattern on our Facebook page.
Kits, batting and patterns are all available at most guild meetings.
6. WHAT SIZE DOES THE QUILT HAVE TO BE?
Preemie quilts should be square and any size between 24 x24 to 28 x28
7. WHAT KIND OF FABRIC SHOULD I USE?
Please use 100% cotton for all parts of the quilt.
8. MAY I USE FLANNEL IN MY PREEMIE QUILT?
Yes, you can but be careful to select good quality flannel that will not pill.
Flannelette is NOT good to use as the weave is quite loose and it will pill with washing.
The pilling of fabrics will compromise the health of the Preemie babies as it can get in their tiny lungs…
***********ALWAYS PREWASH THE FLANNEL AS IT SHRINKS!!!!**********
9. WHAT TYPE OF THREAD SHOULD I USE?
Cotton thread is the best to use.
*********ABSOLUTELY NO INVISIBLE THREAD******as it will NOT break and if a tiny finger or toe gets caught in it, there can be serious consequences…
10. HOW SHOULD THE BINDING BE SEWN?
Binding can be stitched by machine or by hand
11. SHOULD I MAKE A LABEL FOR THE QUILT?
Labels are provided for each quilt and should be sewn on the back. You can get a label from a Charity Committee Member at any guild meeting. Labels are included in all KITS. We do have a group of sewers that will add labels to the quilts.
Please remove the paper backing before you sew it to the quilt and turn under the raw edges, especially if sewing on by hand, to prevent fraying.
12. SHOULD I WASH THE QUILT ONCE IT IS COMPLETED?
We have a group of volunteers who wash every quilt and add a card with our guild name and contact information. However, if you have a pet, it would help if you gave the quilt a quick brush to remove any pet hair.
13. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY COMPLETED PREEMIE QUILTS?
Bring your quilt to the next guild meeting and share it at Show and Tell-we all want to see your beautiful creation-then give it to the Community Action Committee.
14. WHERE DID ALL THESE FANTASTIC PATTERNS COME FROM AND MAY I USE THEM FOR OTHER PROJECTS?
A former member of our guild, Allison Lincoln prepared the majority of our patterns. She graciously agreed that they could remain with our guild to use for our charity quilts when she moved from Grande Prairie. Other members, Alice Lorenz, Karen Burgess, Roma Kosyk, Tanya Ironside, Louise Dutove(apologies if we missed anyone here…) prepared some of the other patterns.
It is important to respect the work that others have spent many hours preparing. We ask that you use them only for sewing Preemie quilts and for personal use. Please do not use the patterns for projects that you intend to sell.
15. I AM A NEW QUILTER AND NOT SURE IF MY QUILTS WILL BE ‘GOOD ENOUGH’ TO DONATE. SHOULD I STILL MAKE PREEMIE QUILTS?
Absolutely you should make Preemie quilts! Every quilt is precious and yours will be too. Making Preemie quilts is an excellent opportunity to do a small project, practice your quilting or to try a new technique. There are several quilters in our group who are more than willing to answer any of your questions and share their vast knowledge of quilting.
We hope this document is helpful to you. If you have any other questions, please ask at our next guild meeting!