35 Cuddle Quilts delivered to Chambliss Center

Choo Choo Quilters, Sherry Reed (left) and Ginny Minniger, dropped off
35 cuddle quilts to the Chambliss Center for Children in early February.

Right in time for Valentine's Day, Sherry Reed and Ginny Minninger, representatives from the Choo Choo Quilters, shared "Cuddle Quilt Love" with the children and staff of the Chambliss Center for Children. Thirty-five quilts—in an assortment of child, lap and bed sizes—were dropped off at the Center and received with open arms by Center's staff.

35 Cuddle Quilts.

Each year, the Choo Choo Quilters adopt the Chambliss Center for Children as the recipient of the guild's community service project. Throughout the year, bright and fun cotton fabrics and flannels are sewn together and quilted by the members of the guild to create child and lap-sized quilts. The guild's annual Cuddle Quilt workshop—usually held on a Saturday in August—is set up for group sewing, quilt top assembly and quilt basting as well as day of camaraderie for the guild members. The sandwiched quilt tops and backings are then quilted and bound by the members and turned in by the end of the year.

Ideas for block and quilt patterns were presented at the recent February guild meeting for this year's Cuddle Quilt workshop. Ginny Minninger, one of the team members that presented the February program on "Making Do," cited that about 15 of the 35 quilts that were recently delivered to the Center were from a quilt design presented at the 2016 Cuddle Quilt workshop.

"Let's see if we can surpass the 35 number this year," said Ginny. "One year, we made and donated over 70 [quilts]," she added. In 2010, the guild received a unique request for bed-size quilts and members generously responded with a donation of 9 bed-size quilts. Game On, Choo Choo Quilters! Let's make an impact.

Making Do: Ideas for using fabrics you have on hand

Easy patchwork units made from fabric swatches.

If February finds you taking up an old UFO with strong intentions of finally "getting 'er dun" using what you have on hand, some "Making Do" tips might be just what you need. If you are one of those rare quilters who doesn't keep scraps or build a stash, the content of the Choo Choo Quilters February guild program, "Making Do," will also be helpful with brand new fabric.

Brought to you by the Orange Team, this month's Choo Choo program will include some hands-on teamwork as we sort fabric sample swatches generously contributed by Veronica Hofman Ortega. Intended to inspire you for our visit in April from author and fabric fragment enthusiast, Mary Kerr, and to jumpstart our efforts for the Cuddle Quilt workshop in August, suggestions and instructions will be given for getting creative with what may look like useless, random scraps.

Quilters, let's make our grandmothers proud as we learn ways to make do, lighten up our stashes and produce beautiful little quilts for the children at Chambliss Center for Children. No need to bring anything except your Show and Tell beauties to the meeting. Brave the cold to enjoy an evening with friends.