I’m so excited to tell you about the annual Quilt Donation Drive organized by Stacey of Stacey Lee Creative. She’s teamed up with Comfort Cases, a nationwide nonprofit organization that serves children entering the foster care system in all 50 states. Their mission is to bring dignity and hope by replacing trash bags with personal care packages that include essential items such as:
- Backpacks
- Toiletries
- Pajamas
- Blankets
- Stuffed animals
How to Participate:
1. Make a Quilt
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The sizes they are looking for are:
- Big Kids: 50″ x 50″ (slight variations accepted)
- Baby Quilts: 30″ x 40″ (slight variations accepted)
- Use high-quality fabrics—the kind you’d choose for your own children or grandchildren. This ensures each recipient feels cherished and loved.
2. Document Your Donation
- Download and complete the Comfort Cases Note HERE.
- Take a photo of your quilt alongside the completed note.
3. Enter the Giveaway
- Submit your quilt photos to enter our special giveaway.
- Entry Period: March 11, 2025 – May 16, 2025
- Each handmade quilt counts as one entry into the giveaway with amazing prizes sponsored by Moda Fabrics, Oliso, Hobbs Bonded Fibers, Juki Junkies, Cutterpillar, AccuQuilt, SewTites, and Arrow.
4. Send Your Quilt(s) to Comfort Cases
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Mail your quilt(s), accompanied by the Comfort Cases Note, to Comfort Cases.
- Comfort Cases 9300 Gaither Road Gaithersburg, MD 20877
- Find additional details HERE.
- Your quilts will be added to a comfort case
How to Make a 4-Patch Rag Quilt
For my contribution to the Quilt Donation Drive, I made a cozy 4-patch rag quilt. It was such a quick, fun make and a great way to use batting scraps! Here’s how I did it if you want to make one, too!
To make the 4-patch blocks, I cut strips of 4 ½ inches from my stash of solid scraps. To make a block, you’ll need each strip to be a minimum of 9 inches long.
With right sides together, I pieced 2 contrasting strips together along the long sides with a ¼ inch seam allowance and pressed the seam to the side toward the darker fabric.
I sub-cut the strip set I created into (2) 4 ½ inch x 8 ½ inch units and rotated one sub-cut unit so the colors alternated like a checkerboard and the seams nested. I sewed the 4 patch RST with a ¼ inch seam allowance.
I repeated this process until I had (36) blocks for the child size. If you’re making a baby size, you’ll only need 16 blocks
I cut my backing fabric into (36) 8 ½ inch squares. I used a 100% cotton sheet from target. Flannel or minky are also great options. If you’re making a baby size, you’ll cut (16).
I cut my batting into (36) 7 ½ inch squares. I actually doubled up my batting to make the quilt extra plush and cozy, so if you want to do that, too, cut double the amount. This is a great way to use up those batting scraps hanging out in your closet! If you’re making a baby size, you’ll cut (16) or (36) if you’re doubling up.
I marked an X with a water soluble marker for my quilting lines on each of my 4-patch blocks from corner to corner, then created quilt sandwiches with the 3 layers: backing face down, batting in the middle, and a 4-patch block on top. I just eyeballed centering the batting on the backing and lined the 4-patch up with the backing the best I could. It doesn’t have to be perfect! Add some pins if you feel like it–I didn’t, but it might help if you’re worried about shifting.
I took the quilt sandwiches over to my machine and quilted each of them up. I used a walking foot and increased my stitch length to 3.5.
After all of the blocks were quilted, I figured out the layout I wanted. For the child size, it’s a 6x6 layout. For the baby size it would be a 4x4.
Now, this is where things got crazy! Just kidding, but it felt weird! I sewed the blocks together with the backing RST and used a ½” seam allowance. I decreased my stitch length to around 2. I wanted those seams to be extra strong! I used sewing clips to make sure the seams in my 4 patches lined up as I sewed the blocks together.
I sewed the blocks together into rows. After sewing each row, I took sharp scissors and clipped into the seam allowance every ½ inch almost to the seam line, but not through the stitches. This is what gives the quilt the fuzzy “rag” texture between the blocks. I know it feels scary, but your quilt isn’t going to fall apart, I promise!
After each row was sewn and clipped, I sewed the rows together. Once again, with the backing RST and using a ½ inch seam allowance. I used sewing clips to match the seams and nested the seams as I went. I did the same clipping process as before to the seam allowances after sewing.
To finish the edges of my quilt, I trimmed a ½ inch off all the way around (even with the batting) and bound it like a normal quilt. Another option would be to not trim the quilt and just sew all the way around with a ½ inch seam allowance and do the same clipping technique around the edges.
The final step was to wash the quilt. This is what makes the “rag” texture nice and fuzzy. Be prepared for lots of loose threads the first time through the wash. The more you wash it, the more the weave of the fabric will tighten and lock into itself and the raw edges won’t shed and fray.
That’s it! That’s all there is to making a rag quilt! It’s perfectly imperfect and I’m excited to get it sent off to Comfort Cases hope it helps to bring a child some feelings of comfort and love.
If you make one, post a picture and tag me on Instagram @stuff.sydney.sews