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HomeComforting Quilts
Helping Others

The Comforting Quilts committee coordinates the efforts of NWQ members to supply more than 2,000 quilts, large and small, every year to those in need in the Portland tri-county area. We work with about twenty agencies that distribute the various quilts to their clients.

 

Twin quilts go to families who are moving into new homes through Habitat for Humanity, to teenagers in residential psychiatric care, and abused or homeless women in shelters. Bunk quilts provide comfort to those attending an annual summer camp for people who are living with HIV Aids, and to Habitat for Humanity. Throw quilts go primarily to a hospice agency. Lap quilts go to a palliative care unit, to a transplant bank, and to keep the elderly in nursing homes warm.

Crib quilts are donated to organizations serving at-risk and low-income babies, while infant quilts are carried on fire trucks and police cars to comfort young children rescued from traumatic situations. Finally, every year hundreds of small quilts go to Portland Fire & Rescue’s Toy & Joy program.


In NWQ’s 2023-2024 year, we donated 2,750 quilts to our local community.



Comforting Quilts Workdays

 

Please join us as we take pieced quilt tops through all of the stages to produce quilts ready to be tied or quilted.



Comforting Quilt Sizes

 

Twin    60” x 80”

Bunk   50” x 74”

Throw 45” x 60”

Lap from 42” to 45” square

Crib 36” x 42”

Infant 36” square

Doll 18” x 18” up to 25” x 25”

Build-a-Block

Guests at NWQ’s annual quilt show are invited to design quilt blocks using pre-cut fabric shapes. These blocks are then pieced by guild members and incorporated into bunk or lap quilts. Since 2000, hundreds of these unique Build-a-Block quilts have been donated. Since several people contribute to every quilt, this is truly a community project.


 

Toy & Joy

NWQ donated 1,520 doll quilts to the Portland Fire & Rescue Toy & Joy program in 2023-2024. During the holiday season, each doll quilt is paired with a doll or soft toy as a gift for young, low-income children. Small quilts can be dropped off at the guild meetings or at CQ workdays.


 

Jelly Bean Factory

Our Jellybean Factory is a workshop held during the November general meeting in alternate years. The next will be in November 2025. It is a productive and fun social time at which attendees piece quilt tops using prepared kits, sew bindings onto quilts, tie quilts at frames, and sew backs for lap quilts. Look for details in the September and October newsletters. Yes, jelly beans will be involved!

Should you have inquiries about any Comforting Quilts activities, please reach out to Sue or Shauna.