Breast Cancer Quilts     Block Contest Sampler Quilts     Quilt Show Quilts     Tips     Resources

Non-profits, charities, schools, churches and civic groups all rely on local fundraising as an important part of their organization's success.  Public suppers, auctions, tag sales and raffles are all idea staples for fundraising committees.  One of the easiest is a quilt raffle.  You simply have folks help you make blocks, sew them together into a quilt top, and quilt it.  The hard part of most raffles is selling the tickets but everyone loves quilts and the tickets on raffle quilts almost sell themselves.  

If you are a quilter you should know that sometime during your lifetime you will be asked to participate in a quilting project to raise money for a worthwhile cause.  You may even be so moved as to coordinate the making of a special raffle quilt for your own "pet" organization.  If you're lucky enough to accept either of these challenges, I have several ideas and tips for success based on projects I've organized during the past few years.  My mentor, the late Ellen Madden, taught me the importance (and rewards) of giving back to our community through quilting.  Until her death in 2002, she and I worked together on fundraising quilts to benefit breast cancer awareness and research, our local historical society and Pembroke's Catholic church.  Since then I've continued her legacy. 

Ellen Madden counting out raffle tickets
 

~ BREAST CANCER QUILTS ~

For a few years Ellen and I organized group quilts with our quilt guild, St. Croix Int'l. Quilters' in Calais, Maine, to benefit breast cancer.  One October evening each year we would organize a guild workshop, provide fabric, block pattern, and "Pink Ribbon" door prizes (fat quarters of pink fabrics, books of  US breast cancer postage stamps, teddy bears wearing pink ribbons, etc).  The workshops were always fun, everyone learned to make a new block and members went home with a good feeling to know they'd helped. 

Once the quilts were finished, Ellen and I sacked them and raffle tickets around to every venue we could find in eastern Washington County, Maine, from Pembroke's Fourth of July celebrations to Eastport's Salmon Festivals each September.  She taught me to be an aggressive ticket seller and not just sit behind the table and sell tickets to those who asked to buy one.  We stood, made our presence known and stopped people who walked by admiring our quilt.  The quilts sold themselves, but sometimes folks needed a nudge.  And nudge we did.  "This quilt could be yours!", or we'd simply ask, "Would you like to buy a ticket to benefit breast cancer research?"  Most people would not refuse.  They told us stories about themselves, their mothers, sisters, wives and their battles with breast cancer and sometimes they would bring tears to our eyes. 

In addition to selling tickets at local fairs and festivals, local banks let us display "our" quilts for a few weeks at a time―their tellers were always more than willing to sell tickets for us as long as we guaranteed that one of them would win the quilt.  We always did! 

Purple Mammaries  2000
Click here for block pattern

The first quilt Ellen and I coordinated  together for breast cancer was in 1999 (raffled in 2000).  It was based on a similar quilt to benefit breast cancer I accidentally stumbled upon during an Internet search―it was purple and white and beautiful.  The pattern was Delectable Mountains―"not because of the obvious reason," we said, "but for the extraordinary courage women with breast cancer possess."  We knew immediately it would be a perfect group quilt for us. 

When approached, our guild members were eager to become involved.  That first breast cancer workshop was well received and fun and the quilt evolved into a gorgeous work of "heart!"  Although most of my benefit quilts are now machine quilted, Ellen eagerly volunteered to hand quilt Purple Mammaries. 

St. Croix International Quilters' Guild Purple Mammaries workshop participants.  Front row (l to r) Eva Severance, Mary Ann O'Brien, Helen Sexton, Anita Johnson, Rita Stewart, Mary Johnson.  Back row (l to r) Ellen Madden, Sharon Bala, Reta Severance, and me.  Also attending was Sandy Hill, who took the picture.

Me and My Shadow 2001
Click here for block pattern

Pineberry Trail 2002
Click here for block pattern

I just love block patterns that create secondary designs when pieced together.  When I first saw this block (pictured above), I knew I wanted to make a quilt with it.  It was so easy and simple―hard to imagine a quilt so simple could be so beautiful.  One of our members donated navy, pink and green floral "Quilt for a Cure" fabric for the stars and border.  Another member had "Quilt for a Cure" green tone-on-tone that she generously gave us.  The quilt was set 8 blocks across by 10 down and had three borders. 

For the workshop, I made up packets that contained the block pattern and pre-cut fabric―half of the packets had green squares and the other half had pink (along with white tone-on-tone and navy floral print).  With armloads of workshop packets, door prizes, sewing machine and energy, my friend. Ginny, and I headed to Calais―a 25-mile drive―for the workshop.  It started to snow half-way there.  By the time we got there the snow was really coming down.  A handful of devoted guild members met us and we held the fastest workshop on record.  Everyone gathered around as I explained how to make the blocks, passed out door prizes and distributed a sign up sheet (so I'd know which members were participating and how many packets each of them had).  We said, "goodbye; drive home carefully," and decided to sew our blocks in the safety of our own homes.   
 

Ribbon Star 2003
Click here for block pattern

Ribbon Star is a pattern I've seen in many books and magazines.  I love the way the blocks seem to intertwine and "float" (thanks to a pieced inner border).  No snowstorm this year and several members attended to work on a new breast cancer quilt.  I always felt it was important to introduce members to new patterns or construction techniques so they're not only helping make a benefit quilt, but also learning something they may be able to use again themselves. 

We donated the quilt to the local Reach for Recovery group.  The money they raised from the sale of raffle tickets was used to purchase books about breast cancer for the Calais Free Library, as well as supplies for women who attend their support group meetings.  Pictured here are Calais area Reach For Recovery Coordinator Mona VanWart, American Cancer Society Community Executive for Cancer Control Doug Dieckmann, and St. Croix Quilters' Guild pres. Karen Hanson. 

Ribbon Star Workshop Participants

Front row (l to r) Dana Bard, Mary Ann O'Brien and Sandy Hill.  Back row (l to r) Reta Severance, Karen Hanson, Eva Severance, Lindy Hatt, Leona Juranty, Sharon Bala, Anita Johnson, Kathy Mekelburg, Kathy Smith and Joanie Jones.  I also participated & took the photo.

~ QUILT BLOCK CONTEST SAMPLER QUILTS ~

In 2000, I organized a Quilt Block contest for the Pembroke Historical Society's Yankee Peddler Day held on July 1.  I'd remembered such contests held in town about 20 years ago (about the time I was first learning how to quilt) and always loved looking at the beautiful blocks women in the community would make.  I thought it might be time to resurrect the contest.  Again, I approached the local quilters' guild (St. Croix Quilters) and they agreed to become co-sponsors.  Each year since then the two organizations have joined forces to sponsor a block contest using simple guidelines:

• Anyone can enter and make as many blocks as they wish (most will make only one)
• All blocks should measure 12" (12 ½" unfinished)
• Contestants may choose any technique they like―hand or machine
• A piece of focus fabric (provided with specific guidelines) must be used in each block
• Sometimes a specific pattern is required, i.e.: star patterns
• Usually blocks need to have a muslin or white fabric background

Click here for sample guidelines

Blocks are due a few days before Yankee Peddler Day (nowadays held on July 4).  On the 4th, all blocks are put on display at the Historical Society.  They are numbered and each block has a corresponding numbered jar.  Friends, family, and quilt lovers can vote for their favorite block by placing money in the jar of their choice.  The block with the most money in votes wins.  First, second and third place ribbons are presented to the creators of the 3 favorite blocks.

The "People's Choice" judging is not necessarily fair, but it is fun.  Often the block with the most intricate construction technique does not win.  The most pleasing visual design is what seems to appeal to most people―quilter or not.  Most of us who enter the contest try to keep our block a secret from our friends and family to keep everyone guessing when voting.  But, somehow, Ellen's grandchildren always found out which blocks were hers and did their share of "ballot stuffing," earning her a few ribbons.  A Pembroke tradition that a few husbands, I think, are continuing.

Following the contest, ballot money is donated to the St. Croix International Quilters' Guild.  Blocks become the property of the Historical Society, which uses them to make a quilt that will be raffled by the society during the ensuing year.  They sell tickets throughout the year; the lucky ticket is drawn at their annual craft fair the first part of December.  They also mail a couple of books tickets to each member and ask them to sell (or buy) the tickets.  This mass mailing, combined with selling tickets at society functions, brings in about $1,500 in raffle ticket sales each year.

Block Winner Rita Barr
3-D Flowers in Pot
(3rd row, second from left)

Block Winner Ellen Madden
Stars and Chains
(Row 6, first on left)
 

Block Winner Bonnie Hunter
Carpenter's Wheel
(2nd row, second from left)

Block Winner Lynda Coffey
Mr. Blueberry
(2nd row, third from left)

2004
Falling Leaves

Block Winner Alma Bednarik
Leaf in a Leaf
(4th row, center block)

Block Winner Mary Anne Brown
Amherst Star
(2nd row, second from left)

Block Winner Sandra Hill
Bears and Pine Trees
(1st row, first on left)
 

(two fabrics this year)

Block Winner Rebecca Curtis
Amish Star
(2nd row, second from left)
 

What I enjoy most about assembling these group quilts is selecting the setting of the blocks.  It has been a wonderful challenge for me and I've seen my skill level grow in directions I perhaps would not have ventured.  The choices are endless as you can see from the pictures above.  Usually I have no idea how I'll set the blocks until I've had time following the contest to play with arrangements either on a design wall or floor of my sewing room.  If I know ahead of time, what setting I'd like to use before the contest, I mention it in the contest guidelines, i.e: Evergreen Inn (I knew I would be arranging these tree blocks on point so I listed it as one of the rules).

Constructing a group quilt can be a challenge, even for an experienced quilter.   There are certain things you'll want to understand up front:

• The blocks will not all be 12 ½" square.  The differences in quilters' experience, techniques, and even sewing machines can all contribute to subtle differences in the finished size of blocks.  Small differences can be "fudged and stretched."  However, blocks that are more than ½" too small or too large should not be used in the main quilt without some reconstruction (on your part).  In the past I've had to completely make over blocks for group quilts unbeknownst to the block maker.  It serves no purpose to tell a struggling quilter than you cannot use her block.  You can often use a "special" block on the back as a unique label. 
      

• Some of the blocks may not have the specified fabrics.  "I thought my block would look better with a white-on-white fabric" (instead of the unbleached muslin listed in the rules).  And, although everyone is always anxious to use your focus fabric, it's amazing to see the other fabric colors people will use in their blocks―colorways you just didn't see.  It's made me look at fabric colors in a whole new way.    
   

• If you've asked for blocks "on-point" you can be sure at least one will not be.
   

• Prepare yourself to repair separating seam allowances―a few stitches here and there and no one is the wiser. 
   

• Say goodbye to some points.  When assembling the blocks by adding sashing strips or setting squares & triangles, it is a given that some points will be chopped off.  I've seen some beautiful blocks without an adequate 1/4" seam allowance around the perimeter.  A skimpy seam allowance here can't withstand the stress of quilting hoops or quilting machines and may pull apart.  You have to decide―neat points without an adequate seam allowance or chopped off points and seams that don't pull apart?
   

• You may receive more blocks than you need―in that case you'll need to decide what to do with the leftovers.  The first year we conducted the contest, Ellen suggested we make a second, smaller sampler quilt.  We put the names of all the people who made blocks for the contest and drew out one name―that person won the second quilt.
   

• More often than not, however, you will not receive as many blocks as you need (guess who makes up the extras?)

But in spite of all the things that can go wrong, the end result will be just beautiful!  No one will remember (or know) that Aunt Bessie's block needed to be mended or Jane's block was too big or Mary's block was the wrong color.  Somehow, magically, they just seem to blend together with the others and these "special" blocks somehow seem to give the quilt the extra sparkle it needed.
 

~ ST. JOHN'S QUILT SHOW QUILTS ~

Again, Ellen involved me in another quilting venture―helping with St. John's Biennial Quilt Show.  The show had been her baby since its inception in the 1980s and she always made a raffle quilt to raise money for the church.  I started helping at the show in 1997.  In 2003, fearing the quilt show would not survive without Ellen, I was asked to coordinate the event and have done so since.  Together with an enthusiastic committee, we've continued Ellen's labor of love by making raffle quilts:  "Double Dutch Stars" in 2003 and "Pembroke Flower Garden" in 2005.

The committee for the 2007 show will soon begin planning their new raffle quilt and welcome suggestions. 

Double-Dutch Stars

An easy scrap quilt of light, medium and dark fabrics that members really enjoyed making―the stars seemed to dance across the top.  It was highlighted with exquisite feather quilting in the border (not visible in the photo) by machine quilter, Doris Marshfield of Eastport.

Click here for block pattern

Pembroke Flower Garden

This year's quilt was a variation of the Jewel Box design using different greens and solid white.  Sharon Lund (left) did theorem stenciled flowers in the centers.  Also pictured are Monica Goodwin (center) & Fran Mulcahy.  We were tickled when Father Paul Sullivan won the quilt.    

Click here for block pattern

~ TIPS ~

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT GROUP QUILT PROJECTS

Does your group want a raffle quilt?  Before you begin planning a group quilt to benefit a charity or non-profit group, ask them if they would like a raffle quilt.  Unless you're going to be selling the tickets yourself, some groups do not have the manpower or means to make the selling of raffle tickets worthwhile.

What size do you make?  Unless your raffle quilt is to be a wallhanging, plan to make it a double (about 82" x 94") or queen (about 88" x 94") size.  These seem to be the most popular sizes.  It's amazing the number of people who ask the size of the raffle quilt when you're selling tickets. 

What to include in guidelines.  When you begin planning a group raffle quilt, decide if you want everyone to make a different block (to make a sampler like block contest quilts) or if everyone should make the same block like the breast cancer quilts illustrated at the beginning of this article.  The blocks can be made using either supplied fabrics or scrap fabrics from participants' stashes.  Unless you're asking for blocks for a sampler, you should make a sample block to show those who may be interested in helping.  Guidelines should include the following specific information:

• Construction technique so people can judge the degree of difficulty.
   
• Directions that include specific guidelines as to size of block, background fabric to use, other fabric colors to use (and colors to avoid), and suggested block pattern or theme. 
   
• Don't forget to include the pattern with detailed assembly instructions; a pattern is not necessary if you're asking for blocks for a sampler.
   
• A piece of your focus fabric (if you're using one).
   
• Details about the deadline for accepting blocks―when they are due and where to send them.
   
• Don't forget to mention who the quilt will benefit―just a little thing that's really important!

Also, make sure you tell participants blocks not made to specific guidelines may not be used (a decision you'll have to make when assembling the quilt).

Review a 1/4" seam allowance.  What's amazing is the number of "experienced" quilters who do not use an accurate 1/4" seam allowance.  When making their own blocks their seam allowances are consistent and they create some marvelous quilts.  However, when mixing their blocks with other quilters' blocks, the differences are often very noticeable.  So, make sure you stress the importance of accurate 1/4" seams and the necessary unfinished size of blocks.

Make it fun.  Make the idea of a group quilt fun by having either door prizes, ribbons to some other incentive for the participants.  It can be as simple as door prizes for workshop participants, a gift for the first person to turn in her block(s) or something for the person who makes the most blocks.

Know your timeline.  Allow yourself enough time to assemble the quilt and do the actual quilting (between the deadline for turning in blocks and the time you'll need the start selling tickets).  This is especially important if you're going to be sending the quilt out to be machine (or even hand) quilted as there is usually a waiting list.  And then remember that you'll need to add binding and label, too.  If you're like me, you may be sewing the label on the night before the drawing.

You're never too young to learn how to sell quilt raffle tickets!  This is my granddaughter, Danielle Scott, when she was seven; she helped Ellen and me sell tickets on a quilt to benefit breast cancer at the garden club's Flower Show in Pembroke in 1999.  The quilt was made by Ellen; she used a combination of Stack-N-Whack Stars, Ohio Stars and Square-in-a-Square blocks all set on point with a pieced border to complete this very pretty navy, pink and white quilt.
 

DISPLAYING YOUR RAFFLE QUILT

Port-a-Stand

The best place I've found to buy one of these fabulous stands is www.freestylephoto.biz.  They're less expensive here than in some of the quilting catalogs that now carry them.

The first time we used our new Polevault, Ellen and I discovered they aren't particularly conducive to outdoor displays.  The slightest wind will turn your quilt into a sail and carry it away (along with your Polevault).  That day we ended up packing it away in the trunk of my car and borrowing lawn chairs from nearby vendors to drape our quilt.  I now save the  stand for indoor use only.

If I were going to purchase a new one it would definitely be the Port-a-Stand instead of the regular Polevault―it folds into shorter sections and fits nicely into the carrying bag.  They are a little bit more expensive, but take it from one who has lugged a regular Polevault from one end of Washington County to the other, smaller is better.
 

 
~ RESOURCES ~

Community Quilts:  How to Organize, Design and Make a Group Quilt, by Karol Kavaya & Vicki Skemp, Lark Publishing Co., $27.95.  For 20 years an organization in North Carolina has organized almost 50 group quilts.  This books it is a collection of color pictures, working notes and a step-by-step planning guide for making a group quilt.

Pink Ribbon Quilts:  A Book Because of Breast Cancer, by Mimi Dietrich,  published by Martingale Co., $19.95.  Eleven step-by-step quilt projects―including a comfort pillow, small friendship quilts, and large raffle quilts―that use a pink ribbon theme or pink fabric.

Quilting Among Friends, a book by Jill Reber, published by Landauer Books, $24.95.  Includes 55 friendship blocks for fabric exchanges, block swaps, block showers, charity & baby, milestones, round robins, and retreats.

Sensational Sets & Borders, Rodale's Successful Quilting Library, Sally Schneider, Editor, published by Rodale Press., $19.95.  Discover lots of new ways to arrange your stash of blocks in fresh, creative settings, then surround them with a dynamic pieced or plain border.

Sensational Settings, by Joan Hanson, Martingale Co., $22.95.  Over 80 ways to arrange your quilt blocks.  Find solutions to common problems from arranging different sized blocks and working with odd numbers of blocks to planning diagonal settings.

Sets & Sashing for Quilts, by Phyllis D. Miller, published by American Quilter's Society, $24.95.  Take the mystery out of placing quilt blocks and put the fun back into quilt assembly!

Setting Solutions, by Sharyn Craig, published by C & T Publishing, $ 23.95.  This book show you easy and fun ways to solve some of quilting's most common block problems, such as size dilemmas, color clashes, orphans, and what to do with plain old boring blocks.