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August 2016

3 posts.

The Million Pillowcase Challenge Blog Hop

August 24, 2016 at 7:56 am , by

Noa Pogany, 11, who learned how to sew last year, made 100 pillowcases to donate. She and her mother, Allison, delivered the pillowcases to the pediatric intensive care unit of a local hospital. “These pillowcases were going to be the only things to brighten up these kids’ rooms,” Allison says, “and show the kids and their parents that people outside of the hospital were thinking about them.” 

 

To most of us a pillowcase may not be a big deal. It’s something we barely notice as we lay down to sleep each night. But for some (such as the kids in the intensive care unit in the story above), they can be a great source of comfort and joy during a time of stress and uncertainty. Whether it’s a piece of home in a sterile hospital room, a little return to normalcy for those in homeless shelters or women’s shelters, or just a reminder that someone else in the world cares, a pillowcase can make a huge difference in your community.

 

We started our One Million Pillowcase Challenge in 2010, and in just a few years quilters and sewers all over the world have donated more than 689,000 pillowcases to those in need! That’s 689,000 smiles and sighs of relief! We’ve heard countless stories of how this Challenge has changed lives in communities across the country, as well as given many quilters a community to share a great cause with.

 

With the holidays coming, we wanted to challenge our community even more! We’re hosting our third annual 24-hour sewing event for charity! From Friday, September 16 at 3pm to Saturday, September 17 at 3pm, we’re hosting the One Million Pillowcase 24-Hour Sewathon. We have an event planned at our offices in Des Moines, Iowa. But there are 24 events in 15 states already scheduled! Encourage your local quilt shop to host an event or find a shop in your area here. Many people are hosting their own private events with family and friends, too! Invite your sewing buddies over for some snacks and a few hours of sewing!

 

Want to stay up sewing all night with American Patchwork & Quilting? Mark this date on your calendar and follow us on Facebook! We’ll be posting pictures, videos, pillowcase count updates, and have fun giveaways from our sponsors! Post photos of your own events or pillowcases you’ve made to our Facebook page or hashtag them with #APQSewathon on Instagram and Twitter!

 

To celebrate this fun event, we’re hosting a blog hop! See pillowcases made by our our designer friends and sponsors:

 

Thanks to everyone who has donated over the years and our wonderful sponsors for helping us spread the word about this cause. And we can’t forget to thank the quilt shops across the nation that have collected pillowcases in the community and held pillowcase-making events in their stores. No matter how big or small your donation is it really does make a huge difference in another person’s life!

 

Learn more about the One Million Pillowcase Challenge.

Find a list of suggested charities.

Find shops in your area that collect pillowcases.

Get free patterns.

Add your pillowcases to our count!

Special Sampler Block: Pillowcase Palooza!

August 16, 2016 at 8:08 am , by

Get the free block pattern here.

To most of us a pillowcase may not be a big deal. It’s something we barely notice as we lay down to sleep each night. But for some, they can be a great source of comfort and joy during a time of stress and uncertainty. Whether it’s a piece of home in a sterile hospital room, a little return to normalcy for those in homeless shelters or women’s shelters, or just a reminder that someone else in the world cares, a pillowcase can make a huge difference in your community.

 

We started our One Million Pillowcase Challenge in 2010, and in just a few years quilters and sewers all over the world have donated more than 689,000 pillowcases to those in need! That’s 689,000 smiles and sighs of relief! We’ve heard countless stories of how this Challenge has changed lives in communities across the country, as well as given many quilters a community to share a great cause with. This special block for The Splendid Sampler celebrates those quilters and aims to spread awareness about this cause!

 

Thanks to everyone who has donated pillowcases over the years! No matter how big or small your donation is it really does make a huge difference in another person’s life!

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Want to help? Check out the links and information below!

 

Learn more about the One Million Pillowcase Challenge.

Find a list of suggested charities.

Find shops in your area that collect pillowcases.

Get free patterns.

Add your pillowcases to our count!

50 Block Celebration Tour: The Splendid Sampler

August 3, 2016 at 8:05 am , by

Can you believe we’re halfway done with The Splendid Sampler? We’ve made 50 beautiful blocks! That’s more than five months of learning new techniques, meeting new designers, and sharing our projects with others. And I’m having a blast doing it! Seeing all my blocks laid out together brings me so much happiness (and I have to admit, I’m a little proud, too.) I didn’t think I’d be able to keep up with the schedule, but every time a new block comes out, I read the designer’s story and feel so inspired to start sewing. (We were block 16! Did you make ours? See the block + a special project using it here.)

 

 

We’re doing a giveaway to celebrate reaching the 50th block! Three lucky readers will win a free pattern from our online store APQShop.com. Comment on this blog by August 6 and tell us how many of The Splendid Sampler blocks you’ve finished. Also include “#giveaway” to be eligible to win.

 

*No purchase necessary to enter or win. Subject to Official Rules here. The Splendid Sampler Giveaway begins at 8:00 a.m. C.T. on 08/03/16 and ends at 11:59 p.m. C.T. on 08/05/16. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, 18 years or older. Limit one (1) entry per person using only one (1) email address. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Meredith Corporation.

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Follow Along On the 50 Block Celebration Tour

Aug 3
* Cheryl Arkison 
* Pat Sloan 
* Christa Watson 
* Kim Niedzwiecki 
* Lindsay Mayland (that’s us!)
* Amy Ellis 
* Lynn Harris
* Geta Grama 
* Katja Marek 
* Kari Carr 
* Alyssa Thomas

Aug 4 – Joanna Figueroa is Block 50

Aug 5
* Melissa Corry 
* Joan Ford 
* Kathy Schmitz 
* Michele Foster 
* Sara Lawson 
* Lynette Anderson 
* Jacquelynne Steves

* April Rosenthal

* Laura Flynn 

* Amy Smart

Aug 6
* Charise Randell 
* Celine Perkins 
* Gail Pan
* Sherri McConnell 
* Sarah J Maxwell 
* Jane Davidson 
* Janet Clare 
* Pat Wys 
* Di Mill 
* Jennifer Reynolds 
* Anne Sutton

 

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How do I get involved?

 

We can’t wait to see your blocks! Our editor Lindsay Mayland will be blogging regularly and posting pictures on her Instagram, so make sure you follow her at @lindsmayland and us at @allpeoplequilt to see her progress!

–Lindsay Mayland + American Patchwork & Quilting