Jennifer's Blog

Sew a Block for Charity and Earn a QUILTER’S HOLIDAY Pin

For the Elm Creek Quilters, the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the quilting season, a time to gather at Elm Creek Manor and spend the day stitching holiday gifts for loved ones. This year, in keeping with the season’s spirit of gratitude, Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson Cooper is eager to revive a cherished family tradition. A recent remodeling of the manor’s kitchen unearthed a cornucopia that once served as the centerpiece of the Bergstrom family’s holiday table. Into it, each Bergstrom would place an object that symbolized something he or she was especially thankful for that year. On this quilter’s holiday, Sylvia has invited her friends to continue the tradition by sewing quilt blocks that represent their thankfulness and gratitude.

In celebration of the publication of Jennifer Chiaverini's new novel, A Quilter's Holiday, Elm Creek Quilts fans are invited to piece a block for charity quilts, choosing a pattern symbolic of their own gratitude. Have you recently welcomed a new addition to the family? Perhaps a Mother’s Delight block suits your feelings best. Has a caring friend offered you comfort and encouragement during difficult times? The Best Friend block may be your choice.

Please sew a 12" finished size block (12.5" unfinished including a .25" seam allowance) using autumnal hues for the focus fabrics, with cream, off-white, or light beige as a background color. Please include an artist’s statement with your name, the name of your block, and a few sentences explaining what the block means to you. Some blocks and artist’s statements may be posted on the Elm Creek Quilts website.

All blocks meeting the guidelines will be sewn into samplers to be donated to charity. If you would like to nominate a favorite charity, please include information about the group with your package.

Mail blocks and artist’s statements to Elm Creek Quilts, PO Box 620824, Middleton WI 53562. Entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2009. As a thank you gift, each participant will receive one limited edition A Quilter's Holiday pin while supplies last.

“We must never become too busy to help those in need.” —Gretchen Hartley, A Quilter’s Holiday

UPDATE: To see some of the beautiful blocks that have already arrived, please click here.