Hi Barril: I'm so appreciative of you and your offer to help and getting the other ladies involved. When I posted this I never dreamed I would get "any" offers to help me...I was just hoping for simple patterns...but thanks to you my task sounds like it's going to be a breeze! My Niece said that she has about a dozen men in her unit, and the rest which would be 32 woman. (I think this varies due to death, transfers etc.,) I would say the size could be any where from 36 x 30 to 36x 36 for lap quilts, maybe even put on a couple of those pockets you were speaking about if you don't mind parting with them. Anything you want to make will be a huge help and just so appreciated by myself and I'm sure the receiver. You are a blessing!

Thank you JCrow. I appreciate the kind words and I hope you are right about being on the path to heaven. But I didn't start this for that reason, it's just that I have always had a weak spot for the elderly (you can learn so much from them) and when my niece mentioned that some of the state funded residents didn't have sweathers or warm clothes my heart just broke thinking about how much we take for granted and have, so that's why I gave her those clothes I had for Good Will which lead to thinking about making quilts for them. And of course all you kind people have offered to help me with my endeavor which is a blessing to me. So see it all comes back around to helping each other. Isn't that what it's all about anyway?

I have several blocks done if you would like them. Please pm me and I will send them to you. What size blocks were you thinking about doing?

Also one thing that could be done is long sleeve sweet shirts can be cut down the front in the middle then bind the edge and you have a quick top that will keep them warm. Also they wash very well and wear good to. But remember to make them bigger then there normal size because getting into things can be very hard for the elderly. You might also think about using fleece to make the lap blanket and just finish the edge with a pretty stitch. This also would be nice and warm. If I were you I think it would be nice if you could get a group of ladies together in your area to help with this. Could be alot of fun.

Dear Grandmahoney: You are right about the sweat shirts, I never thought of that. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to see if I can pick up some at the second hand shops etc. You ladies are so full of good ideas!!!! I don't know any ladies that quilt in my area, other than my friend down the road (and I've already got her roped into this, lol) so getting a group together wouldn't work, but it's a good idea if I did. That's why I was so shocked about the response of all the help offered with this project. You ladies and gents are truly awesome!

Hi Linda,
I guess you really didn't have a clue how wonderful the members of the board are. They are awesome.
I saved my flannel, and denim scraps from quilts, as I didn't want to waste. This is a perfect project for them. The men will love them. The pockets are for the back of the quilts to put what they might want in them. I have more scraps for the women too. There were a couple of generous board members that sent me scraps, as I am making a postage stamp quilt, and don't want to use duplicates. I started collecting the pieces about eight months ago, and thought it would take me forever to amass enough.. How wrong could I be. The members have come to the rescue. I can't start the PSQ until I finish a major project, and work on your quilts. I am pysched..

To help make them so it is not so costly to you use Bonnie Hunter's idea and go to the thrift stores and buy cotton clothing & cut it up into squares and look for flannel sheets for the batting. The thrift stores in my area carries a lot of flannel sheets and it is so much cheaper than buying flannel, the color won't matter as it is sandwiched in. Purchase the largest sizes you can find.

I thinkk this is a wonderful idea. Do yopu have a timeline that these would need to be done. I would be willing to make squares for you. Even though I have used a machine for most of my life I still do not measure up to most of you on this board.

Great idea. For those of you interested, Joann's has flannel on sale this week for $2.99/yd. The sale ends today, 9/15.

thanks I'll try this one.