Luv Quilts and Cats

I worked on a raffle quilt for an embroidery guild I once belonged to. We made a blue work quilt, everyone took blocks that had designs traced on them (New England theme) and used blue embroidery thread. A quilter in the group sewed the blocks together, put borders on it, made the quilt sandwich. I can't remember if we tied it or she machine quilted it, but it came out beautifully. My friend one the quilt in the raffle. It starter her and I out on our journey to learn how to quilt. I thought it was nice that everyone in the gourp could pitch in if them wanted to. We all had a lot of fun!

doxieloverred

Thank you all for the great ideas! Quilting Memaw, the quilt is beautiful! I think I may ask my mom amd sister to help. Since my mom taught us to sew, our styles and techniques are quite similar, which would make the blocks much easier to set. Between all 3 of our stashes we should have enough fabric for the blocks and sashing and possibly even backing. Perhaps one of our local quilt shops would give me a break on quilting it or I could rent the long arm for an afternoon.
Unfortunately, it looks as though they may lose their house now, just as they reach retirement age. I'm going to talk to one of the daughters to find out the best way to approach them as they are private people. They have taken in so many young people as foster kids over the years (and turned lives arund) that I feel as though they have gotten a raw deal in life. Wonderful, wonderful people! I am so sad for them.....

Pam

A word to the wise, raffle quilts DO NOT have to be hand quilted. Most purchase the ticket to help with "the cause" and really are just happy to win. If you have the quilting done with a long arm, that frees you up to piece a top that you like.

susie0808

2 yrs ago my daughter was in a fashion show for her high school. I was asked if I could make a quilt and donate it for a raffle. I said sure. It came out really nice... school colors and all. Only 5 tickets were in the can. I was disappointed.The PTA asked me again for this year. I said no.Don't have the time. I have the time. But don't want to waste it on 25 dollars worth of tickets! Especially since it cost more than that in fabric alone. I quilted it too! Am I wrong? I know it's about volunteering and helping out but still. :cry:

PurpleBecca

Oh! This post struck a chord with me! I have just finished my part in completing a quilt to donate to a local hospice for a raffle!! NEVER AGAIN!!

My dear friend has worked like a DOG to get it done and has had minimal help from the rest of the group involved. Blocks came in all sizes and shapes! She set a colour scheme and on the whole the blocks came in ok (colourwise)

HOWEVER - she had very few blocks donated - relatively and only three or four people turned up on the sewing days we had to compelte it.

Someone suggested we did 'quilt as you go' and the construction was a pain! It would have been easier to sew it together and machine quilt it in one go!

I wonder if it isn't easier and faster to make a quilt by yourself! Of course - my recent experience is influencing me here!!!

That's my opinion!!

Of course like all our children - it is beautiful now its finished!!!!!

Prism99

You are not wrong. I would not make another raffle quilt unless I could oversee the sale of the raffle tickets for it. Too many people do not understand the value of the donation and/or are not good with sales. In your case, the benefit to the charity would have been the same if you had donated $25 cash instead of all your fabrics and time.

Also, I think it makes a lot more sense to sell raffle tickets at $1 each, 6 for $5 and 12 for $10.

doxieloverred

I am so happy you guys took time out to tell me the pitfalls and pleasures of a raffle quilt. Maybe I can avoid wasting some time and effort. THANK YOU!!!! After consulting my mom and sister we decided to split the work amongst the 3 of us as we all know the family. With so many people working it's really hard to plan to get a group of people together to help these days. There are also so many places competing for their time. Mom is retired, sis works full time with a fairly decent commute, and I work part-time so I'm hoping it will go fairly quickly once we get our act together. :) It will be a fairly simple pattern and we shouldn't have to buy much.
Susie, I know what it's like to work so hard on something and not have it appreciated for the work of art that it is, the effort, the fact that it's handmade, and the love that goes into it. I quit donating handmade items to our loal animal shelter silent auction for that very reason. It was too hard watching handmade stuff made by me and others go for a pittance. I do still donate items to dachshund rescue groups for them to sell to raise money for animal care. One year the cute coats I made were all sold before they hit the booth table! LOL I also was going to make pjs for all the young great nieces and nephews this year but decided the parents wouldn't appreciate it so I'm not wasting valuable time on them.
Thank you all for the advice and the time you took out of your busy day. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. Karen

quilting memaw

Your Welcome! :-D