Quilt Requirements
Please confirm child allocation prior to making the quilt. We ardently encourage you to personalize your quilt for the receiving child. Quilts made for these children will be used every day. These quilts will be used by children living in Africa, which is hot and can be dusty. Please bear this in mind when choosing fabric, patterns, embellishments and finishing techniques. The guidelines presented here were established accordingly to ensure that the finished product will be appropriate:
| 1. Fabric (and all embellishments on the quilts) should be washable. We STRONGLY suggest 100% cotton good quality quilting fabric. Please do not use recycled fabrics. |
| 2. Use your favorite patchwork or appliqué pattern, or use pre-printed panels or fabric. If using markers or fabric paints, make sure they are indelible and non-toxic. Do not use "puff" paint; it can be picked off and swallowed. |
| 3. Use at least a 1/4 inch seam allowance for all piecing. If using appliqué, stitch the pieces down by hand or machine. Heat bonded fabric will come off the face of the quilt unless it is stitched. |
| 4. Carefully check for pins and loose threads. All pieces should be sewn down. |
| 5. Quilts should be machine or hand quilted (not tied). |
| 6. Quilt stitch spacing should meet the batting manufacturer’s recommended distances to ensure that the quilt will survive multiple washings. |
| 7. The quilts should be twin bed size (approximately 70” x 90” finished size) |
| 8. Sew a label onto the quilt with quilter’s name, home town, year made and quilt title. |
| 9. Provide a statement explaining the concept of your quilt and a blessing, story or message that is inspiring and uplifting for the receiving child. |
| 10. Make sure that the quilt is clean. |
The most important thing to keep in mind is that a New Hope Quilt is washed frequently and used by children and teenagers.
Please be aware that in African culture there are certain themes that are taboo. Please DO NOT choose fabrics or patterns with any of the following themes or images:
What NONE of the recipients want are fabrics which are inappropriate, or quilts which are c |
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arelessly put together. Should your quilt theme or fabric be inappropriate we will sadly have to return your quilt to you. This would be heart-breaking both for us and, you. PLEASE be vigilant as many of our cute American kids fabrics may have these images, and it is easy to not realize that they will not work in a different culture.