Posted by Shari on April 15th, 2024
NICU Baby Quilt Challenge 2024!
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| We have exciting news! We are starting a new challenge to help little ones and their families by giving them the comfort of a quilt. |
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| Fabrics pictured above are Honeybloom by Moda. |
| Quilts are such an amazing creation of love that are so much more than just pieces of fabric sewn together. Let's share that love with babies fighting to become strong enough to go home. |
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| We are partnering with Salem Hospital's NICU in Salem, Oregon, to send them beautiful baby quilts. NICU stand for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Babies are there in case of an unplanned complication or premature birth as early as 26 weeks gestation. |
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| Last year, Salem Hospital's NICU gave out approximately 1,500 quilts to babies while in their care. Our goal is to donate 500 baby quilts during our two month NICU Baby Quilt Challenge. Will you help us achieve that goal? |
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| Quilts can be as simple or complex as you want, so it's open for every level of quilter to take part! Who doesn't like another reason to play with beautiful fabric? And this is a stash buster for a good cause! |
| There is no set size, but the suggestion is 30" x 36". Please do NOT use flannel as it tends to catch on stitches and these babies don't need any more discomfort. NICU also asks for donations to NOT be laundered with fabric softner or anything scented. They will be sanitizing all donations, so it's better to not wash at all than with anything potentially harmful. Soothing fabric prints and colors have been suggested to keep stimulation at a minimum. |
| Below are a few quick and easy pattern ideas: |
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| Moda Love Quilt comes in 3 different sizes; Mini Charm, Charm, and Layer Cake. The Charm pattern is perfect at 32" x 32". Use 5" Charm Packs or cut your own from yardage and/or scraps. Moda Love Quilt Pattern is available HERE. |
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| Jane's Ladder Quilt can be easily modified for a smaller quilt by decreasing the number of blocks used. The design is quick to stitch and the blocks are darling. Jane's Ladder Quilt Pattern is availabe HERE. |
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| I recently become obsessed with large Log Cabin Blocks. Mine are 12 1/2" unfinished. These work up quickly and are fun for randomly coordinating fabric prints and colors. I only need nine of these blocks for a NICU Baby Quilt. Accurate trimming is a breeze to create neat looking blocks using the Creative Grids Log Cabin Trim Tool. |
| Sew....let's get quilting! With all our Challenges, we have PRIZES! The more quilts you send or bring in, the higher your chance of winning one of the Bear Creek Quilting Company's Online Gift Certificates! |
| Finished quilt should be shipped to us for organizing and distribution. You can donate directly to the Salem Hospital NICU or check your local hospital for a similar program. At this time, only quilts shipped to us for distribution will be eligible for our NICU Baby Quilt Challenge Prize. |
NICU Baby Quilt Challenge 2024 Details:
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 and the BCQC Team |