Education authorities have been given details of A Gift of Quilts and asked to circulate information about the project to all their schools and colleges. The project team are also working with Young Quilters (YQ) throughout the UK through the Quilters Guild YQ Representatives in each of the Guilds 17 regions. All individuals and schools, colleges and groups with a membership age under 19 can receive free fabric from A Gift of Quilts to use in the making of their quilts. The packs contain 2 x 1 yard lengths of fabric plus a spool of matching thread in assorted colours. If you are interested in having some of these packs for your quilts please use the website link on the contacts page giving an idea of the colour-ways you require and a member of the project team will contact you.
A Gift of Quilts actively encourages all schools, colleges, groups and individuals to register with the Get Set programme. Get Set is the official London 2012 education programme for schools, college and local authority education providers across the UK. See our Links page.
The Get Set website, www.getset.london2012.com lists ,a huge range of opportunities and resources targeted at 3-19 year olds with a range of interactive learning resources designed to get young people thinking about the Olympic and Paralympic Values and the London 2012 Games.
A Gift of Quilts encourages young people to register with the Get Set programme to recieve access to resources and opportunities, a monthly newsletter and a chance to join the offers with Get Set network and for their school, college or group to be rewarded and recognised for their work.
The Quilters’ Guild offers several bursaries including two bursary awards for textile students which give the winning graduate(s) an opportunity to continue and develop their studies. By promoting the YQ’s organisation with schools and colleges this gives them and their students access to additional materials and links to promote their work at all ages.
Quilting and the National Curriculum
The designing, choosing fabrics and making of a quilt encompasses many parts of the National Curriculum for Textiles. For example in Key Stage 3 pupils have to develop an understanding of the properties of materials and how to apply this understanding when designing with textiles.
To support teachers in schools The Quilters’ Guild has produced three booklets Key Stages 1 & 2, Making a Quilt in the Classroom, Key Stage 3 Textiles and GCSE Textiles plus an additional information pack for Duke of Edinburgh Award Students.
Should you, your school, college or group need help with designing, making and/or completing your quilt A Gift of Quilt can offer help and advice and also put you in touch with an advisor in your local area.
A Gift of Quilts is part of the Quilters' Guild of the British Isles "Quilting in the Olympic Spirit". " Many of us might not be sports people and, although excited that the Olympics are coming to United Kingdom in 2012, we may feel that this is just for sporty people. Well, sports are not the only things that will be going on. There will also be the "Cultural Olympics" – events involving arts, and crafts. As quilters or craft people, this is your opportunity to join in and feel part of the spirit of the Olympics." (QGBI www.quiltersguild.org/other services for members)
The Guild says "Not only would we like you to make the projects, but we would also like you to spread the word about these projects to others. Maybe you have involvement with schools, youth groups, social groups or whoever. Please tell them about the projects, as they too might want to be involved. Maybe you do not want to do this on your own – well get together with your friends or group and make it a team project – a chance to socialise."
The Quilters' Guild is working closely with A Gift of Quilts and Quilts4London(Pennants) to achieve recognition as an official olympic project.
Not sure what design to use? The quilts can be traditional, art or sports themed. There are many sites on the internet that give free quilt patterns, if you type into any search engine “patchwork quilt designs”, you will find a myriad of them giving you access to not only free designs but full making instructions. Your local library will carry a stock of Patchwork & Quilting books, look at these, choose one that you feel explains how to make a quilt in terms that you can understand and follow.
For those makers who only view the A Gift of Quilts site at a relative or friends house or a commercial site if you contact us by telephone or post we can help you choose a design that fits in with the idea that you have in mind. The team can then help you through the various stages of making and finishing the quilt or put you in touch with a “buddy” who can help you.
Many of you will have fabric in your stash boxes but some of you will want to buy for this unique project. The web can give you many outlets if you are not familiar with fabric shops in your area or the team can give you a list of suppliers in your area.
It would be fun to try to be as “green” as possible and use re-cycled fabrics along with your new ones, quilters have been recycling for centuries – think scrap quilts, denim jeans make great quilts for example or make a scrap memory quilt from favourite clothing. Try to make use of what you have and do not buy, recycle or use the odds and ends of fabric you have in your stash.
You can also embellish your quilts - that orphaned button or piece of lace you couldn’t throw away may find a place on your quilt.
If you are using dyes in your quilt use eco-friendly dyes and dye techniques
Use eco-friendly batting – your supplier can advise on this Sew and quilt in the sunlight and quilt and sew by hand instead of using a sewing machine.
If you would like to join a group to make a quilt, the team can put you in touch with other people in your area, either those who have registered with the project or using the network of Regional Co-ordinators of the Quilters Guild who will put you in touch with people or a group in your area.
If you would like to form a group to make a quilt, talk to friends who may also be interested in joining in with you. Put a poster up in the local shop, library or notice board explaining why you want to form a group and arranging a meeting place and time. You may have a local Women’s Institute or Ladies Circle or an art group, canvas these groups and see if they have any members interested. Try to get an article in the local paper or on the local radio station You may start with only a few but spreading the word you may get more people interested.
Education authorities have been given details of A Gift of Quilts and asked to circulate information about the project to all their schools and colleges. The project team are also working with Young Quilters (YQ) throughout the UK through the Quilters Guild YQ Representatives in each of the Guilds 17 regions. All individuals and schools, colleges and groups with a membership age under 19 can receive free fabric from A Gift of Quilts to use in the making of their quilts. The packs contain 2 x 1 yard lengths of fabric plus a spool of matching thread in assorted colours. If you are interested in having some of these packs for your quilts please use the website link on the contacts page giving an idea of the colour-ways you require and a member of the project team will contact you.
Not sure what design to use? The quilts can be traditional, art or sports themed. There are many sites on the internet that give free quilt patterns, if you type into any search engine “patchwork quilt designs”, you will find a myriad of them giving you access to not only free designs but full making instructions. Your local library will carry a stock of Patchwork & Quilting books, look at these, choose one that you feel explains how to make a quilt in terms that you can understand and follow.
Many of you will have fabric in your stash boxes but some of you will want to buy for this unique project. The web can give you many outlets if you are not familiar with fabric shops in your area or the team can give you a list of suppliers in your area.
If you would like to join a group to make a quilt, the team can put you in touch with other people in your area, either those who have registered with the project or using the network of Regional Co-ordinators of the Quilters Guild who will put you in touch with people or a group in your area.
