The Blanket Beacon

January 2008 • Issue 1.1

Behind the Seams

National News

Child 1 Welcome to the first Project Linus National Newsletter! We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Project Linus.

Since our inception in 1995, Project Linus has grown beyond our wildest dreams. Why? It's because people are looking for a way to make a difference in the life of a child. How many times have you seen a story in the news, or heard about a child with cancer? Perhaps a family who has come upon hard times, maybe lost a home to a fire? And sadly, maybe you have learned about a child who has been abused or neglected. If you are like us, your heart yearns for a way to do something, anything to help. Project Linus provides that way. Through the donations of new, handmade blankets and afghans, we are able to bring a little comfort, a little warmth and love to a child in need. We can't cure the disease, we can't mend families, and we can't undo the abuse. But we can help, in the way of a warm hug when it is most desperately needed.

Project Linus has donated over two million handmade security blankets to children across the USA. With over 400 chapters, our chapter coordinators are constantly busy collecting and making snuggly blankets of love and seeking out children in their communities who are in need. Children, ages from infants to teens, in hospitals, shelters, treatment centers, and more are being comforted because of the tireless efforts of our organization.

Parents Magazine recently named Project Linus as one of the "10 Children's Charities That Deserve Your Support."

As you glance through our newsletter you will find Project Linus news from our National Headquarters, patterns, coupons, special letters and thank you notes, blanket specifications, chapter ideas as well as ways you can help Project Linus through monetary donations.

Let's keep in touch!

Warm, blanket hugs from Project Linus National HQ

Carol Babbitt
National President

Blanket Coverage

Ideas from our Local Chapters

In order to encourage creativity and excitement while promoting quality blanket making, many of our chapter coordinators host "Blanket Challenges." Pam Braden, our Flushing, Michigan chapter coordinator had a fun idea for a special blanket donation. Pam had a special request for blankets, which would be donated to children afflicted with Glycoprotein Storage Disease (www.mannosidosis.org). After doing some research, Pam discovered that their logo is a penguin. Pam had about 7 months before the blankets were needed for these special children so she approached her chapter blanketeers. They were very receptive to the challenge and they immediately got to work.

In Pam's words, "The gals took it upon themselves to make special blankets, all with a penguin theme! They had such fun searching for patterns and fabric! They were so creative and shared the ideas and supplies with each other and I saw a spark that I hadn't seen before. I received 72 blankets and the results were amazing! When I delivered the finished product to the ISMRD group, they had no idea we focused on the penguins and were so excited and thrilled with our donation. After seeing the excitement and heart our blanketeers put into this project, I'm ready to introduce our next 'Blanket Challenge.'"

Hugs Report

Pattern Ideas and Links

Channer's Checkers is a great pattern for a Project Linus Blanket. It was created specifically for Project Linus by Elzora Channer, a blanketeer from Decatur, IL. Elzora designed this simple, interactive checkerboard quilt complete with pockets and checkers.

This 42" x 60" quilt is entirely made up of 3-1/2" strips.The quilt is created using two basic contrasting colors with a 3rd tone on tone fabric for the border around the checkerboard. There is very little waste with the scraps being used to make the pockets. Channer's Checkers can be easily made by a quilting beginner.

If you would like to make a Channer's Checkers Quilt for a Project Linus blanket recipient, please go to our website and click on "Patterns and Links," located on the "Just For Fun" menu.

News You Can Use

Product Review

Skip Stitch sample picture You'll love this unique new way to finish the edge of a fleece blanket. A Skip Stitch Blade is a simple and unique tool that is designed to perforate fleece or fabric in preparation for over-edge finishing of the edge of a blanket. By replacing your 45mm rotary cutter blade with a Skip Stitch Blade, you can finish your Project Linus blanket quickly and easily by simply crocheting around the edge, using the perforations as your guide.

Skip Stitch Blades come in 3 sizes and may be purchased from Project Linus National Headquarters or you can contact your chapter coordinator to order.

Skip Stitch logo #2 SPECIAL Small: $13.00 Special Smaller Size - shorter cutting teeth, closer spaces

#1 ORIGINAL: $10.00 Original Size - 1/8" cutting teeth with about 1/4" spaces

#3 SPECIAL Large: $10.00 - fewer cutting teeth, longer spaces

Soon you will be able to order Skip Stitch Blades directly from our website. For now, please send your check to:

Project Linus National Headquarters
PO Box 5621
Bloomington, IL 61702-5621

Be sure to indicate which blades you are purchasing, and your name, address, city, state, zip and phone number.

Hugs in a Blanket

Project Linus Sponsors

Project Linus would like to offer a huge hug of thanks to The Warm Company for their generous donation of a wide assortment of quality batting to our Project Linus Chapters across the country. It can be quite expensive to purchase the supplies needed to make a handmade blanket and our blanketeers are very grateful for their support.

The Warm Company is dedicated to providing innovative quality products for the quilting, crafting, and sewing industry. Some of their products include "Warm and Natural," "Warm and White," "Warm Blend," "Soft and Bright" as well as their "Steam a Seam" fusible webbing. Project Linus chapters feel very privileged to be the recipients of such a generous donation.

Layers of Love

How You Can Help Project Linus

If you would like to help Project Linus fulfill their mission to bring comfort and security to seriously ill and traumatized children through blankets, with the gift of a tax deductible monetary donation please go to our website (www.projectlinus.org) to make an online donation. Donations can be made in honor of a friend or family member, in memory of a loved one or even as a birthday, Christmas or holiday gift to your friends and neighbors. When you make the donation, we will gladly send an acknowledgement to the individual or family member honored.

Project Linus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are generally tax deductible. Contact your tax professional for more information.

Love Notes

The following are letters and emails that we received from the families and friends of blanket recipients. This is a tissue alert - don't forget to get out your Kleenex®!

As a parent of children who have received blankets from Project Linus, I can tell you how much they mean to the children who receive them. When my boys Luke and Logan were born, Logan had to go into the NICU for five days. Five days may not seem long, but to a brand new mother they were forever- especially since Luke could not enter the NICU where Logan was.

How thrilled I was when we were given two blankets- one for each baby. We took Logan's to the hospital to keep in his bed, and Luke's home to go in the crib he and Logan would share as soon as Logan was well enough to come home. The person who made and donated those blankets had no idea the inspiration she was following as she quilted those blankets- she didn't know when she chose the fabric for the front, that it was the same fabric print that my own baby blanket had been made from twenty-five years earlier. She didn't know as she made them the same on the front and different on the back that those blankets would go to twin boys who had a mother who wanted things to coordinate, not match. She also didn't know as she chose the white for the back of one and blue for the back of the other that those were the colors of the newborn hats each baby wore in the hospital (and the way we could tell who was who!)

Child 2 Just as you don't know who your blanket will go to, I can guarantee you that the Lord guides us when we serve. I know that the blankets that you make, the fabric you choose and the colors you use will go to the child the Lord knows will need it.These children may be in a situation like that of Luke and Logan- perhaps they've had to stay in the hospital for a few days, or perhaps their brother or sister or mom or dad are in the hospital, and the child is scared and needs some comfort. How wonderful it is to see the smile that creeps across their faces as they realize they're getting a present- a soft, cuddly blanket they can keep forever. Perhaps the child will be undergoing chemotherapy and will take the blanket with them to each of their visits. Perhaps the child's parent will be sent to serve our country for an extended period of time, and the blanket will be the hug that child needs. Or maybe the child will lose a family member, and will cling to that blanket as Logan does to the one he received when Luke passed away when they were 2 1/2 years old.

You never know the people you are touching because of your service- not just the child who receives the blanket, but also the parent or grandparent who can feel that for one instant or two they can take the pain or fear or hurt away from their sweet child by wrapping them in that soft, beautiful blanket- the one YOU made for them. I know the Lord will bless you for your service, and as a parent- I thank you for that service. Keep up the fabulous work!

My daughter was admitted to the hospital this weekend. When she arrived to her room she had the cutest quilt waiting for her on her hospital bed. Even though she's almost 11 years old she slept with that quilt the entire time she was there and now it's on her bed at home. I wanted to take the time to say thank you and that it made her experience a more pleasant one. Once again thank you and God bless!

I want to thank Project Linus so much for my baby's blanket. Jacob was born at 32 weeks, weighing just over three pounds. He was immediately whisked away to the NICU. For 21 days, we watched our tiny little guy fight and thrive until he was finally ready to come home.

A beautiful Project Linus blanket was draped over his isolette the entire time he was in the NICU, and I was able to bring it home with us for Jacob. Now, the blanket is a part of Jake's everyday life. I am able to look at my beautiful, healthy 6-month-old baby now and not see all those tubes and gadgets he was once hooked to. His blanket is his playmat and he loves rolling around on it and petting the patterns.To have something so beautiful, handmade and special is priceless to me, and it will be one of those things I pass down to Jacob's children one day and tell them the special story of their daddy.

So from our family and my sweet little guy, thank you so very much for the comfort this blanket brought us at such a difficult and frightening time. I want to thank each of you for your service of making blankets for Project Linus.

My name is Christine and I am 17 years old. I was in a coma from a drug overdose on my 17th birthday and the doctors told my parents I might die because I am extremely anorexic and my weight was at 83 when I went into a coma. The nurses gave me this blanket that somebody from your company made for me and I absolutely love it! It represents a time in my life that God helped me get through and survive. I appreciate it so much and it gave me so much comfort in the hospital. Thank you! I believe your company is amazing and a blessing.The hospital even let me take it home. It gives me great comfort and reminds me of what I went through. God bless.

Our 12-year-old son was just released from the hospital yesterday. He had been admitted with a traumatic brain injury about 2 weeks ago. While in the ICU he received a blanket from your organization. He thought someone had given him a blanket that belonged to someone else. He was so very surprised to learn that the blanket was given to him TO KEEP! He used it constantly during his 2 week stay at the hospital. Thank you so much for your love and concern for the children. Tim will have this blanket for a long time and will always remember it was given with love and concern by STRANGERS, wishing him the best. Thank you!

My daughter of 6 years old was briefly in the hospital and I just want to thank you for the blanket. My daughter was very sick. She held onto the blanket for dear life and she found great comfort in the blanket. I am so glad you have this program. Thank you for making the blanket - it is so beautiful.

Blanket Statements

Blanket Specifications for our Handmade Hugs

Project Linus donates blankets to children, infants through teens. Many sizes are appropriate depending on the local chapter needs. Blankets can be as small as 36" x 36" but the majority of Project Linus blankets are about 40" x 60", or what is called "crib size." Many chapters accept blankets as large as twin size for teens. Local chapters may have certain preferences depending on the facilities to which they donate. Please contact your local chapter before you start, just to make sure that you will be making what they can use.

Project Linus Mission Statement

Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization with a two-fold mission

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."
Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Special fleece packages are available for Project Linus volunteers from The Fleece Lady. When you visit fleecelady.com and identify yourself as a Project Linus blanketeer you will be eligible for 10% off your online purchase. The Fleece Lady has deals on remnant packages (less than 1 yard) as well as specials on 2-yard (or larger) cuts of quality fleece fabric just for Project Linus volunteers. The Fleece Lady not only offers quality fleece for sale, but her online service is excellent.

If you're a Project Linus volunteer, visit The Fleece Lady's website to purchase fleece for your Project Linus blankets. Enter coupon code LINUS at checkout; then press the recalculate button to apply your 10% Project Linus discount.

Project Linus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are generally tax deductible.
Contact your tax professional for more information.