Siblings Together 2013

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After the rip roaring success of our campaign to donate quilts to kids separated by the care system from their siblings, I am launching the 2013 campaign a little earlier on in the year.  For those of you who missed it last year, Siblings Together is a charity which organises summer camps as well as weekend activities aimed at bringing together groups of siblings who have been separated by the care system.  Here is the post that kicked it all off last year.
Somewhere around 70-80 quilts were donated last year.  Delma took them to the summer camp.  As the week went on, the care workers looked at the quilts and made decisions as to which quilt suited which kid or kids.  The quilts were given out at the end of the camps and - this is the bit that broke my heart - it took a lot of persuading to persuade those kids that the quilts were theirs to keep.

Quilts for Siblings Together 

<div align="center"><a href="http://lilysquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/giving-something-back.html" title="Quilts for Siblings Together"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7027272437_fd3a6646c1_o.jpg" alt="Quilts for Siblings Together" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And so we're starting again.  A whole new pile of quilts.  A whole new batch of kids.  I've already bought these gorgeous prints from Annie at Village Haberdashery when I went down to London for the launch weekend of her bricks and mortar shop.


I'm thinking of a pair of quilts, maybe even three - so a set of siblings could have matching quilts.  I'm going to mix the prints with a whole load of solids and do a dead simple square within a square style quilt.  Kind of an I-spy quilt.  I've designed it to be nice and simple to make.  And I've planned it so it only needs 4yds of backing fabric.  So I'm going to be stalking the Fat Quarter Shop sales for dead cheap backing yardage that suits the fabrics I already have.


Would you join me? Would you get involved? I have created a Flickr group where we can see what we can come up with. Please leave comments on this post letting me know if you would like to get involved in any way at all and hop on over to the Flickr group, join up and see what we can do.


How can you get involved?  Donate a quilt you've made which hasn't been used and which you think a kid might love.  Make a quilt to donate.  Make a pair or a trio of quilts to donate.  Get a group of quilters together to make blocks for a quilt or quilts.  Offer some of your stash for someone else to make a quilt.  Offer your quilting services.  If you're a shop, maybe offer to provide the backing for one or two quilts.  Spread the word, grab the button and share it on your blog.  And head on over to the Flickr group where all the information awaits you from last year's quilt drive.  And thank you!

Comments

  1. dutchcomfort17 January 2013 at 16:31

    I will definitely join Lynne!! I think it‘s agreat idea to start earlier this year!

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  2. memmens17 January 2013 at 16:33

    So delighted to get involved in this again, I bought some fabric in the sales just right for a teenage boy. Might have to put off starting in as we have building works about to commence, but will have time before the summer.

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  3. Anna17 January 2013 at 16:40

    I've been working on mine today! Also ordered the backing from FQS sale section and ordered some batting so can work on it from start to finish! Thanks for organising this again.

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  4. Annabella17 January 2013 at 17:10

    I definitely have one quilt for you from the Care Circle of do.Good Stitches. Is it the same time frame as last year...roughly?

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  5. www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com17 January 2013 at 17:15

    I'll join this year. When are they due?

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  6. the running hare17 January 2013 at 17:16

    Hi Lynne,
    I have a quilt made and ready to go.I made it from a jelly roll given out at FQ Retreat 2012 for the iron man competition. I just need to know where to send it. I also have not labeled it yet.I'd love to make another one as well but have no sewing space at the moment, but hope to be up and running again ( and the quilt finished )before FQ Retreat 2013

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  7. heart of charnwood17 January 2013 at 17:19

    This is already on my list for next month, I have been collecting some fabrics and will be ready to go after a couple more things get finished, so put me down for at least 1 quilt. : ). Ange

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  8. Caryn17 January 2013 at 17:23

    What a wonderful program! I wish there was something similar in the US. Four of my six kiddos were adopted from foster care in the US. Between them they have 12 siblings that I know of living elsewhere. My nine year old daughter, in particular, longs to meet her five siblings. Even if/when they meet later, it won't be the same as it would have been if they knew each other as kids. The loss of those relationships feels tragic to me.

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  9. Dianne Neale17 January 2013 at 17:33

    I will have a go this year. I just had a layer cake in the post today which will do nicely!

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  10. Rachel17 January 2013 at 17:36

    Lynne, I can't commit to making a whole quilt but I have a jelly roll that I won at retreat last year and would be very happy to make into a top if someone else could finish it off?
    Rachel x

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  11. Leanne17 January 2013 at 18:12

    I'm in. If there is a group project I can send blocks for sure. I will think through the idea of bringing a quilt in my suitcase too, maybe then will have room to bring back shopping?

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  12. Sigrun17 January 2013 at 18:17

    Hi Lynne, I won't be able to make a whole quilt either. But if there would be someone to assemble blocks to quilts again like last year - then I'll be in with a few blocks. Please let me know, if this is working for you.
    Sigrun

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  13. Catherine17 January 2013 at 18:24

    I have already started mine wih a jelly roll that I won at the retreat. Spooky as I blogged about it yesterday!

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  14. Mrs Flying Blind...17 January 2013 at 20:00

    Of course I am 'in'; what's this year's deadline; pre-FQR?

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  15. Catherine17 January 2013 at 20:15

    Me too. It's such a great incentive to get stuck in.

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  16. Trudi17 January 2013 at 20:35

    I have one almost pieced and several on the go just for this! You know I'm IN!

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  17. Canadian Abroad17 January 2013 at 21:06

    I'm in again. Shall have to see what I have in the stash that I have enough of.

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  18. Katy Cameron17 January 2013 at 21:14

    Oh bother, I gave the 2 I'd originally thought of to other recent drives, so I'll have a thunk...

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  19. Jo Jo17 January 2013 at 21:38

    Oh, I'm definitely in! So pleased you're starting early too - yay :)

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  20. Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts17 January 2013 at 21:48

    I'm pretty swamped with my quilt appeal at the moment, but once it calms down I will definitely send one!

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  21. Judith, Belfast17 January 2013 at 23:35

    Brilliant! Bee Blessed will happily donate another quilt or two! Jxo

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  22. Elisabeth18 January 2013 at 07:44

    I wasn't able to join in last year but would love to this year. I have some great boy fabrics with tractors and lorries that I would be happy to use to make a quilt or two.

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  23. A18 January 2013 at 08:55

    I would like to donate my jelly roll race quilt from FQ retreat - I didn't have it finished in time last year but it's all done and ready to go (just no label). I don't have time to make another but am trying to de-stash and would be happy to donate some fabric to someone (or a few people) who would like to make a quilt too.

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  24. Yvonne@Nellie's Niceties18 January 2013 at 10:33

    Hi Lynne
    I'd love to contribute. Maybe I can make whole quilt this time as there is more time. And I'm sure I've got fabric to donate for a couple of other quilts. Thank you for setting up the opportunity to do something for these kids. :)

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  25. Unknown18 January 2013 at 12:37

    I made a couple of quilts last year and co-ordinated a group quilt, we had enough blocks to make two quilts which was great.
    I'd love to be invloved again and have some fabric in mind from my stash.

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  26. Francis Paul18 January 2013 at 14:43

    I would love to make blocks like last year. I will keep an eye on the Flickr group te see if 'blocks-only' are okay too :-)

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  27. Archie The Wonder Dog18 January 2013 at 18:41

    I'm afraid there's no way I'm going to be able to make a whole quilt in time but I might be able to contribute some blocks if there's a collection...or I could donate some money to help towards the cost of wadding/backing/thread, etc? I'll keep an eye on the Flickr group...
    P.S. Thanks for organising this again, you're a wee treasure!

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  28. Anna19 January 2013 at 11:35

    I would love to donate a quilt. When do you need them by?

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  29. Snoozie19 January 2013 at 13:43

    I have bought some material for this already and will certainly have a top to donate and maybe a whole quilt if I get super organised. I will pop over the the flickr group now.

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  30. Pippa Parsons19 January 2013 at 16:44

    I'll be bringing at least one to FQR

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  31. Mini MNM's19 January 2013 at 18:18

    My mom has a long arm quilter and I can quilt two quilts that need to be done! Just email me and let me know how I can help. (I don't want to promise more than the 2 and not have time to finish them)

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  32. Nicky20 January 2013 at 09:20

    Count me in too! Happy to make a quilt or two!

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  33. bellsjo20 January 2013 at 14:41

    Yep - I am in again! Glad we are starting early as well. Is there any chance of getting to know a little about the children who will be going, to help plan quilts? I am thinking especially if there is say a group of three, four or more siblings. If we wanted to do similar or matching quilts we would need some advanced warning. I know we cannot get lots of details, but even along the lines of '4 siblings - 3 boys, 1 girl between the ages of 7 and 13' would help. Then maybe we could organise a couple of us to make quilts for that group of siblings, so we could coordinate fabrics and colours. It's just an idea - it might be too complicated/too confidential to do of course.

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  34. rolleiflex22 January 2013 at 10:49

    Still can't sew, but can still blub.

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  35. Sarah23 January 2013 at 14:30

    Will definitely join in again this year :-)

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  36. Lisa23 January 2013 at 20:43

    Hi Lynne,

    Looking forward to joining in with this lovely idea. Missed last years but I'm raring to go. As I mentioned any help of donation with fabric would help me with the pennies. I have some fabric I could maybe match up and solids too and I have a great quilt cover I can use for backing and can certainly stretch to the batting.

    Look forward to hearing more and getting involved.

    Lisa x

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  37. Lizzie Allen27 January 2013 at 11:53

    Don't have the time but do have plenty of fabric, so have donated 2 fq bundles. Luckily, Lisa and Nicky have snatched them up!
    Will be cheering on the ladies from the sidelines!

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  38. Collette29 January 2013 at 10:43

    I am so humbled to be involved this year through Bee a Brit Stingy quilting bee really looking forward to making a few blocks and contributing in anyway I can. Yes totally heart breaking indeed :(

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  39. Elaine8 February 2013 at 09:37

    Oh, I'd love to try and participate this year-- when are the quilts due?

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