Project Linus

PROJECT LINUS BLANKETS

for Katy Stake Service Project, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011

We request that 1) you make blankets which will be distributed to children in local hospitals 2) your ward Relief Society provide 10 blankets and your Young Women’s provide 10 blankets and 3) the blankets be delivered to the Katy Stake Center on Saturday morning, Oct. 15 2011.

Questions? Sister Kim Higbee - KimHigbee@gmail.com or 281–599–8872, extension 224

The blankets can be quilted, sewn, crocheted, knitted, or fleece.  They can be any size from a 25 X 25 (for a preemie) to a 40 X 60 (for a teenager) and any size in between.  They can be made by any pattern and can be any color.  They just have to be washable.  Two patterns are suggested below, but feel free to use your own. For more patterns see www.projectlinus.org     Please assist Project Linus, which, as a non-profit organization, has so far delivered almost 4 million blankets to hospitals!

Checklist for Blankets

1.         Selvage should be cut off and the top and bottom edges trimmed before working on the blanket.

2.         Fringe should be cut with sharp scissors and be uniformly cut in width and length.  Tie each fringe with a soft slipknot.

3.         Blankets should be free of pet hair and the smell of smoke, perfumed soap and fabric softeners.

4.         Hold up each completed blanket.  If each side is nice and straight, then you have done a great job.  If the sides look like a fitted sheet, then it needs to be redone.  The knots are probably tied too tight.

***Thank you for taking time to check over your blankets before they are delivered.  This will enable us to process them much faster.

Preemie Blanket

 Directions:

1.         Cut 2 (25" X 25") squares - one out of flannel and the other out of cotton or cotton/blend fabric.  This can be baby fabric, solids, stripes, hearts, etc.  Be sure to wash your fabric before it is cut out.

2.         Put the squares with right sides together.

3.         Sew all around the square, leaving a hole.  The seam should be at least ½ inches.

4.         Turn right side out, smoothing out the corners.

5.         Tuck in the edges where the hole is and top stitch around the edge, making sure you have closed up the hole.

We never have enough "boy" blankets.  Please consider making a boy blanket for every girl blanket you make or a blanket that can be used by a boy or a girl.

Blankets that smell of smoke or strong chemicals (including perfumed soap or fabric softeners), or have pet hair on them are not acceptable as they may produce severe allergic reaction in the children.

FRINGED FLEECE BLANKET

Supplies:     1 ½ yd. fleece      SHARP scissors      Masking tape

Directions:

1.         Carefully cut off the 2 selvage edges and trim top and bottom edges.

2.         Use the masking tape to mark a line down the two sides, 4" from the edge.  This is your STOP  CUTTING LINE.

3.         Cut each side into ½" (or ¾") fringe.  Fringe should be uniformly cut in width and length.

4.         Wrap a piece of fringe around your finger to make a slipknot and gently push the knot up to the edge of the blanket.

**If you want to make fringe on all sides of the blanket, you will need to cut a 4" square out of each corner before you cut the fringe.

*** Please make the blankets with a single layer of fleece.  The double layered blankets are too hot and heavy for the children in the hospitals.

Sometimes, we receive fringed fleece blankets with the knots in the fleece tied so tightly that the blanket will not lay flat - the blankets look more like a bowl than a blanket.  We have had to take the time to cut all the fringe off which reduces the size of the blanket.

Blankets that smell of smoke or strong chemicals (including perfumed soap or fabric softeners), or have pet hair on them are not acceptable as they may produce a severe allergic reaction in the children.

We never have enough "boy" blankets.  Please consider making a boy blanket for every girl blanket you make or a blanket that can be used by a boy or a girl.