How to Make a Quilt Square

Choose a 10” x 10” square piece of fabric. Your design must fit within a 9” x 9” square so that there is a 1-inch margin to sew each piece together. Other sizes might need to be redone. All fabrics are welcome. Some use a favorite shirt or other memorable fabric. Please sew all items securely and refrain from using glue.

Please incorporate into your quilt square the name of the person to whom the quilt square is dedicated and the years they were living. (For example, John Doe 3/24/38 – 8/13/2008.)

If you would like to put a photograph on your quilt square, they can be included and transferred onto fabric. You will need to bring the material and the photograph to a photocopy center. There is a special process where they can transfer the photograph onto the material. Most transfers involve both copying the photograph and ironing it onto your quilt square. Make sure the center can do both of these things or direct photo-to-garment printing. Some copy centers will not reproduce photographs that have been done professionally (e.g., photographs from Sears, JC Penney’s, Target, etc.) due to copyright laws.

IDEAS FOR YOUR QUILT SQUARE

Help us learn about your loved one: who they were, what they liked to do, what you as a family liked to do together.

What visual images or symbols represent your loved one’s interests, skills or hobbies?

What was their favorite color, song or food?

What best expresses your love and feelings for your loved one? It can be a poem, a drawing, a design, words from a song, symbols — it can be anything.

You might want to think of a special memory that warms your heart and gives you strength. Try to depict this memory on your square.

Iron-on photos, needlepoint, cross stitch, applique, fabric paint, permanent markers, thread or beads are all acceptable.

Note: Please refrain from copying photos directly on to colored/printed fabric because that color/print will show through the lighter portions of the picture, such as the face.

Please leave the back of the quilt square unfinished.

Although we realize each donor family may have several talented artists, please create only one quilt square per donor.

Reminder: Think about using materials that can be washed or vacuumed so that your quilt square will endure.

If you are unsure of what to do or need help getting started:

• Watch a tutorial video on making quilt squares.
• Ask a friend or relative to help.
• Ask a local fabric store for tips from experienced quilters.
• Call Donor Family Services at CORE at 412-963-3550.