Highland Lake Grange #87 in Westbrook hosted a Project Linus workday on Sunday, January 27th. State Overseer Vicki Huff and State Pomona Debra Ivers show off the blankets completed during the afternoon. Another Project Linus day is planned for late spring at Highland Lake.
Grange friend Lin Greene and memberJune Allen
The “Knit Wits” and friends of Maple Grove Grange #148 shared a very productive workday for Project Linus last Saturday.Working for over 7 hours,they completed eleven blankets and quilts to be donated to The Centers for Grieving Children in Portland. Each year,just before Christmas they hold a total group get together evening, when every participant for the year receives a “blanket hug”. After each blanket was finished, a Maine State Grange label was attached as well as the Project Linus Label. Donations of 4 additional quilts, along with those made earlier in the year totaled 29 which were delivered on Friday by Worth Master Bob Burns and “Knit Wit” leader,Ann Burns. Staff members had been concerned two days earlier that they would not have enough for this years distribution, so were especially appreciative of the presentation. A tour of the facility was very informative to assist the Burnses with more information to share at their next meeting.
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As many of you are aware, the 150th Session (2016) and the 150th Anniversary of hte National Grange are rapidly approaching. One way we are going to commemorate these events is through the making of quilts by using the blocks that are submitted by each state. The idea is that the blocks entered this year will be kept and used to make a quilt. Then next year that quilt will be displayed and the quilt blocks enterested next year will be made into a quilt, and so on and so on. THe plan is to have all quilts on display at the 150th Anniversary in 2017.
The Executive Committee and I have spent a lot of time discussing this and trying to make sure we have as many of the bases covered as possible to avoid confusion (I know, good luck on that one). Here is the plan: we will introduce a new pattern and color scheme each year so there will be some continuity for the person who gets the job of piecing the quilt together. For the first four years, the theme will be the seasons of the year, with an appropriate pattern and color scheme. Here is the information for the quilt blocks that will be judged in Boise this year (2012):
Log Cabin Quilt Pattern (download)
Size: 10 1/2 by 10 1/2 finished– 10″ block with 1/4″ on each side for piecing together.
Pattern: Log Cabin
Colors: Fall colors
Any member can make a square with the above guidelines and they will be judged at the Needlework Contests in August. Please note that squres will not be returned. They are going to be kept and put together for quilts for the Linus Project.
Submitted by Ann Burns
Wow! That's a pile!
Forty seven fleece blankets and quilts have been completed by Maple Grove Grange #148 “Knit Wits” and friends. Most of them were completed at Project Linus workdays. A few were donated for us to distribute by Sebago quilt makers.Thirty of them were taken to the Center for Grieving Children in Portland for their annual year end presentation. The remaining seventeen were delivered to the Cumberland County Chapter of the Nattional Project Linus Program. These were a part of the 1,434 blankets distributed throughout Cumberland County in 2011. The photo shows a Center for Grieving Children staff worker accepting two of the quilts from Maple Grove Grange member Ann Burns and volunteer Lin Greene of Sebago. Center for Grieving Children staff worker accepts two of the quilts from Maple Grove Grange member Ann Burns and volunteer Lin Greene of Sebago. Center for Grieving Children staff worker accepts two of the quilts from Maple Grove Grange member Ann Burns and volunteer Lin Greene of Sebago.
Center for Grieving Children staff worker accepts two of the quilts from Maple Grove Grange member Ann Burns and volunteer Lin Greene of Sebago
Submitted by Ann Burns
Eight participants met at the Sebago Center Community Church on Friday to create quilts and blankets for the Project Linus Program of Cumberland County. The event was organized by the “Knit Wits” of Maple Grove Grange as part of their Community Service program.
Ann Burns prepares to sew the "Made with Tender Loving Care" Project Linus Label onto each quilt before it is distributed which indicates "Providing security through blankets"
Maine State Grange representative Karen Flagg, CWA director and newly elected Maine State Grange Ceres, Debbie Ivers joined the group as well as other Grange friends.
While three attendees were manning the sewing machines, others tied previously prepared quilt tops with filler and backing , added binding or created a self fabric fringe to fleece blankets.
Support for the activity was provided by local businesses, Jordan’s Store, The Whistle Stop and 4 Seasons Variety with donations of lunch items for the volunteers.
The efforts of the group will provide twelve youth of Maine with a “blanket hug” when misfortune steps into their lives. To learn more about the Program contact any Maple Grove Grange member, State CWA committee members, or Melodie Provost , coordinator the Project Linus Cumberland County Chapter of the national organization.
Submitted by Ann Burns
Vicki Huff -- a Knit Wit!
Fourteen Maple Grove Grange Knit Wits and friends gathered last week at the Sebago Center Church for a two day Project Linus Weekend . Grange members had prepared flannel kits, fleece , and over twenty sewn quilt tops for participants to use . With snack donations from volunteers and lunch provided by The Umbrella Factory, Jordan’s Store, Four Season’s Variety, The Whistle Stop, Shaw’s and Hannaford of Standish, everyone proceeded to complete the work for the weekend.
The Cumberland County Project Linus coordinator,Melodie Provost and her assistant from Saco joined the group for the Friday twelve hour work session . Some community members brought donations of previously made quilts and afghans enabling Provost to take seven quilts with her by mid afternoon. New workers arrived for the evening session and by closing,another six quilts were completed and several more in various stages for finishing. As Saturday arrived, so did three new workers and three returning from the day before. With three workers taking home seven quilts needing minor finishing, satisfied organizers packed up the rest for a final counting and packaging. A total of twenty nine recipients will soon receive a “blanket hug” when disaster strikes in their life, thanks to Maple Grove Grange and their friends.
"Labors of the day"
Maple Grove Grangers Robin Gosbee and Ann Burns with the collecton of Special Olympic Scarves.
The “Knit Wits” of Maple Grove Grange #148 created and delivered 13 scarves for the Special Olympics competition. The members learned of the project through Project Linus and the State CWA department. Upon visiting the office in South Portland Gosbee and Burns viewed the collection of over 300 donated blue and turquoise creations, along with an unopened pile of packages from that day’s mail .
Each participant, coach and assistant will receive a “team scarf” at the January competition. It is anticipated they will need over 500 in all. No specific pattern was needed as long as the correct size and colors were used.
This was the first year the Maine group participated in the activity and it’s success indicates it will be repeated next year. The ladies in charge are going to try to get the specifications earlier next year, as the colors change annually. They hope to post information on the Special Olympics site early this summer for those interested in another Community Service project should any Grange or individual wish to participate.
Webmaster’s note: You don’t have to wait until summer for information about this year’s program! I found a site that describes the program and offers printed guidelines, etc. Check the deadlines, though… and keep this in mind for a community service/CWA project for next year! The Grange and Special Olympics could probably use some more Knit Wits!