Tote Bag Charity Sewing Challenge

Tote Bag Charity Sewing Challenge

Today we're kicking off the SAMQG Health Care for Homeless Veteran's (HCHV) Tote Bag Challenge 

Many of our members are affiliated with the larger military community in San Antonio. When researching this summer's charity sewing challenge, I found Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), which is party of the VA system. After talking with the coordinator, Peggy, we determined that a tote bag for their supplies might be a perfect fit.

HCHV Description: "Initially serving as a mechanism to contract with providers for community-based residential treatment for homeless Veterans, many HCHV programs now serve as the hub for a myriad of housing and other services that provide VA with a way to reach and assist homeless Veterans by offering them entry to VA care." -from their website

So what is our sewing challenge? 

The SAMQG is hosting a challenge to create a tote bag. The goal is to create 100 bags to be presented to HCHV in September 2016.  That gives us May, June, July and August to stitch.

How do you make a tote bag? 

I'm so glad you asked! 

With permission, we will use the Morsbag Tutorial to create our bags and kits. GRAB THE PATTERN HERE. (Labels will be provided and are only needed for this pattern.)

If you have found a different internet tutorial (for non-restricted use: meaning you can make a ton of them for charity) or have a favorite style of tote bag to sew, you can make it, too. Make what you feel comfortable making. Our goal is simply to provide tote bags.

Will there be kits? 

Yes! We are very fortunate to have fabric donations and generous members. Kits will be available at the Sew-In's and at SAMQG meetings throughout the summer. Kits will be cut for the Morsbag requirements.

Each tote bag kit contains:

• 1 rectangle of fabric measuring 18" x 40"
• 2 rectangles of fabric measuring 18" x 4"
• 1 Morsbag label

The kits are ready and the pattern is shared. What next?

Official Sew-In Days at Sew Special are:

• June 21st from 10a - 3p
• July 15th from 10a - 3p

If you are in the SAMQG, please RSVP on our "EVENTS" tab on Facebook.

Of course, you are encouraged to sew as many tote bags as you like on your own, too. You do not have to attend an event to make a wonderful donation. GRAB THE PATTERN HERE.

Quilts For Kids Donations

SAMQG Donates to Quilts for Kids

Since January 2016 the San Antonio Modern Quilt Guild has been collecting and creating these quilted donations. Through independent member donations and through our Revolving Charity Table, I'm thrilled to report that 13 quilts were donated to Quilts for Kids!

The drop-off location is Sew Special Quilt Shop on 1604. I took the quilts to the shop today. The shop owner, Laurie, was happy to receive them! We laid them out in their classroom to grab a photo of the collection together before they head to their new homes with Santa Rosa Children's Hospital.

As it turns out, the outreach/charity collection bin is empty now. I know our generous membership will be filling this tote up over time. You did amazing work!

Bring your donations to the quilt guild meetings or simply take them to the quilt shop. Your work is appreciated!

Revolving Charity Table

 The Revolving Charity Table

What is the Revolving Charity Table? Well, I'm so glad you asked! In short, it is the ultimate outreach group project. Our guild takes unfinished donations (in all stages) from guild members and allows other guild members to work on them.

Sounds easy, right? Let me share how it works:

Patterns & Fabric: If you have a pattern or fabric kit that you've purchased or cut and are no longer interested in making, bring it to the guild. We have a members that love piecing and just want to give that a try.

Quilt Tops: Did you make a top that you are no longer jazzed about? Bring it to guild. We have members that love the quilting step but don't have desire or time to piece a top.

We have supply donations as well. Rolls of batting and easy pattern cards have been donated for our guild to use as we finish up projects on the Revolving Charity Table.

Binding: If you have *mostly* finished a quilt and it needs binding, bring it. Folks enjoy that final step, too. 

One thing we ask is that if you are donating a quilt in any stage of construction, please know it will be finished in the vision of whomever is finishing it. It will also be donated to the SAMQG Charity Charge. The charge for 2016 is Quilts For Kids which will then give the quilts to Santa Rosa Children's Hospital. (Drop off point for this organization is Sew Special on 1604.)

Fun fact: There is no timeline for completing the item you take. We do ask that you work on it and finish it to the stage you are comfortable. There isn't a "it has to be turned in next month" type rule. Take two or three months, that is ok. Just be sure you return what you take. 

At the next meeting, dive in and give the Revolving Charity Table a try. We are happy to hold the items from month to month and are even happier to receive finished projects which have been stitched by a few members.