Hi friends! It was so heartwarming to see the response to the introduction of my the Sew Goodness challenge in January! If you missed that post, you can read more about the Sew Goodness monthly charity sewing prompts here.
What were your thoughts last month? Did you make something to share? What did you end up making?
These cute pillow cases were made by Amanda of Material Girl Quilts.
I'm not going to lie- this month has been a busy one for me personally. I had a LOT going on including a sick kid (never fun) and my oldest daughter leaving to serve a mission for our church. She'll be gone for 18 months so it was a lot of prep, not to mention an emotional time getting ready to say goodbye. (If you ever see those Mormon missionaries around, give them a smile for their mom at home who is missing them!!)
So, I finally eked out my pillowcases yesterday since I was anticipating writing this post. But as I sat down to sew, I was really excited to do so! And it turned out that having the deadline really helped me to make sure I stuck to my commitment to sew goodness each month!
I really enjoyed going through my fabric and putting together these pillow cases. This was a great project for using up fabric for projects I no longer have time to make, or for fabric we've simply outgrown. (The turtles piece is a perfect example of that - I bought this fabric with a project in mind for one of my boys who was obsessed with turtles a few years ago. Well, he's now outgrown that obsession. I still think the fabric is cute, but I'm happy to send it to a good home rather than let it languish in my stash.)
For February, I picked a few more ideas of very simple sewing projects that can be made quickly and efficiently. Feel free to use any of them as your own inspiration for charitable sewing this month.
Remember, if you're already sewing for a good cause - keep up what you're doing! These monthly posts are just prompts - ideas for those of us who are looking for a way to help out if you don't already have a project as well as awareness for organizations with ongoing needs. It may be that you just find an organization you're passionate about and stick with that organization all year!
For February:
Smile Bags for Operation Smile
image from Operation Smile
Operation smile is a reputable charitable organization that provides surgical repair of cleft palettes for children around the world who would otherwise have no access to these procedures.
The need is for simple drawstring bags that are given to the recovering patients after their surgery and are filled with small personal care items as well as toys and stickers to help in their recovery.
The details and instructions for these simple bags are found here as well as a list of other possible donations needed for the bags's contents as well as contact and shipping information.
Operation Smile is also in need of simple quilts or fleece blankets. You can find the blanket/quilt sewing specifications here.
Dolls of Hope
image from Dolls of Hope
Dolls of Hope is an organization started by Sarah Parson who's own grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. Her mission is to provide a simple doll or toy to children who have lost everything - such as refugees around the world or victims of trauma close to home.
You can find the pattern for these bears or dolls here as well as contact information to ship them to Sarah. If it's easier for you (and would save on shipping) you can even send the sewn bears/doll un-stuffed and Sarah will have local volunteers do the stuffing/finishing.
You can find more information Dolls of Hope Facebook group or follow Dolls of Hope on Instagram to keep up with their needs as well as see photos of the delivered toys.
If you don't have time to sew, but still want to help the cause, donations that will go toward the shipping of these dolls is hugely appreciated.
image from Dolls of Hope
Mini Quilts for A Doll Like Me
Make a mini quilt for special Doll Like Me dolls - dolls made to match a child who has a physical deformity. Such a sweet cause! Find out all of the information here.
Of course, softie doll donations are taken lots of places. There are a bunch a humanitarian group in my congregation put together last year. We used this traced this simple doll template on the front of the fabric. To assemble: place two pieces wrong sides together and sew the doll together right on the traced line, leaving an opening in one of the legs for stuffing. Cut out the shape of the doll with pinking shears, leaving about ½″ seam allowance. Stuff the doll and sew up opening. Tie ribbon around the neck or sketch a simple face. The possibilities are endless. This is a great project for involving kids or those with minimal sewing experience.
If you know of any specifics taking softie donations, let me know and I'll add them to the post.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Before you make a bunch of these, (or any sewing donations really) make sure you have an organization that is looking for those specific items, and make sure they are sewn to their specifications.
If extra time is not available to you right now, but you still want to help an organization, often a financial donation directly to one of these grass roots organizations can make a tremendous difference because they can put that money directly to use for shipping or supplies where a need is greatest.
If you are looking for places and ways to donate close to where you live check out websites such as Just Serve or Create the Good to provide lists of possible opportunities in your own area.
Want to help spread the word? Pin this image or share this post!
Thank you SO much for all of the suggestions and ideas you've sent. I'm looking forward to sharing many of them for future monthly prompts. Keep them coming! At some point I'd like to make a master list of real charities in real need.
One charity I'd like to feature in the coming months is Days for Girls. This is one I've wanted to help for a long time. If you have experience sewing the needed supplies or ideas for what would be the best prompt to give re Days for Girls sewing, will you message me or leave a comment? I'd love some guidance on that one.
Want to share your own Sew Goodness projects? Tag them with #SewGoodness on Instagram. Or share a photo on this Facebook post!
Cindy
Thank you for the info and inspiration!
Carolina
This is a GREAT idea! I have started making purses for Sew Powerful [sewpowerful.org]. They, too, are focused on keeping girls in school all month long. They started in Ngombe Compound in Lusaka Zambia. They have expanded both to other schools and also to other purposeful products to help the economy of Ngombe. It is quite the story!
Sarah
I look forward to these each month!
StoriedQuilts
Thank you for sharing this. I have two quilts for quiltsforkids.org - one is almost done (needs binding) and one needs to be quilted. I hope to drop them off this month. Thanks for introducing Days For Girls - they are on my list now.
Christine Sherman
Thank you!
Kathie L
I coordinated a Pillowcase Race for my guild's meeting this week. We made over 200 pillowcases for our local Ryan's Case for Smiles. I just finished a quilt to send to Puerto Rico along with others in my guild. I get so much satisfaction from sewing for others. Thanks for your posts.
Reba Winsinger
I loved your post! What great ideas and organizations. Sewing to help others fills me with such joy!!!
I'm a chapter leader for Days for Girls in Littleton Colorado. I'd love to chat with you about sewing the washable, reusable kits for women around the world.
Blessings,
Reba
Amy
Perfect, Reba! I'll get in touch with you! Probably late March. Thank you!
Lana Stewart
I made a mastectomy pillow for a friend’s daughter who just had surgery.
Judy Breckell
I’ve made 2 denim quilts that have each been put into a back pack for donation to our local Foster Children organization
Jenni
I love these posts so much! Thank you!!!! The Karadah project is a great organization to donate to. No sewing but they are helping Afghanistan villages to become self sufficient by donating goats to families or hens to women. I can’t figure out how to link it. ?
Jenni
https://www.karadahproject.com/
Andrea H
Charity projects are always in my mind and heart. I just started cutting out a quilt yesterday using black, white, and scraps of blue fabric. I am excited to see how it comes out. Thanks for sharing the prompts. Andrea
Paula
Here is an article with ideas on how to be better at doing good. It’s so easy to get caught up in something that sounds good, without considering possible negative outcomes. We all want our work to count in the best way possible. https://magazine.byu.edu/article/doing-good-better/
Amy
Awesome! I'm excited to read this!
Sheila Woofter
We started a Days for Girls team in Frederick, MD, about a year and a half ago. We have a small number of women in our group, but we have already been able to send 245 kits (20 of which were post-partum kits) to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Kenya. What fun we have together and how satisfying it is to be part of something that enables girls and women. As we know, when women can engage and be successful in their communities, the entire community benefits! Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.
Amy
Way to go!
donna watkins
gandalf was not a hobbit.
Amy
I think it's citing which book the quote is from. 🙂
AnneS
I am involved in our local Days for Girls group here in Morgantown, WV. It is such an amazing organization. Check out their website to find a local chapter. That is the best way to get started with them. Last year our church took 110 kits to Honduras and delivered them in two different areas. We are going on another trip this year in March and will be taking another 200 kits and distributing them in a very rural, isolated area on the coast of Honduras. Would love to talk or email with you about Days for Girls anytime you have questions.
bigwhitehouseonthehill
I love this idea. Thank you for sharing needs and giving us simple ways of helping in a hard world. I’m inspired.
Peg Looby
Days for Girls International has info on the kits. You tube has videos on what actually goes in the kit. It used to have a pattern on the website for exact measurements & I know Organic cotton.com carries the different fabrics needed for linings etc. I ‘d love to help!!! Great idea!
twemyss
Gosh, I made many wee quilts for premmies that they take home when they leave hospital big enough to enjoy their own place, baby quilts,for babies that come in with nothing and the nurses use their discretion on who gets one. Also to the,Fiji peek that lost homes,in the cyclones and senior peek that live alone or are nursing a partner. So I will never ever run out of jobs to do hahah
Gladys Cowan
God bless everyone for the love of sewing, bless others with their gifts of love. I enjoy sewing pillow case dresses to donate to some of the girls around the world.
Gladys
Needle and Foot
I am hosting a doll quilt drive for A Doll Like Me. This amazing shop makes dolls for children who are ill or might have a limb difference (maybe missing an arm or hand or leg). A doll made for the child will mirror the issue the child deals with so the child can relate to and play with their special doll. It is hugely helpful and provides a play therapy for the child The drive runs through the end of February and it has been so rewarding to see the quilters rally around it and made doll quilts to be given with the dolls.
Read more here:
https://needleandfoot.com/2018/02/01/spread-the-love-quilting-for-kids/
or check out the Facebook page for A Doll Like Me here:
https://www.facebook.com/nannysbabiestoodollslikeme/
Email me with any questions!! Quilters are a generous community that's for sure. All of the suggestions Amy posts are worthy and so helpful. 🙂
Julie K
We made muslin blankets for a friend's friend to take on a mission trip to Haiti. So fun!
Nikki
Not sure how I found you, but am intrigued by your lists of how to help. Signed up for your blog so I don't miss the suggestions. This month I made 5 pillowcases for the Clare Parker Foundation which helps children with cancer and I made three doll quilts for a Doll Like Me. I think I will work on the teddy bear charity next. Thanks for sharing all the this goodness.
Ann
I just wanted to thank you for posting ideas for sewing for others!! Such a wonderful idea! Pillowcases -check, Operation Smiles bag-check, next up little quilts....
Thank you for spreading kindness!!
Jan Horn
Did you post a challenge for March. If so I missed it. Would you let me know please.
Amy
Yep! I was pretty late this month. Here's the link: https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2018/03/sew-goodness-scrappy-log-cabin-quilt-blocks.html
Jan Horn
Amy: I couldn't find the information about shipping bears to Sarah for the dolls of hope project. Can you help?
Amy
Thanks so much for helping! The best thing to do is to email Sarah directly and she will give you her address for shipping: [email protected]
Thanks again!
Molly
I just found this today, and it's great! Do you know any places that take those adorable softie dolls? Because now I want to make them....
Amy
Yes! Dolls of Hope would love to take them: https://www.dollsofhope.org/
anush
Hi,
Your blog is providing us with useful information. I want to draw your attention toward a wonderful article based on “Charity Sewing! Sew Powerful + Free Purse Pattern”. Go ahead and check more information at https://craftbuds.com/charity-sewing-sew-powerful-free-purse-pattern/