Hello friends! I’m back with a Sew Goodness cause to share this month. Are you familiar with Quilts of Valor? If this cause is new to you or you want to learn more, here’s a little bit about this wonderful organization. Quilts of Valor is an organization created to “cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts.”
You can read more about the history of this inspired organization here. This cause is so well organized and has already delivered almost 190,000 quilts to veterans pf all ages since it was organized in 2003. There’s also a Quilts of Valor organization for Canada.
This video from the Quilts of Valor website is a moving example of what these quilts mean – both to those who receive and those who make the quilts. I’ll admit to getting teary watching it.
This is cause became a little bit extra near and dear to my heart a couple years ago. My husband’s parents were serving as Military Relations Missionaries for our church near the many military installments in the Virginia Beach area. They volunteered at the USO, taught Resiliency classes to service members and their families, supported families with deployed spouses, and fed and mentored young service members away from home for the first time. The are a retired military couple themselves, so they feel a special bond with all of those they’re helping.
We were so touched by the many experiences they’ve shared with us and I’ve grown to have an ever greater appreciation for those who volunteer to serve my country at great personal sacrifice. (Not to mention their spouses and children who sacrifice so much too!)
HOW TO HELP QUILTS OF VALOR:
The Quilts of Valor Foundation is very well organized with local chapters in every state. If you would like to get involved in the organization, you can find the contact info for local chapters here.
You can make a quilt
(You don’t have to be affiliated with a chapter to make a quilt.) Here is the information for making and/or presenting a quilt. There aren’t a lot of formal requirements for the quilt but there are a few (such as being machine quilted for durability) so read the requirements before starting. Other than that, the basic recommendation is a throw-size quilt (average is 60″ x 80″) with a patriotic theme and red, white and blue colors.
You can make a quilt block
Don’t have time right now to make a full quilt? Here is the information for the 2022 Block Drive with all of the details on the quilt block pattern (pictured) and where to send them.
You can donate Fabric or Orphan Quilt Blocks
Don’t have time to sew, but have plenty of extra patriotic or red, white, and blue fabric? Or maybe you have some orphan quilt blocks from an unfinished project? Many local Quilts of Valor chapters will gladly take quality red, white, and blue fabric or unfinished quilts.
You can find the contact information for your local chapter here.
I wanted to spotlight this cause this month, because patriotic fabric and red, white and blue fabric is widely available this time of year and often on clearance after the 4th of July holiday.
Looking for free quilt ideas?
Quilts of Valor has a page full of free quilt and quilt block patterns for ideas and inspiration.
I’ve got a bunch of ideas for patriotic quilts for you in this post. Many of them are free. Keep in mind, you could also make any favorite quilt pattern in red, white, and blue fabrics. (One idea would be a simple patchwork quilt with a scattered sawtooth stars like this one. In R, W, and B fabrics, of course.)
As with any reputable charitable organization, if you do not have time to make anything but would like to contribute financially, you can donate here.
Looking for other ideas or causes in need of sewing or donations? I’ve got a list of Sew Goodness Charitable Sewing causes and ideas here!
Finally, remember, the purpose of Sew Goodness is to shine a spotlight on sewing for a good cause, NOT to add more guilt or stress to anyone’s life! It’s all about creating more good feelings in our lives by helping others, not bad feelings for not being able to “do it all.” Some months (years?) we all have more time or resources to give than others. That’s totally normal. We all need to remember to pace ourselves. If you’re already working on a favorite charitable cause, keep going with that one! If all you have to give some months is a smile to someone who needs it, you’re doing great! Carry on.
Bridget Kevin-Myers
It would be a great project to include my daughters in the design and sewing of a quilt for a veteran! thanks for the giveaway.
Donna Thomas
Over 330,000 Quilts of Valor have now been presented.1
Georgina M Sears
Our quilt guild has made quite a few Quilts of Valor and it is always so touching to give them to members of our military, especially the WWII veterans.
Kate
Oh, good one for this month! QOV is my chosen charity year round – I usually make four tops a year for them. And this year I’m getting my Bee mates involved!
Bonnie K
There are many veterans in our family. My son and 2 nephews are serving now 🙂
All the men in my husbands family have served or are serving. Thank you for all you are doing.
Susan
Thanks for some ideas for Quilts of Valor. I have made baby quilts for Army babies and quilts for Veterans at VA hospitals. I did not know that a special label was needed for QOV. I learn something new every day. Thanks!
Vicki
THANKS for bringing all information about Quilts of Valor into your blog! I started and am leading an active group of quilters in SW Wisconsin sewing Quilts of Valor for our area veterans. We always are looking for fabric. Hope to win your drawing!
Mischelle Pierce
I have been a member of QOVF for 3 years now and was the State Coordinator for Utah for 1.5 yrs. It’s an amazing organization and we are always in need of quilts!
Thanks for the opportunity to win fabric to make another QOVF.
Rose
Thanks for sharing info on QOV. I’ve been looking for a group to sew for and this fits perfectly! My father, a vet, loves the idea too ❤️ Now, if I could just get my daughter interested in sewing…
Jane
This is such a great organization!
Amy
What a great organization. I would love to make a couple quilts to donate to them.
Clara
Thanks for all your efforts to give us options for sewing. I especially appreciated the last paragraph because it is difficult at times to say “no” to projects. My entry in the giveaway is for a friend who participates in the QOV project.
clara-chandler@att.net.
Donita M
Thank you so much for offering these patriotic bundles. I work with 4-H youth to make Quilts of Valor in the state of Nebraska. My grand-daughter had the honor of presenting her QOV quilt to a WWII veteran at her school’s Veteran’s Day program last year. One year for her Community service project she chose a simple block and did a block drive. She was hoping for enough blocks to make one quilt. She had enough blocks donated for 5 quilts! Quilters are a very generous group! We are currently working on her QOV for fair this year. This project is a family tradition as her aunt also did this project when in 4-H. We would LOVE to be a winner!!
Amy
Wow! That is so awesome!!
Ashley C
My sweet neighbor/friend is soon to be deployed for the first time…those fabrics would be a great addition to the scrappy (rwb) trip around the world quilt I am making for her.
Margie
Our quilt guild is organizing a block drive to make some quilt of valor . Those fat quarter are so beautiful that I think will inspire us to get more fabric for our blocks! Thanks
Marly Little
Thank you for the opportunity! On Memorial Day I gave my brother, a Master Sargent in the Army, a quilt I made with your Land That I Love pattern. It was truly special. It’s true what the video says, even my big, tough, little brother got teared up over it 🙂 I would love to create the same experience for another service man or woman and this would be a great jumpstart. Thank you for all that you share! As a new quilter your blog has been a tremendous resource.
Amy
OH that makes me so happy to hear! xo
rstonequilts
It’s a great organization and cause. I have several tops to finish quilting for hospice veterans and need to do more.
Eileen
Wow! What a wonderful idea. I am new to quilting and will share this with a group. Most of us are newbies. Maybe we can all make a square and put it together. My son is a veteran. Has an I injured leg. But came back while. Thank God!
Amy
Oh wow. Thank you both for your sacrifice! I hope he will recover as much as possible. xo
barbara
our sewing group is making one this year to give to a veteran in Nov.
Mary Van Kleeck
I would love to make a QOV quilt. Sometimes it’s hard to find good red,white, and blue fabric, this fabric is beautiful!!!
Marilyn
My quild is making quilts for the 92 veterans at one of our state Veterans homes.
Amy
Oh wow! That is so awesome!
Katie
I’m definitely going to check out the block donation post, as a whole quilt seems a little daunting right now. And the fabrics you’re offering would be a great help, as it seems my stash lacks true blue and true red! Thanks for helping organize and coordinate these charity challenges!
Gayle Schnepp
I actually have a pattern in mind so I would love the fabric!
Joan
I’d love to make a QOV quilt! Military veterans are dear to my heart.
Martha
Our guild has a QOV group and I have donated fabric! Wonderful community outreach!!
Amy Lill
I’ve been meaning to look into QOV to get involved for a while. Thanks for sharing!
Dawn Marschner
Thank you for offering this awesome give away. My husband is retired Navy. My oldest son was a Capt in the Marine Corp. My youngest is currently serving and is a Capt in the Marine Corp. Quilts of Valor is a wonderful way to tell our military how much they mean to each one of us!
Amy
Thank you so much to your family for their sacrifice and service!
Kathy Duval
I would love to make a QOV for my retired Air Force son. Thanks for sharing.
Amy
Please thank you son for his service from me!
jmnaatz
I’ve been asked over and over again to sew a QOV and just don’t have the stash colors to even get started. This would make me very happy!
Sam
This would be such a great project for our homeschool group to work on.
thatfabricfeelingcom
Another lovely charity to quilt for! You mentioned a scrappy trip blocks for project Linus. Was that a typo? Just wondering. I will gladly make some qov blocks but I’m not able to do a whole quilt right now.
Amy
The blocks for the Project Linus quilts were from a post a few months ago. I’m just behind getting them sorted and finished.
Making blocks for QOV is great! Isn’t it nice when you know that even a simple block will go to help a good cause?
Carol
I have made a QOV quilt for a brother in law but to make more for more family. These bundles would make that possible!
Stephanie
Our guild works on quilts of valor, and love working in red, white, and blue.
Janet
I donated a huge bag of fabric to Quilts of Valor! Love what they do ;c)
Ann
I think this is a great way to continue doing sewing acts of goodness. I like the fabric and could conquer the sawtooth pattern!
Jan Parker
This is such a worthwhile organization! These soldiers are so worthy of one of those quilts.
Reba Williams
I have made one QOV and would love to do another with this fabric!! Thanks for your heart towards sewing for others, Amy !!
Jean D
Thank you for another excellent and meaningful outreach post. The video made me teary too, and I am very interested in joining the QOV team. I have made a picnic quilt using Gingham Girls for my family, and I’d love to use your fabrics again to make a quilt for a veteran.
Niki Vardell Theeuwes
I have been looking into doing one for a cousin. Unfortunately, I should have done one for my uncle, he served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
Pamela
Thank you Amy, Both my Dad and Husband are disabled veterans. I have been looking for a charity to become involved with to make quilts. I hope there is a chapter near me, but at very least I will make blocks especially with the fat quarter prize.
Amy
Oh, so much gratitude to your Dad and Husband. Thank them from me for their service!
Shari Kersey
Wow! It’s been on my heart lately to make a QOV quilt, so the fabric bundle would be stupendous! thanks for putting the spotlight on this organization.
Laurie Vottero
Ready and able to make a QOV – just need some red, white and blue fabric!
Lisa K
My local quilt guild is very active with QOV and we could certainly use that lovely fabric to make more quilts for our deserving service members and veterans. Thank you so much for offering this giveaway and for highlighting QOV!
Susan Stanton
Since moving to a new state this year, I have missed my old quild’s community service projects. I would love to make a QOV. It’s such a great project. My late husband was in the service, so I know what community outreach means to others.
Cheryl Fewell-Brown
I have got to make time to do this. The only Quilt of Valor I have made is for my own legally blind medically retired Marine son-in-law, who at 31 is attending college. I have some Americana fabric, but could use some more. I’m sewing with my friends today, like we on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month and hope to finish a project. I have more, but will fit a QOV in. Thank you for supporting this very important group.
Amy
Oh, please thank your son-in-law for his service!
Kathleen Gansert
I’m happy to see that your chosen charity sewing for July coincides with mine. I have two quilts sketched out for QOV to make in July waiting for the right red, white, and blue, fabrics. I’m looking forward to seeing the quilts made with the Scrappy Trip blocks for Linus. Hopefully, the blocks I sent will play nicely with the others donated for the quilts.
Kathie weatherford
i belong to the QOV.. it is a great organization.
Robin
This is a great organization. What better way for us quilters to give back and show our love.
Dana Kathyrn Henry
My daughter is in the Army. She is a sgt. And has just returned from 13 months in Kuwait. Your post about QOV, has got my quilt mojo looking for our local chapter. Thank you!!
Amy
Wonderful! Please thank you daughter for her service!
Marly L
On Memorial Day I gave my brother, a Master Sargent in the Army, a quilt I made with your “Land That I Love” pattern. It was amazing 🙂 It’s true what the QOV video says, even my big, tough, little brother got teared up. I would love to create that same experience for another service man or woman and this would be a great jump-start. Thank you for all that you share, as a beginner quilter your blog and tutorials have been a tremendous resource!
Amy
Oh wow. That makes me so happy that he loved it! Please thank him for his service! xo
Marie Eddins
These chosen fabrics would make a great QOV Quilt. I’ve made a few QOV and they are indeed a great organization. Of course I made one for my Air Force Veteran husband too! Thanks for the chance to win your fat quarters!
Diane Keith
I would be thrilled to win this give away – I want to make a quilt for a retired Judgei know. He served in the Marines. Thank you for an opportunity to win.
Shannon Wicker
Thank you for the chance to win these beautiful fat quarters! This cause is also near and dear to my heart. My son is active duty Navy and we are a very proud patriotic family. I would love to make a QOV!!
Amy
Thank you so much to your family – especially your son – for your service! xo
Gwyn Welliver
Thanks for the giveaway! My dad and brother are veterans. My mom’s guild participates in QOV. I have a Gingham Girls FQ bundle in my stash… I would love to help my mom and her friends with their mission work!
Lynne J H
I am a member of a quilt group that makes quilts for this wonderful project. I would love to be able to donate this fabric to this cause and see it used at one of the regular QOV sewing sessions!
Carol S.
I made a QOV for my brother in law but have more to do for other family. This bundles would be great for these other future QOV!
Marcia Nicholson
I am making a quilt of valor to honor my father who is a WWII veteran. He was with the 101st airborne. He is very special to our family and taught me a lot about WWII. Hope to have it ready to quilt soon.
Karrin Hurd
Thanks for the QOV info. I plan on making one in the very near future
Jocelyn
Years ago I make quilts for Operation Home Front Quilts. But it’s been a while since I’ve made them. I’d love to make a couple of quilts for this cause.
Julie Bindreiter
Well, this post was spooky! A dear friend of mine just shared a QOV story with me a week ago. Her story moved me to put “make a QOV quilt” on my summer “to do” quilt list. I’m expecting my first grandchild on July 1st. I’d love to celebrate his arrival by honoring a veteran in Sawyer Edward’s name. Thanks for the opportunity to have some beautiful fabric to make this happen.
Jenny Grandfield
On Eagle Wings is my QOV group! They are an amazing group of ladies as they have awarded over 400 quilts in 4 years. I have only joined them in the past year. Thanks for showcasing the video of these ladies. They will be tickled!
Amy
Oh that’s so awesome! That video is the sweetest!
Andrea
Hi, Amy. Not an entry for the bundle, but a suggestion. My friends and I recently did a sew-in for Threads of Love, an organization that provides bereavement gowns through hospitals for deceased infants. You may already be aware of this org, but I thought I’d mention it in case you are looking for more good sewing causes.
Amy
Thank you so much for the heads up! I’m always looking for other organizations. I’m so glad you shared!
Debbie Darlington
Oh my…this is just the motivation I need (read: kick in the pants)! My husband was awarded a QOV, the presentation leaving all teary eyed. I MUST do one! Thank you Amy for the give-a-way opportunity and highlighting the QOV program!
Aileen
My son is a veteran from the Iraq war . He lost several friends . I don’t know why I’ve never made him a quilt of valor , but now it’s on my list to do .
Amy
Aileen, please thank your son from me for his service. I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose friends and comrades in that way. xo
Rhonda
I have been looking for a project now that I am retired. I think I will like helping this group. When I was teaching art my jr high classes would make slap bracelets for the fallen service men and women of our county for a Veterens day projects. The students enjoyed wearing them and telling others what they had learned about their chosen hero.
Beth T.
As the daughter, sister, and partner of veterans, I am proud to support QOV. So far I have made only individual blocks, but I’d be thrilled to donate a quilt. I tried out a “braid” pattern today that I think would work very well.
Amy
Please thank all of those veterans in your life for their sacrifice!
Judy Brundage
I had not heard of Dolls and Teddy Bears of hope before. This is something that I can sew with love for some child in need. Thanks for your Post.
Amy
Awesome, Judy!
jamie
what a wonderful idea! i’m going to look up my local chapter. oftentimes, serving others is the best way for me to get out of any personal funk i’m going through. i’m so glad you do these spotlights!!
Harlan S. Sexton
Hi Amy – Love this! It’s great to see a quilter with your platform get behind Quilts of Valor. I’ve made six QOV. The most recent one was a group effort with the ladies of our local Auxiliary. They LOVED participating in National Sew Day and have told me non-stop that they don’t want to wait a year to get together again to work on a QOV. So I’ve planned our Sew Day for this July. And I’m sure there’ll be another one in the fall, and more next year… We will DEFINITELY use the give-away fabrics. Thanks so much. God bless you! Harlan
Amy
That is awesome!!
Alicia
I’ve been wanting to make a QOV for a long time and winning this bundle would just push this project to the front of the queue. Thanks gor this generous offer and chance to win. I loved being in your class at Quiltcon in Psdadena and meeting you in person in 2017. You are such a joy.
Alicia
Amy
Thank YOU Alicia! xo
kathy olkowski
I LOVE your patriotic heart! These fabrics of yours are perfect for a QOV quilt – I’m a member of QOV National and a long arm volunteer quilter for them. I would absolutely love to make another QOV for a deserving Veteran. Thanks for a chance to win these lovelies.
Amy
Thank YOU for what you are doing to support QOV!
Marta
I recently finished a quilt for my nephew who is retired from his career in the Air Force and is now overseas with the State Department. It was done in R,, W and Blue but I didn’t consider it a valor quilt. Ya know, if I could finish that one, I could
finish a Q of V. I am in treatment for eye problems and am getting well the doc said yesterday. Let me Bring It ! Where should I give it, as I am not member of a group doing this? Ideas? Thank you very much.
Amy
You are awesome, Marta! I would contact your nearest QOV group. You can find them listed by state here: https://www.qovf.org/whos-in-my-area/
Linda
In Canada
https://www.quiltsofvalour.ca/
Amy
Awesome!! Thank you! I’m adding it to the post!
Jeanie Lakin
My Husband received one of the Quilts of Valor in 2018 and he absolutely loves his quilt. He is a Purple Heart. Veteran from Vietnam and served with the Marine Corp! Thank the ladies who made his quilt so much! It is totally beautiful! They even named his quilt Semper Fi!
Amy
That is wonderful!
Happy Grits
Amy, thank you for supporting QOV in such a special manner, I am an active member of the national group and our local group and it is always so moving to be at a presentation. Your family has a rich history and I am thankful for their service to our military people, especially the supporting of families. God bless you and Happy 4th of July to the USA. God bless America.
Krista Storoy
I had the honor of creating and presenting my first quilt .
Amy
That is fantastic!