The making of Comfort Quilts has been an integral part of Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild since 1993. RNQG members feel strongly that we should work together to give back to the community. We have accomplished this through our Comfort Quilt effort, with the intent to bring comfort, hope and peace to the recipients. A benefit we have discovered is that those who donate fabric, cut, sew, iron, and/or piece together these beautiful quilts experience a sense of community, accomplishment and joy.
Quilts, tote bags, isolette covers and wheel chair quilts have been donated to veterans, cancer patients, children, hospital and nursing home patients, preemies and other people and charities suggested by guild members. Specifically, in recent years they have gone to teen parent homes in Attleboro and Fall River, Norton Human Services, Wingate Nursing Home in Norton, Wheaton College Counseling Center, Beverly Hospital Special Care Nursery, Thomas Upham House, Justice Resource Institute Foster Care and Adoption Center, New Hope Shelter, Pond House, and many individual people with varying circumstances.
→ More than 100 quilts are lovingly distributed by the guild each year!
Guild members and friends are encouraged to participate in this effort. Fabric kits and batting are available for members upon request. Both quilt tops and completed quilts are welcome!
If you know of someone in need of a Comfort Quilt, have suggestions for additional organizations that could benefit from receipt of Comfort Quilts, or would like to take part in our Comfort Quilt effort, please contact the RNQG Comfort Quilt Chairperson via our contact form.
Comfort Quilt Sizes
Members often ask what the dimensions of a comfort quilt should be. There is no single answer, as the size depends on the recipient. Here are some recommendations:
- Neo Natal …….. 18” X 22”
- Veterans …….. 34” X 44”
- Wheelchair …… 36” X 48”
- Other …………….44” X 50”
No matter what size you choose to make, rest assured it will be given with love and received with appreciation!
The following lists estimate requirements and resulting quilt sizes for simple quilts made with strips or squares.
Squares | #needed | Layout | Dimensions |
5″ cut | 72 | 8 X 9 | 36” X 40.5” |
6″ cut | 42 | 6 X 7 | 33” X 38.5″ |
For Rail Fence:
Strips | Colors | Subcuts | Layout | Dimensions |
2.5” WOF | 3 | 6.5” | 6 X 7 | 36” X 42” |
3” WOF | 2 | 5.5” | 7 X 8 | 35” X 40″ |
Easy Quilt Patterns
These are great ideas / patterns for comfort quilts!
- Stacked bricks (not what you expect);
- Charm Quilt (on point) — Missouri Star Quilt Company video;
- Wildwood Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop;
- Easy Peezy Comfort Quilt;
- An assortment of free comfort quilt patterns available from Caring Quilt Patterns (fabric and batting available from the RNQG quilt chair for these!);
- Amultitude of downloadable Free Charity Quilt Patterns from BOMquilts.
- Bonnie Hunter also posts many free, scrappy patterns here.