What is the Quilt Project?

Being With Lap Quilts provide an opportunity for anyone, with or without creative talents, to share in our mission. We collect squares of fabric designed by people from all over the world, and give them to volunteers who sew them together into small, simple lap quilts. These quilts are later presented by Being With volunteers to patients in hospices, assisted-living residences, and nursing facilities. These small quilts serve as a tangible reminder that the recipient is loved and wanted by people all over the world.

Can my group or organization do this project?

Yes! Designing Being With Quilt Squares is a wonderful project for a youth group, school, church organization, or club. But you can also make a quilt square on your own. Just follow the instructions at the bottom of this page to learn how to make your squares. When you are done, you can either mail the squares to us to assemble and distribute, or you can have them assembled by people who know how to quilt in your own community, and deliver them to nursing homes on your own.

What if I'm not very creative?

It doesn't matter. The purpose of these quilts is to leave a message of love and wantedness with the recipient. You don't have to be able to draw well or say anything profound. As long as you can share a message that is loving and positive, whether with words, pictures, or both, your square will be included in a quilt.

Can I volunteer to sew quilts together?

Yes! We are always looking for quilters to help. These quilts are extremely simple, and require no special design or intricate skill. The beauty of these quilts lies in the messages provided by the people who design the squares. Quilters can sew together squares made locally and then distribute them to Being With volunteers in their own community, or they can choose to work with us. We can provide a volunteer quilter with enough squares to make as many quilts as you like, along with Instructions For Sewing. The volunteer provides the rest of the materials -- blue cloth (of any type and pattern -- blue is our signature color), batting, etc. Quilting should be kept as simple as possible in order to assemble them quickly, and in order not to distract from the messages on the squares. We also provide quilters with special Being With identification tags to sew into the corner of each quilt. If you have a quilting club, this makes a wonderful charitable project which you may choose to participate in once, annually, or continually.

How do I make a quilt square?

At a local fabric store, purchase a piece of white muslin that is large enough to be cut into a 9" x 9" square. Buy enough muslin to make as many squares as you like. Also, purchase a set of colored fabric pens. Do not use regular markers, as they will bleed and fade, turning your creative masterpiece into quite a mess.

Once you have cut the fabric (9"x9"), measure a half-inch margin on all four sides of your square to leave room for the quilter's seam. It is helpful if you mark the margin with pins or with a light fabric pen so that you remember where it is. The area inside the margin is your decorating space. If you decorate outside that space, your design will likely be cut off when the square is sewn into the quilt!

Your square can be decorated with fabric pens or stitching designs. If you wish, you may talk to someone from your local craft store about additional ideas for safe quilt-designing materials. But please do not use materials that will disintegrate over time or when washed, like dried noodles, candy, Styrofoam, or paper.

Make sure that your message and/or picture is a positive, uplifting, and loving one. It may be religious or non-religious. Just remember that your square should convey a sense of compassion and hope. It is best to avoid statements that refer to the patient being sick, injured, or dying.

Examples of appropriate messages:

"Your life is a gift to the world"
"You are precious and loved"
"Thank you!"

Examples of inappropriate messages:

"Get well soon"
"I am sorry that you are dying"

When your square is complete, put it in a envelope and mail to:

Being With
P.O. Box 82842
Kenmore, WA 98028

Once received, your square will be quilted together -- along with other squares designed by people from around the world -- to make a beautiful lap quilt. Being With volunteers present these finished quilts to patients in hospitals, hospices, assisted-living residences, and nursing facilities, bringing the suffering person your message of love.