Project Linus UK
Project Linus UK is a volunteer organisation. We aim to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers through the provision of new home made patchwork quilts and knitted blankets, and give volunteers across the UK the opportunity to contribute to their local community.
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Our volunteer Area Co-ordinators and their Assistants deliver around 3,500 quilts and blankets to sick, disabled or disadvantaged children across the UK each month. We cannot reach out to every distressed child but we can help to provide them with tangible evidence that someone cares, along with the physical reassurance that comes with being snuggled up in a quilt. We always try to deliver quilts and blankets to children who are local to the makers.
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Project Linus began in America in 1995 when Karen Loucks saw a newspaper article showing how much a comfort blanket had helped a child cancer victim. She decided to organise blankets for her local children’s cancer unit and started spreading the word. Since that time several million blankets and quilts have been delivered worldwide. The organisation began in the UK in March 2000 as a result of a Birmingham quilter’s desire to help children in need. We now have a large network of volunteers across the UK who donate their time and skills to create beautiful blankets and quilts.
We are now a official drop off point for all Linus quilts in our local area. Our Linus co-ordinator is based in Ashford and our donations will be given to the William Harvey hospital.
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Donations will be dropped off to the William Harvey SCBU and Padua every three months or more frequently if required.
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SBCU like to have a regular supply of laundry bags which can be either a fat quarter folded in half or two together with a ribbon/drawstring top as they pop the baby's clothes in them to take home to be washed. They also use quilts for incubators which are the size of two fat quarters with wadding inside. Minimal stitching as the baby sleeps on top.
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Padua Ward take all other sizes of quilts:
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Incubator Quilts: 20 inch x 18 inch
Baby Quilts: 24 inch x 30 inch up to 36 inch squared
Child Quilts (under 5 years): From 36 inch squared to 50 x 40 inches
Child Quilts (5-10 years): From 50 x 40 inches to 60 x 40 inches
Teenagers Quilts (11 years up): approximately 70 x 50 inches
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Please note that we are not collecting knitted/crocheted blankets at the moment as they have received an overwhelming amount. We will confirm when these are required again soon.
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So if you are passing by the shop or live locally and have Linus quilts to donate please pop into the shop and see us. Our address is New Barn, Smarden Road, Smarden, Kent, TN28 8QJ
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If you are in the East Sussex area, Mrs Anne Wall is collecting so for more information email Anne on patricia.wall890@btinternet.com or call Anne on 01797 226634.
Our Project Linus Day
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On Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th December 2022, we hosted our first 'Project Linus' day at the Little Shop workroom.
With the help of the Project Linus co-ordinators, Louise, Michelle and Christine, we had two days of sewing and creating quilts for children.
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We had lots of ladies come along and help make quilt tops and have a great time sewing together for this wonderful organisation.
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Here is just a few of the quilts produced and quilted over the two days.
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A big thank you to all ladies that came along and we hope to arrange another Linus sewing day soon.
March 31st Project Linus Day
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We hosted another Project Linus day on 31st March 2023.
We had 13 ladies and Louise and Christine co-ordinating the day. With new quilt tops made, binding made and pressed plus quilts quilted and finished the day was a great success.
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A big thank you to all ladies that came along and help make some special quilts for some special people.
October 6th Project Linus Day
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Another Project Linus day and we had a great day.
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We had 18 ladies and Louise and Christine co-ordinating the day. We had 8 quilts ready for binding. We had lots of fabric squares to be made into quilt tops and binding strips!
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A wonderful day of sewing, chatting and helping make fantastic quilts for Project Linus. Thank you to everyone.
Project Linus Days - New Dates Available to Book
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If you fancy joining us on our Project Linus day's then we have some new dates booked in the diary:
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Saturday 16th December 2023
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Go to the workshop page to book your space on this great sewing day.