Simply take someone who has never made a quilt before under your wings and help that person make a Quilt of Valor for a combat veteran.
BECOME A COACH
When you participate in an Under Our Wings Workshop at an Official UOW Quilt Shop (OS), you’ll bring your own sewing machine, your mat and cutter, your tools. Your Rookie buys the fabric (a kit). As Coach, you’ll teach your Rookie to sew a simple ¼” seam. During the one- or two-day workshop, you’ll do the cutting, pinning, and pressing as your Rookie makes patchwork blocks. It’s fun!
Anyone you know can be your Rookie, a neighbor, a co-worker, a golf buddy. Or, your Official Shop may have a list of eager Rookies looking for Coaches.
Click here to find an Official Shop near you.
NO QUILT SHOP NEAR YOU?
You can still be a Coach and help a Rookie. Here are some steps you may find helpful:
1. Find someone who wants to make a Quilt of Valor (QOV) but doesn’t know how. That person is your Rookie.
2. With your Rookie, select a simple quilt pattern. (QOVs can be no smaller than 55” x 65”, no larger than 72” x 90”. Ideal size - 60" x 80") Click here for free Rookie-Ready patterns.
3. Select patriotic fabrics from your stash. Or, buy the new American Valor Fabrics (available at Official UOW Quilt Shops Spring 2011. Some shops have online ordering available. Click here for a list of Official Shops in your region. Look on the comparison chart to see which shops offer fabrics online.
4. Select an UOW workshop location (your home, Rookie’s home, community center); schedule a sewing day.
5. On the sewing day, set up your sewing machine equipment, and design wall. Teach your Rookie to sew a ¼” seam. Show her/him the joys of chain piecing. Have fun cutting, pinning, and pressing as your Rookie stitches patchwork blocks. Schedule a second sewing day for joining blocks and adding borders if needed.
6. If needed, find a volunteer longarm quilter to quilt your Rookie’s top. Coach/Rookie provide backing. Volunteer longarm quilters provide batting and thread. You pay shipping to longarmer. Longarmer pays shipping back to you.
7. Get together with your Rookie to add binding, make presentation pillow case, and label. Click here for information on the Presentation Case and label.
8. Click here for information on finding a destination for your Rookie’s QOV.
