It was an unusually cold and snowy week in North Carolina, but there was lots of warmth at the Project Linus Make a Blanket Day.

Rivers_blanketsSweet little blankets by Spoonflower team member River featuring Teal Antlers by EFOlsen and Pink Charcoal Diamond Fall by Ivie Cloth Co.

The mission of Project Linus is to give a sense of comfort and warmth to children who are seriously ill or traumatized by providing them with a “hug” from a handmade blanket. In just a few short hours, the team of blanketeers made 295 blankets that will go to children in our community. It was delightful to see volunteers from age 5 to 85 working together to sew, knit, and crochet so many beautiful blankets. There were groups of teenagers sitting on the floor to hand tie fleece blankets. More experienced quilters brought their sewing machines and talent to create quilts from the mountain of donated fabric. A tiny, young girl sat on her mother’s lap and carefully guided squares of fabric on the sewing machine to create quilt blocks. As blankets were completed, a blanketeer hand sewed a Project Linus label and attached a poem.

Over 30,000 blankets have been donated since Susie Holmes established the Raleigh, NC chapter of Project Linus in 1996. The blankets are distributed through hospitals, shelters, and social services agencies. Spoonflower is proud to be a part of providing “hugs” to these very precious children.