Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association


Log in

SCVQA Community Quilts

SCVQA members enjoy giving back to the community and fulfilling part of the association's mission to support philanthropic endeavors. We make quilts, which we collect and donate to many charitable organizations. We also gather for Community Quilts Work Days where we can work together and share the tasks involved in organizing and completing quilts for donation.



Donating Finished Quilts

For those wanting to donate quilts, the Community Quilts team recommends the following approximate sizes, with width listed first:

  • Veteran: 60" x 72" or 60" x 84"
  • Child or Teen: 40" x 60"
  • Wheelchair or Child: 36" x 45"
  • Baby: 36" x 40" (more or less for each measurement)
  • NICU: 18" x 18" up to 36"x36"
    (square or rectangular within those dimensions)

Donating Quilt Tops (aka Flimsies)

For those wanting to donate quilt tops, we are only accepting tops 60" or less in length for 2024. We have a large amount of the longer sized tops that we are working to sandwich and have quilted by members.

Finishing Quilt Sandwiches 

For those wanting to turn quilt tops into finished quilts, we welcome anyone who wants to quilt the quilt sandwiches and/or to attach binding.
It's a great way to practice and give back to the community at the same time.


Community Quilts in person meetings

Contact Robin Scheiderer for questions and details if you would like to join us.

Join in on the fun of creating quilts for our community. We meet at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1550 Meridian Ave. San Jose, CA two times a month (use the parking lot around the corner and down the road on Alta Glen Dr.) From that parking lot, follow the walkway through the breezeway into the courtyard and you will find us in the great hall on your right.

  • Work Day -- 3rd Wednesday of the month, 10:30-3:00
  • Work Day -- 4th Wednesday of the month, 10:30-3:00

Bring your sewing machine and all your sewing things to work on sewing tops or quilting sandwiches. We have irons and ironing boards if needed. Bring your measuring tape to help sort finished quilts and layer the tops we have received. We are a friendly group and look forward to meeting more SCVQA members.


Upcoming Community Quilts Work Days

  • Community Quilts Work Day
    Wed, April 24, 2024 10:30 AM • Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1550 Meridian Ave. San Jose
  • Community Quilts Work Day
    Wed, May 15, 2024 10:30 AM • Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1550 Meridian Ave. San Jose
  • Community Quilts Work Day
    Wed, May 22, 2024 10:30 AM • Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1550 Meridian Ave. San Jose

FAQ – Community Quilts

  •      A paper tag with the quilt top size has been attached with a safety pin to each quilt top, quilt sandwich or quilt ready for                   binding. YES, it is very helpful to reattach the tag before returning the quilt to us.

·        Only use safety pins (not straight pins) on items turned in to us (e.g. to keep binding with a top or to attach labels or the paper   size tags)

  •      Each quilt sandwich includes binding. If you have fabric in your own stash that you feel is a better match to the fabrics in the           quilt top and want to use that instead, that’s wonderful! Thank you!
  •     Extra binding pieces can be returned to CQ or used for another donation project
  •     CQ is now only using 100% Cotton batting or 80/20 Cotton-Poly blend batting in the quilt sandwiches. If you are doing                     your own quilting, you may use poly batting.
  •     It is optional to include strips or fabric for binding with donated tops. If you do include cut binding, please use 2.5” width strips.
  •     Bindings can be hand sewn or machine sewn to finish the quilts.

·       We have a team of members that enjoy attaching the binding on quilts. If you do not enjoy this part, just drop it off for our team to finish.

  •     It is optional to include a backing with your completed top. If you do, for any top longer than 50”, the backing should be 8”              longer and wider then the quilt top.
  •    Pre-Washing the quilts has not been requested by our donation organizations. However, please do pre-wash if
    • you have pets around while you are making the quilts, or
    • you are using a very stiff interfacing around the edge

·       We do not track how long it takes you to finish a top nor how long it takes to quilt a quilt sandwich. Return them when you have finished.

·       If you picked up quilt sandwiches or quilt kits to work on, then are no longer able to finish them, just return them. Another member will be able work on them.

 

FAQ – Quilt Kits

·         Each Quilt Kit includes a paper Tag with information including the block size, # of blocks, row & column layout suggestion and     approximated finished size. The row & column layout and finished sizes shown are merely suggestions

·         Use any pattern you like that appeals to your creativity to assemble the squares into a complete quilt top

·         Adding sashing and borders is optional

·         Some Quilt Kits include extra squares to assist you with layout options. Some include extra fabric for you to use as sashing,                borders or additional squares

·         Left over squares and fabric can be returned to CQs or used for other donation tops

·         Add backing and binding to finish the quilt yourself or bring it back for Community Quilts group to layer into a quilt sandwich


Layering and Sewing at our workday at Christ the Good Shepard Lutheran church

Isolette wrapped in love at Oakland Children's Hospital

Beds ready at Casa de Clara San Jose women and children’s shelter

Quilt bundles by Assistance League filled with supplies for young mothers in need

© 2002 - 2024 Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software