Quilting As Real Life: Try It

Part 2 of Six Parts

Marketing; Starting with just a few; Cutting Costs; and Food

“MARKETING” Sharon Roos said,  “Try to get at least three ladies interested in starting a quilting projece.  Before you put a notice in the church bulletin (allow 2-3 weeks in a row for this in case someone misses church or the notice doesn’t click for them on first reading), you will need the following:  ladies to share from their fabric stash or the church to donate a small amount ($200, for instance) to get this ministry started, 4-8 pieced tops + batting + backing (could be used or new sheets).”

If one has in mind that many people are looking for ways that they can contribute something meaningful to the lives of others, then beginning a program or project with a call for “help” can make good sense.   Sharon has stated that because many, if not most, of the participants in the quilting project do not sew, it was very important that she have the necessary quilt-making equipment ready on the first day so that everybody could see that they could contribute simply by tying knots. 

START WITH A FEW:  “Note:  We started with a few of us sharing fabric and batting from our stash, and as we picked up speed, we asked the congregation for some financial help.  Then we requested a grant from Thrivent for more help.  We started in May 2006 and I can remember when we finished 3 quilts, then after awhile we finished 7.  By the end of 2011 we ended up making 812 quilts, surpassing what any of us would have guessed.”

In many ways, starting with just a few people makes it easier to work out the bugs in the system that will almost surely be a part of any new project or program.  Growth will happen over time if the need is there and the process is empowering for the participants.

CUTTING COSTS: “Batting is the most expensive part, and we try to always get it on sale and have used a couple of different kinds.  We have been fortunate to get sheets donated from the congregation by putting frequent reminders in the church bulletin.  We also check thrift shops and garage sales.  Broadcloth is good for the quilt tops.  We pay between $1.29-$3 a yard for fabric, including cotton, broadcloth and flannel.”

Clearly, some of the events that parishioners suggested to me that were very successful involved rather expensive outings to regional points of interest or entertainment centers.  But for many people, the cost of a program or project will be a deciding factor.   It is sometimes those people who seem least able to afford a more expensive program that would benefit from a quilting project the most.

FOOD!: “When you meet, ask people to either bring a brown bag lunch or what has been the secret of our group is our potluck lunches, as we work in small groups during the day but enjoy visiting together for lunch.  It also means we can work for more hours.  (That means someone brings paper plates, plastic-ware utensils, napkins, Styrofoam cups.)  For the first meeting you might just want to have bars or cookies and coffee.”

One of the easiest ways to insure that a project or program has a very human element of positive reinforcement lies in the food that is available.  Research is clear that food can put participants in a better mood – and the resulting positive emotions can make all the difference in the world whether or not creative new and helpful directions are encouraged. 

        The research on positive emotions and well-being that supports the above statement is extensive.  Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, now a professor at the University of North Carolina, is a leading figure in the positive psychology research area.   Her research over the past 10 years helps identify the increase in one’s health, well-being, immune system functioning, resiliency, creativity, acceptance of others who have different ideas and an openness to new ideas -- as a result of engaging in activities and events that sustain a sense of positive emotions over time.  This is, of course, exactly the outcome that Sharon Roos reports from her quilting activities.

Bruce