Make a quilt, help a child

ROYAL CITY - There will be a Charity Blanket/Quilt Sewing Day to make quilts for Katie's Comforters, which gives blankets to children admitted to Seattle Children's Hospital.

This special day of giving will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 20, beginning around 9 a.m. and going to around 3-4 o'clock at the LDS Seminary building across from Red Rock Elementary.

Some blankets will also go to Cozy Comforts of South Grant County. That organization gives blankets to agencies from Othello to Yakima that deal with children in crisis.

"We will be making quilts and flannel blankets and want you to come whether you're experienced at sewing or are a beginner," organizer Polly Carlson said. "We'd love to help you learn a new skill or pattern and/or learn one from you."

Katie's Comforters was founded by Karen Gertenberger. Her daughter, Katie, received cancer treatments at Seattle Children's Hospital before passing away several years ago.

Katie had a blanket that brought her a lot of comfort during medical procedures and such. After Katie died, her mother found that making and donating a blanket helped with her grief, and she started Katie's Comforters to bring in donations of blankets.

The goal is to give a handmade blanket (fleece, flannel, quilts, etc) to every child who gets admitted to the hospital.

"Just yesterday I got a message via Facebook from a woman who found my blog and saw that I mentioned making blankets for the hospital," Carlson said.

"She said: 'I wanted to let you know that my son was a patient at Seattle Children's for an intensive year-plus, plus monthly visits for the past couple years. While there and at Ronald McDonald House, we received several different quilts from wonderful people like you. They are beautiful, and are so comforting. Mentally, spiritually, and physically.'"

Carlson and a group of quilters met about six months ago and were able to make 10 blankets that went to the Katie's Comforters. They'd like to make at least that many this time.

"We'd like to invite anyone and everyone who likes to quilt or make flannel blankets or would like to learn to make them," Carlson said.

You may bring fabric if you want, but the organization has lots of fabric provided by Katie's Comforters that needs to be exhausted.

"We'll have something to do for everyone," Carlson said.

If you choose to bring fabric, be aware that blankets for Seattle Children's Hospital must be made of completely new fabrics. Blankets with reused materials will be donated to Cozy Comforts of Grant County.

If you'd like to get a head start, you may Polly Carlson for a fabric bundle at 346-1254.