Important Calendar Note:

In October, we will not be meeting at all. So work on a project at your own pace. We would like to focus on blessing Sweet Babies with bibs and burp cloths by Thanksgiving. This will be our blessing to all the new Moms and Babies at Saint Mary's. 

The pattern is on the blog, and we have some fabric available! If you do make burp cloths and bibs with your own fabric - these are great stash busters. Both sides can be flannel, or one side can be cotton and the back flannel. Please remember to prewash all fabrics!  

Follow these prewashing instructions.

1. Set your washer to HOT wash and HOT rinse.
2. Do not add detergent.
3. Add flannel and run wash cycle until complete.
4. Set dryer to HIGH heat to dry completely.
5. Press when slightly damp.

Opportunity for all of you sewers!

From Project Linus and DenimQuilts folks:
Good afternoon ladies, Just a reminder that Makes a Blanket day is coming up for Project Linus. We have supported this organization in the past with quilts, and this year will be no different. Here is the note in their last newsletter:

Make a Blanket Day:
Just a reminder that our next Make a Blanket Day will be Saturday, October 5, 2019, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and will be held at Dayspring Baptist Church, 1001 Municipal Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63131. Directions can be found on the Church website: http://www.dayspringstl.com/directions-1/ This is a family-friendly event. Please feel free to bring your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. It is a great time to drop off completed projects, work on a current one or start a new project. We'll have lots of fleece to make into blankets, and it should be a fun morning.

The DenimQuilts quilters will once again be joining us for MABD! They have supported Project Linus for many years with their beautiful quilts. If you would like to donate old jeans, please bring them on Saturday, bagged separately from any Project Linus donation you are delivering. To learn more about DenimQuilts, see their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DenimQuilts-481057735412501/.

I would like a few people to join me. It's a fun day, and you get to see all the different blankets donated. We usually have young people available to help us tie a quilt or two. Let me know if you would like to go, and I can give you more details.

Happy Quilting,
Julie C. Treloar
DenimQuilts, Inc.
914 Gervais Drive
Manchester, Missouri 63021
314-440-7233

Collaboration with O'Featherweight Club was successful!

On September 17, The O'Fallon O'Featherweight club had its monthly meeting and adopted one of our projects! They made 34 bibs and burp cloths for Sweet Babies. It was wonderful to hear the hum of a roomful of vintage Featherweights. It was even more wonderful knowing that they were there for 'our' Sweet Babies. Completed bibs and burp cloths continue to come in! They were so thrilled with the project they have a new donation bin at O'Sew Personal Fabric store in O'Fallon! We are starting to receive a few crocheted NICU octopi from the Featherweight club too. 

We put together Angel Gowns/Bonnets kits with donated wedding gown fabric, lining, ribbon, trim, instructions, and pattern. Everything you need to make one or two gowns and matching bonnets! A few kits were taken at the Featherweight meeting and will be available at our Busy Hands meetings. 

We are planning an Angel Gown Sew Along in the future too! Plan on bringing your sewing machine and we will each make a gown and bonnet step by step together! Stay tuned for details. 

Days For Girls Team Update

A lot of news to report! Days for Girls will transition to using Transport Bags in all DfG Kits, replacing the use of Ziploc bags, by March 1, 2020. Around the world, there is an increasing awareness of the negative impact of plastic on the environment. There are two transport patterns available, both serged and sewn PUL. We will be doing demonstrations of both versions and the revised kit packing at a future meeting! 

We are pleased to announce our team is supporting three upcoming mission trips with Days for Girls component and kits!

• Haiti mission trip/September 2019 - we are helping another team, led by Shari D., fill a tall order by contributing components. We donated 470 liners, 80 panties, 300 bars of soap, and 106 drawstring bags!
• Kenya mission trip/December 2019 - Laurie N. will be purchasing the kits from the Manyatta Slums Enterprise in Kenya. We donated two sample kits. She will use our kits to raise awareness and prompt donations. If any team members would like to donate, we will get your gift to her on your behalf.
• India mission trip/March 2020- Mary C. will be partnering with the Ann Arbor, MI team on a mission trip to India. We are donating 50 standard supreme kits. India has a single-use plastic ban; we will be making and including the new transport bags!

Charity Sharity Program

So you think you know what Charity Sharity is? A group of 4 or 5 little old ladies sewing under a dim bulb in a dark basement -- night and day 24/7? That is the impression one of their clients had until she learned what they are really all about -- Green, Philanthropic, and Enabling hundreds to serve thousands all over the world! They are the ONLY organization in the country doing exactly what we are doing, (and it is not sewing) Come hear their amazing story of the last 20 years!

September 11 at 2:30 p.m.

Aberdeen Heights - 575 Couch Ave., Kirkwood, MO 63122

All are welcome! Walk-ins included!

RSVPs appreciated gcgreentree@sbcglobal.net

They are not recruiting, requesting donations or asking for cash - just simple awareness of the wonderful things that are being done in this world!

Several of us Busy Hands are going! If you would like to carpool with us, please email us. 

Would you like to join us for lunch beforehand at Taj Palace in Chesterfield? It is an India cuisine buffet and costs $9.85 cash (a little more if you pay by card.) If you are interested, let Tina know.