Thready, steady, sew!
Creative fundraisers are joining forces for a mammoth fundraiser in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The crafty sew and sews will be pooling their talents to produce a selection of quilts – making use of pre-made patchwork blocks contributed by enthusiasts from across the world.
Members of the public will then have a chance to win one of the quilts by buying a virtual ticket for a grand draw.
The idea is the brainchild of social media demonstrator and influencer Lizzy Curtis, who asked her online community to send in patchwork blocks.
She was overwhelmed by the response, with members rising to the challenge and sending them from as far as America, Canada and Spain.
“It was one of my monthly challenges, to rummage through supplies and create a patchwork block,” said Lizzy.
“I asked for them to be sent to my friend, Tina Finbow, who runs The Cosy Cabin, in Risby.
“Within days, boxes and parcels started arriving from all over the world and they kept on coming! The final total was just over 300.
“It’s an incredible achievement, especially given how much it would have cost to send them.
“My original plan had been to make one quilt and raffle it to raise money for EACH.
“However, I forget how big my group is and how wonderfully kind these people are.
“They’re desperate to help and some of the messages that came with the blocks were amazing.
“I felt genuinely touched and the whole thing has been completely overwhelming, in the best possible way.”
Lizzy estimates she now has enough blocks for ten to a dozen quilts. Each will contain around 16 blocks.
However, given the volume, she needs help to create them so popped along to her local sewing group in Red Lodge.
“It’s too much to do on my own, so I’ve managed to cajole others into helping and more volunteers are joining us from across the UK, including Cornwall, Edinburgh and Somerset,” added Lizzy, a former presenter on Create and Craft TV and the Hochanda channel.
“It speaks volumes about the sewing community and I’ve also secured a free venue, with grateful thanks to the Millennium Centre, in Red Lodge.
“It should be a fun day.
“The blocks are incredible and all different shapes and sizes. They’re masterpieces in their own right.
“Some of them can be grouped together by colour, while others lend themselves to a particular theme, like Christmas.”
The mammoth sewing session is taking place on 15th March and Lizzy is confident she can raise £2,000.
Anyone donating £5 will receive a virtual ticket and be in with a chance of winning one of the quilts. To donate, head here.
Anyone interesting in volunteering on the day can email Lizzy via lizzy19@btinternet.com
