Quilts soothe

By Kath Gannaway
A GROUP of Healesville quilters has had to think outside the square for a very special project.
Monday mornings at Patchwork Collections is dedicated to making quilts for the Victorian Quilters’ Very Snuggly Quilt Program, which donates quilts to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Most fabrics and patterns are geared towards girls, so the challenge for the Monday morning ladies has been to find fabrics that appeal to the boys.
While the pretty, girly fabrics still dominate, Patchwork Collections owner Pat Biggs said there are more and more trucks, motorbikes and superheroes available than ever before … and the boys love them!
The group comprising Ms Biggs, Ann Galletti, Cheryl Buzza, Sue Smith and Lyn Hickman handed over their latest bundle of 20 quilts to Victorian Quilters project coordinator Ros Brown last week.
Ms Biggs said the group gets much pleasure out of their involvement in the project which was supported by the wider community through raffles to help pay for material.
The quilts will go to children in eight wards of the RCH, including the oncology and cardiac wards.
“In the last 12 months we have given out over 800 quilts to children and they are theirs to keep and take home with them,” Ms Brown said.
She said the quilts are a comfort to both boys and girls as they go through hard times but said they become much more than that.
“I could tell you so many wonderful stories of children who keep them with them and treasure them right throughout their lives,” she said.
“These ladies are supporting important work every Monday morning in the shop. It’s just wonderful,” she added.