One Million Pillowcase Challenge
57 closer to the goal!

55-pillowcases

I was honored when the team at American Patchwork and Quilting asked me to help promote this amazing event called the One Million Pillowcase Challenge. In case you have never heard of this, APQ is tring to reach their goal of sewing 1 million pillowcases and donating them to charities around the country. I was so touched by this program that I decided that MODKID should become a participating shop... and so we did! Next thing you know we had people coming out of the woodwork to help us help APQ reach their goal.

We had a sew-in last Friday with some local sewing and quilting enthusiasts and check out what we made...

Pillowcases-All

Everyone brought their machines, set up camp at MODKID and sewed up some beauties, using patterns readily available here and fabric donated by us.

sewing at modkid

Even my girls pitched in...

sewing at modkid-2

All in all, we finished 18 pillowcases that day, including a couple sent in by my mom.

Mami's-Pillowcases

If you'd like to see some of these up close and read about what fabrics and patterns we used, click here, here and here.

But that's not all! My former intern, Jessica, organized a sewing group at Illinois State University's Apparel Merchandising and Design Association, and they were able to make 39 more pillowcases! Just look at all these young girls sewing their hearts out at the ISU Sewing Lab! It's so great seeing a whole community come together for a wonderful cause like this one.

jess

sewing at ISU-2

sewing at ISU

Yesterday, Emalee and I collected all the pillowcases, divided them into 3 groups and delivered them to the following charities:

The Crisis Nursery
Children's Home & Aid
1119 E. Taylor, Bloomington, IL 61701 

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The Clare House
Center for Battered Women
703 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL

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The Child Advocacy Center 
200 W. Front St.,  Suite 500 B
Bloomington, IL  61701

We got to tour their facilities and hear their stories, and just felt so lucky to be able to help out like this. I would like to thank each an every one of you who helped us with this cause... Terri, Pat, Jen, Beth, Carissa, Vicky, Maria (a.k.a "Mami"), Sophie, Sydney, Erin, Emalee, Jessica and all of the AMDA students! Also, a big thanks to APQ for organizing this wonderful event!

Would you like to make your own pillowcase at home? Leave us a comment and on Monday, Sept. 24th we'll randomly draw a winner who will receive enough fabric to make two pillowcases plus a full-color print out of the pattern of your choice from the APQ site. You can keep one and donate the other, or donate both... it's up to you. You can find a charity in your hometown or send the pillowcase(s) back to us and we'll take them to one of the charities above. Please, don't forget to leave a way for us to contact you if you win. GOOD LUCK!!

38 comments:

  1. Looks like your events were loads of fun! I would absolutely love to make and donate a couple of pillowcases! Our local women's shelter would love to receive the donation. In fact, I'm not waiting til Monday to see if I won ... going to get into the stash this weekend and whip up a couple!

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  2. Fun to see all ages helping out with this project. Really cute pillowcases were made. I would love to be able to donate both pillowcases if I would happen t win. Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous9:22 AM

    This is such a great idea! I would love to help!

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  4. Wonderful idea and love to see everyone helping out. My granddaughter was at Texas Children Hospital last year and it will be a year this Oct. since her last surgery. I would love to donate to TCH or to the IQF here in Houston coming soon. Thanks for sharing with us today...Judith, Texas

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  5. Jessica Mitchell9:48 AM

    I would love to help you guys! How fun! I am new to sewing so this would be a good experience for me!

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  6. Beulah9:55 AM

    Love truly does make the world go around! These bright and cheerful pillow cases are just singing! Each individual receiving a pillow case will know without a shadow of doubt that they are loved! Great job!

    sowingstitches [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  7. Jodie Porep9:58 AM

    I am so looking forward to making some pillowcases and donating them to the charities you have listed above.

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  8. Love the pillowcases you and others made and distributed, and would lllloooooovvvvvvveeeee to win the fabric to help out. I love doing projects such as this:) Thank you:)

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  9. You're pillowcase making party looks so fun! I am planning to make a couple...it looks like a fun little project to do with my bible study group....

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  10. Amy G from Jamestown Quilter Bees10:41 AM

    The ladies from our quilter bee are making quilts to donate to a group home for Christmas. We are going to make pillowcases as our wrapping paper. Love the cheery fabric, pics. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Anonymous10:42 AM

    I have 29 in progress right now for my local women's shelter. I did 35 last Christmas for them, and also gave each resident a brand new pillow. Had a yard sale with the proceeds going to my project, and also lots of donated fabric from friends. What a fun way to you had to share the love!!

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  12. Wow, good idea! Seeing your bright, fun pillowcases made me want to make some fun ones, too!
    aliben7 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  13. Joyce1:08 PM

    Made and donated my first pillowcase recently and will be making more soon!

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  14. We are sewing pillowcases for deployed Service Men & Women this month and I would love to include these! Thanks for the chance! :)

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  15. Anonymous1:40 PM

    I am part of "Molly's Adopt A Sailor" and we make pillowcases to send to the combat hospital and ships etc. Would love to be able to send some beautiful fabric to an awesome service woman!!!

    Luckydux@sbcglobal.net

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  16. Awesome! I'd love to help out!

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  17. Awesome, I would love to, I think I need to get some of my church ladies around here together to donate some for the women's shelter. Thanks for the motivation!

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  18. This would be so fun! My girls and I would absolutely LOVE to participate!
    Sewhappyeverafter@att.net

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  19. That's awesome! I have been thinking of making some for this challenge anyway, to use up some of my stashed fabrics!

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  20. Anonymous10:10 PM

    Would love to try and sew some pillowcases!
    Sammypoohperkins@gmail.com

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  21. I'd love to enter and help out. :0)

    heartmade_creations@yahoo.com

    -Cassandra
    Heartmade Creations

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  22. Jan Richards1:16 AM

    Thanks for a chance to win some of your great fabrics and patterns to make the pillowcases.

    philrwa@mashell.com

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  23. I can sew pillowcases! Carol dressagirltucson@gmail.com

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  24. Anonymous6:19 AM

    I love pillowcases...I am an area coordinator for ConKerr Cancer in central Vermont. Our group makes pillowcases for area hospitals for kids with cancer. So I am behind your efforts 110%. There is nothing better than seeing the smiles of the kids when they get a pillowcase!! Keep up the great work! Check out www.conkerrcancer.org to learn more. Carleen Eaton

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  25. I would love to donate them!

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  26. I would love to make a few pillowcases and donate them to area charities! I have noticed the cute and colorful patterns on the All People Quilt site. Thanks for being a sponsor!

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  27. How wonderful, I'd love to help!

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  28. Thanks for this opportunity to make a pillowcase.
    Mine would go to foster kid's house.

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  29. Your groups sewing pillow cases are so inspiring! I would love to make some at home and find a worthy place to donate. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

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  30. i would love to make some (2) pillowcases and donate them to the children's hospital in seattle, the oncology floor -- although my granddaughter was treated at primary childrens in slc, i know the need for bright and cheery pillowcases for children who are confined to hospital for looooong periods of time .... thanks so much .... darlene

    dharrisc at gmail dot com

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  31. Terri H (terri1225@gmail.com)11:43 PM

    I would also like to help out. I have a couple of charities already in mind.

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  32. Your pillowcase party looks like a lot of fun! :) I'd love to make a pillowcase too! :)
    bcgeates at netbistro dot com

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  33. Love all the bright colors. I'd love to get fabric to make 2!!

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  34. LOve all the bright colors, have made some pillowcases for challenge before but would love to add two more to their total, Thanks for the giveaway.

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  35. I would love to make some and donate them to our local hospital.

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  36. I would be more than happy to help:) Love all the colors.

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  37. IS it too late to enter my comment

    Thank you for all you do to make life cheerier with a pillowcase..or two..or 39!

    mabbettlorraine at yahoo dot com

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