Our goal is to challenge and inspire as many quilters as possible to make a QOV, whether it be a single quilt block, a set of blocks, a quilt top, or a completed quilt – and submit it by May 31 so that it can be given to an active duty service member or Veteran who has served in a war zone. These quilts will be shipped to Richard and Tink Linhart who will deliver them to our service members and veterans.

This is a country specific challenge as this is for the USA QOV organization. The QOV mission statement says: “The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover ALL combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. This foundation is not about politics. It’s about people.” There are QOV organizations in Canada and in the United Kingdom. In addition, there are organizations in  Australia, that provide service members with quilts. We in the US appreciate that the service members in these countries have served with us in war and peace. We welcome everyone everywhere to this challenge, but know that the QOVs will be presented to US military personnel and Veterans. We do love all of our worldwide friends.

How you can participate in this challenge: You can submit a single quilt block, a quilt top, or a finished quilt. Single quilt blocks should measure 12-1/2 inches unfinished. The minimum size for a quilt top or quilt is 55″ x 65″. We’d like to focus on Stars, but please feel free to make any quilt design you choose so long as it represents patriotic colors. More information and guidelines for quilts can be found here. Guidelines to officially enter this challenge can be found below.

 Dates of Challenge: April 1 – May 31, 2012

 Activities:

Blog Hop April 2-6

Links to Quilters and Blogs supporting the Challenge

Marjorie’s Quilting Bee blogging about Stars and Quilts from April through May: Quilts that will be featured throughout this period will focus on quilts that can be made quickly and simply and will include instructions for cutting with the Accuquilt cutting system as well as all other methods of construction. Each of these quilts will feature star blocks that can be either machine embroidered or pieced. These quilt patterns will include Patience Corners, Single Irish Chain, standard sashed quilts, and others.

Facebook promotion by friends: We ask everyone who is making a quilt for the Challenge to take photos and tell your friends about it on Facebook.

Supporting blog posts by friends: We encourage all bloggers who are making quilts for the Challenge to blog about them and let us know so that we can add your blog to our list of links of blog posts about your Challenge quilt.

Giveaways for random drawing of individuals who contribute to the QOV Challenge.

Receipt of Quilts: send your quilts or quilt blocks to

Richard and Tink Linhart
333 West Brown Deer Road #130
Milwaukee, WI 53217

Primary Goal of Challenge:

Additional Opportunity for Challenge:

Jim Simons of Quilter’s Rule has issued another QOV challenge. Click on the link for more information. Tink Linhart will allow participants of this Challenge to also enter his Challenge, and she will be responsible for getting your quilt to him. He is a close friend of the Linhart’s, so you can join two Challenges with a single quilt. Please include a note with your quilt so that she will get it to him for the Quilter’s Rule Challenge which has an August 2012 deadline.

 

Guidelines for QOV Quilts

 Sponsors and Donors:

Karen Utley – 12 yards of Blank Textiles Fabric (2 yard cuts)

Aurifil (Alex Veronelli) – Aurifil thread (7 sample packs and the Mark Lipinsky Basics Collection (12 spools of Mako 50 wt, 1400 yards).

Accuquilt – Baby GO and five dies of the winner’s choice

Love Bug Studios – six month subscription to Blocks to Die For magazine

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Marjorie’s Quilting Bee – free machine embroidery files for those who want to make star quilts.

 Prizes and Giveaways for Challenge Participants:

Winners of the prizes listed above will be chosen from those who officially enter the challenge as described below: Records will be kept by the Linharts and Marjorie Busby will coordinate getting the prizes to the winners.

 

To officially enter this QOV Challenge:

1) Leave a comment on the designated blog post to tell us that you are participating in the Challenge and will be making quilt blocks, quilt top(s), or finished quilts to be given to active service members and/or veterans who have served in a war zone.

2) Send your blocks/tops/quilts to Dick Linhart (see address above) and label each item with a tag that includes your name, email (and blog). Blocks should measure 12.5 inches unfinished and quilt tops/quilts should measure a minimum of 55″ x 65″.

Selection of winners: You will receive points based on a formula that calculates number of quilt blocks by square inch. This gives a proportional number of points for those who make only one or two blocks versus those who make a complete quilt top. Finished quilts will receive the appropriate number of points for blocks and this will be multiplied by 2. Each person will then have one entry per point and selection will be made using a random number selector.

Points formula for quilt tops:

width x height = total area

(total area  / 144) x 1.5 = equivalent number of blocks = total number of entries

Points formula for a finished quilt:

equivalent number of blocks (see above) x 2 = total number of entries