Blanket Donation  Guidelines

GUIDELINES TO HELP IN YOUR BLANKET MAKING

Project Linus Guidelines

Project Linus welcomes blankets of all styles, including quilts, tied quilts, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors. Blankets must be new, handmade and washable. You don't have to be an expert to create a blanket that is beautiful to a child!

Here's how you can help:

Make blankets from NEW, CLEAN, WASHABLE materials in infant, child or teen-friendly colors. If you are making fleece blankets this chapter only accepts single layer fleece. Remember, these blankets are meant to be colorful, cheerful and cuddly.

Please do not make your blankets out of tapestry, burlap, upholstery fabric, double knits, felt, vinyl, wool or wool yarn. Please do not use fabric or yarn that has been stored in a damp area or has a musty smell. Blankets that smell of smoke or other scents cannot be accepted.

Project Linus donates blankets to children from preemies to 18-year-olds. The majority of Project Linus blankets are 40" x 60" but children come in all different sizes so most sizes are acceptable. Suggested sizes are 30" x 36" for infants, 40" x 50" for toddlers,  40" x 60" for youth, 50" x 65" for teenagers, and 65" x 85" (up to 65" x 90") for Twin size blankets. Again, these are just suggestions. We do NOT need preemie blankets.  We also ask that you do not make blankets that are long narrow/skinny blankets: There aren't too many very skinny kids.  

Crochet, knit, quilt, double flannel receiving, minky & flannel receiving, crochet edge fleece, pre-quilted fabric with satin binding, or tie you're blankets or neatly finish the edge on polar fleece.

Please be sure to cut off the selvage (rolled/thin factory edge) edge of fleece before making your single layer fleece blanket.  Please don't make tight knots!  Knots should be soft and puffy.  When they are tied tight they are hard and make marks on kids skin when they curl up with the blankets.  (Directions on how to make the no-sew fleece blankets are available from your Coordinator.) Please quality check that fleece blankets are not wavy/curling or look like fitted sheets.  If so please make small snips between knots of the blanket so it no longer curls or is wavy.  Knots should NOT be touching each other.  If they are they are tied too tight.  Make the little snips between knots to flatten the blanket.  When a fleece blanket is folded into quarters it should be relatively square.  If it's rounded it's tied too tight and you need to make the little snips.

Make blankets from 100% cotton fabric, flannel, polar fleece or acrylic yarn.

Check your blanket carefully for straight pins.

We hope these guidelines will help you with your blanket-making.