Cold weather did not stop several women (and a few men and children) from participating recently in an annual charitable event that helps people around the world keep warm. The annual "comforter blitz" brings these people together for three days to complete as many comforters, or tied quilts, as possible to send to the very poor in many countries. This was my fifth year to participate in this project.

One of the definitions of blitz is "a sudden, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task." The complete process of putting these comforters together takes the effort of many, and it truly is a flurry of activitiy to get them finished within the three-days.  All year, women cut out and sew together fabric scraps in squares or rectangles to form a pleasing design, about 60 x 80 inches completed. They then find a large piece of fabric for the backing, and donate those items to a central location. The top and back are boxed and taken to the site where the actual "blitz" occurs.

Several steps happen during the production:

- Batting is cut to closely match the comforter size.

- Wooden quilting stands and sticks are used to pin in the backing. The batting is unfolded and smoothed onto the backing, then the top is laid out straight on top of the batting and the edges pinned through all the layers.

- The sticks and fabrics are transferred to other stands, where one to eight women gather around to knot together the layers.

- The comforter is removed from the sticks and taken to the cutting tables where the backing edges are trimmed to about two inches from the top. Extra batting is cut off, also.

- The comforter moves to the next table, where the backing is folded over and corners mitered to close in the raw edges.

- The tied quilts go to several people at sewing machines to sew down the backing to permanently attach it to the top.

- Hooray, the comforter is complete! 

- Now, repeat this entire process several times a day.

Each comforter has about a dozen people working to complete it -- quite a process! Depending on the number of people attending, there are 250 to 375 comforters completed at this event. And, there are several similar events all over the country where even more comforters are made, Also, many, many individuals make comforters are their own to contribute to the need. If you would like more information on how to contribute to this project, please let me know!