What to do with your finished blankets

Exceptional blanket quality guidelines


​If you can sew, you can support My Very Own Blanket by creating material blankets or quilts.

Material blankets are sewn from cotton, flannel, fleece and other materials appropriate for a child or youth.  Pieced fabric blankets – both tied, like those above, and quilted – are the most common type of material blanket we receive, but sometimes material blankets are made from a whole piece of fabric with the edges finished in various ways.
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Here are photos of some beautiful material blankets and quilts that we have received.
Blanket Sizes and Appearance
​​Our blankets are given to children and youth of all ages -- infants up to teenage youth. Approximate dimensions for quilts or other material blankets: 36” x 36” (small), 40” x 50-60” (medium), 60” x 80” (large). These measurements are suggestions and can vary.
 
All colors, themes and patterns appropriate for children & youth are acceptable. We do ask that you avoid themes related to violence or war (guns, knives, soldiers, etc.), drugs/alcohol, or logos/images related to causes (such as cancer ribbons). Blankets should not have any embellishments such as pockets, beads, zippers or buttons.  All blankets should be machine washable and dryable.

You do not need to wash your completed blankets before donating them unless they have come in contact with pet hair or were made in an environment where someone smokes.

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Special tags – You can order our special tags on our website to pick up or to have shipped to you. You can attach them to the blankets, and they will be ready for you to donate to children in foster care in your area! 
 
It’s simple to do.  Here’s how:
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Leave the first line BLANK.  Sign your first name with permanent marker on the SECOND LINE of our special tag after the heart that says “Handmade by.”  On the THIRD LINE (My Special Note to You) we encourage you to add a message to the child. This will show the child in foster care who receives your blanket that someone truly made this “just for them!” 

To sew the tag on the blanket: 
​The tags are sewn on the back of the blanket, near a corner, at least 2” from both edges.
You can use a straight or zigzag stitch, sewing ¼ - ½” in from all four edges of the tag.  You can use white thread or thread that coordinates with the blanket color.
What to do with your finished blankets

​If you do not live near our workshop, we encourage you to donate your blankets directly to an agency in your area that helps children in foster care.  We have made contact with at least one agency in each state in the U.S.   

Check out our DELIVERING BLANKETS AGENCY LIST to find an agency near you and for suggestions and options if you cannot find a nearby agency.