Raffle Quilt

Once a year guild members assemble a large queen size quilt to be raffled as a fundraiser for the guild. When the guild was first formed these quilts were assembled biannually the same year as our quilt show and they were hand quilted. This has changed, the guild has had a raffle quilt for the last several years and they have been machine quilted.

How, where and why, you ask!

For the past few years, the Raffle Quilts have been assembled at a member's house or at St. John's Church located in Hope NJ. A guild member volunteers to chair the committee which is responsible for choosing a pattern, deciding on a color scheme and organizing guild members to assemble the guilt.

The committee then picks a date and asks guild members to attend. Members arrive at a place decided upon by the committee and start sewing, pinning, and ironing the minute they walk in the door. With a break for lunch, the top of the quilt is usually assembled by 5:00 or so.

Fabric is then donated or purchased by the guild for the borders, binding and backing. The guild has been fortunate, we usually have guild members who are long arm quilters and they have donated their time in quilting the raffle quilt.

The guild then applies for a license from the state to sell raffle tickets. After the treasurer obtains the license number, tickets are printed. Lelane Hoose has volunteered for a number of years to be responsible for ordering the tickets and keeping track of them as they are sold. A picture of the quilt is then taken and copies are made. Lelane sends members a set number of tickets and a picture of the quilt to their home. The guild asks that you sell or buy the tickets you receive. There are plenty of extra tickets available for members to sell if they would like additional tickets. The guild also displays the quilt and sells tickets at the Warren County Fair, Victorian Days and anywhere else they can be sold.

The raffle quilt is considered a fundraiser for the guild and it is important that members work as hard as they can to sell all the tickets.

How can you help!

You can volunteer to organize the raffle quilt. This consists of picking a pattern, deciding on the fabric and how to obtain the fabric, organizing guild members to assemble the quilt top and having the quilt either hand or machine quilted.

If you are new to the guild it is a great way to spend some time meeting guild members while sewing on the quilt. You do not need to be an expert quilter to participate in the assembly of the guild quilt. All level of quilters are welcome to join in.

We hope this helps you understand how and why the guild assembles a raffle quilt for the guild.

There has never been a year that our raffle quilt was not absolutely beautiful!