A stitch in time of need for children

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Ruth Dickman works on a child’s quilt in her home. The quillter uses patterns from children’s books and programs, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, seen next to her, and sends them to Quilts for Kids. Photo by Kelly Overton

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November 6, 2010

Local quilter, 92, sews for children in hospitals

By Andrea McCann Washington Times-Herald The Washington Times-Herald Sat Nov 06, 2010, 08:00 AM EDT

WASHINGTON — Ruth Dickman has been creating quilts for the better part of eight decades, but she doesn’t do it to make a profit.

“I made my first quilt when I was 16 years old,” the 92-year-old said. “I’ve made well over 100 quilts and I’ve never sold that first one.”

The philanthropist has made quilts for local organizations, including Red Cross, YMCA and the library, to auction off at fund raisers. Dickman also is an RSVP volunteer who helps make Teddy bears to comfort children in crisis situations and crochets hats and mittens for children in need.

Her current project is Quilts for Kids, which she discovered through an online forum for quilters. She said someone posted the question: What do you do with your quilts? Another forum user replied with information about the Quilts for Kids program: “volunteer quilters transforming fabrics into patchwork quilts that comfort children in need.” Intrigued, Dickman surfed her way to www.quiltsforkids.org. In the roughly three months since that time, she’s made about a dozen quilts and mailed them to the organization in Pennsylvania, which in turn distributes them to children’s hospitals and other places.

“It’s fun,” Dickman said. “I enjoy doing it. I have such a terrific stash of fabric, this is a good way to use it.”

The way the program works, a quilter can order a free kit that contains some of the supplies needed to make a youth-size quilt. The kit is shipped free of charge to the quilter, who then makes the quilt and mails it back. Kit recipients are asked to send a quilt or two of their own making along with the kit quilt if possible.

“(The kits) come with squares and patterns,” Dickman said. “You have to furnish the batting and postage to mail it back.”

She said the quilts are about the size of a lap robe and generally in bright, busy patterns children will enjoy. She’s made them with fire trucks, farm animals, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and other cheery patterns. However, Dickman said she recently learned that pediatrics includes young people up to age 22, so larger, more subdued quilts would be acceptable. The only stipulation, she said, is that the quilts must be hand-sewn and not tied. She said this is to prevent the ties from catching on things.

“It’s a good way for a quilter who has a big stash of fabric to use up the fabric for a good cause,” Dickman said.

She’s on her third kit and always sends back extra quilts made from her own fabric collection with the kit quilt. One time she sent four quilts from her own fabric without even ordering a kit. She said it cost only $12.50 to send the four quilts via UPS.

Quilts for Kids is an international nonprofit organization operating since August 2000. They’ve distributed tens of thousands of quilts to children worldwide. The focus is to give comfort to children facing obstacles such as a long-term or life-threatening illness or abuse. Blankets also have been made for orphans in developing countries.

To learn more, go to www.quiltsforkids.org. Dickman said interested quilters may also feel free to contact her at 254-7378.

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