These blankets are given to the children as a gift, to snuggle and love. For many, the blankets become a precious part of their journey through life. We often hear from children (or families of children) who received blankets in the past about how much that blanket meant to them. Some of them grow up to become blanketeers themselves to pay it forward!

BLANKET GUIDELINES

All blankets donated to Project Linus must meet the following National Guidelines.

DO

• Make blankets from NEW, CLEAN, and WASHABLE materials in infant-, child-, or teen-friendly colors. Remember, these blankets are meant to be colorful, cheerful, and cuddly. 
• Secure the batting into outer seams and, if the blanket is tied, please anchor it every 6 inches, cutting ties to 1 inch or less in length. 
• Check your blanket carefully for straight pins. It is better that YOU find that pin than the child who receives your blanket. 
• Provide your name, phone number, mailing address, and e-mail address with your blanket.
• Crochet, knit, quilt, or tie your blankets — or tie or finish the edge on polar fleece. 
• Make blankets from 100% cotton fabric, flannel, polar fleece, or acrylic yarn.
• Pre-wash all fabric that you feel may cause a problem with bleeding or if the fabric is stiff from sizing.
• Weave in all yarn ends on crocheted and knitted blankets.

DON'T

• Make your blankets out of tapestry, burlap, upholstery fabric, double knit, felt, vinyl, wool, holiday fabric, or wool yarn.  
• Attach buttons or decorative items to a blanket. They can be a choking hazard. 
• Use thick fabric paint on the surface of your blanket. When coloring on muslin, use ONLY permanent fabric markers made specifically for fabric. 
• Use fabric that has been stored in a damp area and has a musty smell. The mold spores can cause an allergic reaction in a child and are very difficult to remove from the fabric.
• Wash your blankets with heavily scented detergents or fabric softeners. 

PLEASE NOTE

• Blankets that smell of smoke or strong chemicals (including detergent or perfumed fabric softeners) or that have pet hair on them cannot be accepted, as they may produce a severe allergic reaction in some children. Unfortunately, washing these blankets does not always remove the problem. Please use a lint brush or roller on your blankets if they are covered with thread or lint! 
• Another word about pins... PLEASE check, double check, and triple check your blankets for straight pins. Tags usually separate from the blankets when they are transported, leaving a lost pin just waiting to poke a child. 
• Please don't attach cards or notes to quilts. 
• Please don't attach buttons or other decorations that can come off and present a choking risk. 
• Be creative! Keep in mind that children will be selecting a blanket with which to cuddle and receive comfort. 
• We cannot accept commercially-made or used blankets.
• Blankets that don't meet Project Linus specifications will be donated elsewhere (if possible) or returned to the blanketeer.