Gather your Scout troop (or guild!) for a day of sewing, service, and snacks. There’s nothing quite like the hum of machines, the rhythm of rotary cutters, and the laughter that fills the air when quilters gather to sew for a cause.

Hosting a Service Sew Day is the perfect way to combine creativity, community, and giving back — all while working toward your Quilts of Valor Badge or Donate a Quilt Badge goals.

Here’s your complete toolkit for organizing a fun, fulfilling day of sewing for service.

🧭 The Mission

To create donation-ready quilts, pillowcases, or quilt tops for veterans, shelters, or local community groups.

🕓 Sample Schedule

Time	Activity
9:30 AM	Arrival + Setup (Coffee + Chat)
10:00 AM	Kickoff + Welcome — share who you’re sewing for
10:15 AM	Sewing Begins (music optional 🎶)
12:30 PM	Lunch break + gratitude circle
1:30 PM	Quilt top assembly or binding blitz
3:30 PM	Group photo + tidy up
4:00 PM	Wrap-up + snacks (cookies or s’mores optional!)

Scout Tip: Most groups focus on piecing quilt tops during the event and send them to a longarm quilter (or volunteer with the QOVF LongArmy) afterward for quilting. If you have local longarmers in your troop, coordinate ahead of time to hand off finished tops for quilting and binding later!

🧵 Suggested Roles

• Cutting Crew: Preps strips, squares, and borders
• Press Pit: Keeps everything crisp and ready
• Piecing Patrol: Chains those blocks together
• Quilting Corps: Coordinates with local longarm volunteers or prepares backings/battings for post-event quilting
• Binding Bunker: Works on finishing touches or labels
• Label Lodge: Handles writing names, attaching thank-you cards, or assembling presentation cases

🍪 Snack List (Camp Vibes)

Keep the energy (and morale) high with a table full of easy, shareable snacks that fuel creativity!

• Trail mix bar (nuts, chocolate, dried fruit, pretzels)
• S’mores brownies or Rice Krispies
• Big thermos of coffee + cocoa station
• Fresh fruit and sparkling water
• Optional: “Scout Fuel” stickers for snack bags

Need more snack-spiration? Check out The Ultimate Quilt Camp Snack Guide for my favorite make-ahead recipes, trail mix ideas, and cozy campfire treats that are perfect for sew days and retreats.

🧹 Clean-Up Checklist

☐ Collect leftover scraps for future projects or pet beds
☐ Wipe down tables and ironing boards
☐ Tidy cutting mats and return shared rulers
☐ Label and bag finished quilt tops separately from fully bound quilts
☐ Make a plan for quilting and binding any tops that aren’t yet finished
☐ Take a group photo and share on Circle!

💌 Follow-Up

• Share your finished projects in the Main Chat on Circle
• Quilts of Valor Badge or Donate a Quilt Badge
• Tag @quilt_scouts on Instagram
• Thank your host shop or Base Camp with a small card or note

Scout Tip: Print this toolkit and hang it up at your next Base Camp meetup — it makes an amazing one-day event that feels like a mini Quilt Camp and gives back to your community.

Ready to Sew with Purpose?

Join Quilt Scouts and become part of a creative, adventurous quilting community where every month brings a new badge, fresh tutorials, and Scout-style projects that make quilting fun again.

Earn badges, connect with fellow Scouts, and fill your quilting journey with adventure, community, and heart. 💛