I am eager to invite everyone to join me in creating a "100 Wishes Quilt" for our baby. Here is a description of this cultural Chinese tradition that many adoptive families incorporate at home.
*So as not to commit plagiarism, I am quoting from this site: http://www.originalquilts.com/100_good_wishes_quilts.htm#What%20is%20a%20100%20Good%20Wishes%20Quilt)
What is a 100 Good Wishes Quilt?
To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby, and the other part of the cloth can go into a creative memory notebook with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation. It is a tradition to greet the new baby with a 100 Good Wishes Quilt. Although this is a Chinese tradition, it is a great tradition for any child to be welcomed this way. What a treat to read the good wishes when the child is older to know how much they were wanted!
This site has multiple photos to provide ideas on fabric choices and quilt patterns, but I have also enjoyed looking at the quilts featured in the blogs of other adoptive families (the blogs I follow are listed in the margin).
Other great sites:
If you want to participate:
~ Select a fabric that either represents your "wish" for our baby or one that you simply think would be fun for the quilt. 100% cotton washes/wears better. (It can be new fabric, or material that comes from a garment/textile/heirloom in your own home.)
~ The swatches need to be 5 inches in height and width.
~ Please send 4 gender neutral swatches from the fabric you choose: We can't be sure whether we will be referred a boy/girl or twins. (One swatch is used to create the memory book and the other is for the quilt. We want to have an extra set of squares in case we have twins.)
~ Along with your swatches, please include a personalized note to our child. You can provide advice, good wishes, a poem, joke, or any other thoughts to be added into a memory book. Your note will be placed alongside the extra swatch you've included so that your contribution to the quilt will always be identifiable.
~ Email me for my address: bebmarr@yahoo.com
I am so excited to begin this project! It is a great way to include everyone in our adoption process and give our baby a lifelong treasure that will always stand as a reminder of the love and commitment of family and friends.
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