The artefact chosen to represent Bell House’s Quilt Academy is a mini incubator quilt, of the kind they donate to King’s College Hospital’s neonatal unit. The Quilt Academy is a regular group that (in normal times) meets weekly at Bell House to work on both individual and group quilting projects. The free Thursday drop-in sessions are a hive of activity where experienced and welcoming tutors share their skills with less experienced sewers or even complete beginners.
Incubator quilts in the making…
Since 2019 the quilters have been making incubator covers for premature babies at King’s Hospital, in collaboration with Project Linus. These are specially designed, technical quilts that cover the incubators in the neonatal unit. They protect premature babies from light, which lets them use their energy to breath and grow, they make the baby’s immediate environment a little quieter, and, because every quilt is unique, they allow parents to identify where their baby is in the unit very quickly. When the baby goes home the quilt goes too, to be used as a playmat.
Mini quilt
In the last year (despite the pandemic) 170 incubator quilts, and over 300 since the project began, have been donated. The quilts are given anonymously and are always received with grateful thanks from staff and parents. Every quilt donated saves King’s neonatal department over £300 which means that around £100,000 pa would have been spent by King’s on incubator quilt covers if these quilts were not made and donated. That money is protected in the King’s budget and used in the neonatal ward. Led by Janis and Marianne, the Quilt Academy meets every Thursday between 10am-4pm (once Bell House reopens). It’s a friendly and social group, with lots of opportunity for talking over a cup of tea or over a cutting table! The fun, creative and supportive atmosphere is especially ideal for anyone wanting to get out and meet new people.