Community sew event will support warmth of Project Linus

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on August 7, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Few things can be more comforting for a child experiencing hardship than the embrace of a blanket, and Project Linus is looking to kickstart the spirit of charity with a community sew.

Tracie Brushett, Medicine Hat chapter chair for Project Linus and owner of Thimbles & Thread Sewing Studio, explains that this Saturday is the kickoff for a long-term opportunity to donate and provide for youths in need.

“Project Linus is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that provides handmade blankets. They can be quilted, crocheted, knitted, or just sewn blankets to children who are facing illness, trauma, challenging life experiences where you know they’ve been removed from their parents, anything like that,” said Brushett.

On Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at Thimbles and Thread, those with a hand for sewing will be able to use patterns and donated fabric to create blankets, or bring in their own projects to work on, either on their own machines or machines available on site.

The blankets created will go where they can provide needed comfort for youths, ranging from the NICU and Ronald McDonald House to Phoenix Safe House and McMan Youth, Family & Community Services.

There will be a donation basket present at the store moving forward, as well, so even if the specific day doesn’t work for those seeking to contribute, they can still donate blankets or fabric. Monetary donations will also be happily accepted.

The cause is something near and dear to Brushett’s heart; she founded the local Project Linus chapter earlier this year, something she’s wanted since her business opened in November of last year.

“When I started up my business, I wanted to be able to partner with a charity to donate blankets to. But I really wanted one that, you know, had a lot of great meaning and was possibly overlooked, and a customer of mine one day asked if I had ever heard of Project Linus,” said Brushett. “I did some research, having worked for 27 years in the health-care industry and having four kids of my own who we’ve experienced trauma through the loss of a home in a fire, this was where my heart went.

“We have some business donations that are coming up in the form of Tim Hortons donating coffee and donuts and tea on Saturday, so there’ll be refreshments for the people who come out. It’s just a community event to get together with like minded people and just make blankets for a really great cause.”

Thimbles & Thread is located at 3168 Dunmore Road.

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