May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and during this month, Creativity Shell makes it their focus to raise awareness for Youth Mental Health in particular.

The Creativity Shell is a nonprofit organization that teaches classes such as sewing/textile arts, cooking, building and other creative trades to students in their private studios, libraries, schools, ABA therapy centers, the juvenile justice system--as well as shelters that rescue children from homelessness and human trafficking. All of their classes are designed to teach children essential life skills & practical abilities, and boost youth mental health.

Last year, we called on sewists to make and donate Love Bugs, and this year, Creativity Shell has brainstormed up an adorable follow up: Sew a Little Love Hug.  For both of these projects, donating a Love Bug or Love Hug allows children to receive a handmade comfort toy, which comes with the knowledge and positive reinforcement that someone out there cares and sees them.

So what IS a Love Hug?  Whether you want to add faces to make a full-on caterpillar, or add extra pockets for heat or ice packs that you can wrap around you, this sweet project is just plain fun.  All you need are 10"x10" Layer Cake squares (the Love Hug above used 18 squares and is about 4.5 feet long), fiberfill or other stuffing, and any buttons or trims you'd like to add.  If you want to use up a full Layer Cake, you have enough to make this smaller more child-size caterpillar and a larger one more suited to adults using the remaining squares from the layer cake--perfect for a parent or guardian and child to sew together, or to jump in to make one and donate one.

Making Love Hugs doesn't have to be only for donation though!  These are ideal projects for young sewists looking for something fun to start their sewing education, where they can pick up new skills and problem solving ability.  In their physical class locations, Creativity Shell is focused on providing class environments for youth arts education--just another wonderful way to teach life skills and build confidence for students.

In terms of fabric, Creativity Glows by Creativity Shell is perfect for these adorable projects.  Bright colors, fun prints, and a touch of glow in the dark.  Creativity Glows is in shops now, with precuts and kits arriving as we speak.

To download the pattern, Creativity Shell requests a small donation to go toward their arts education and youth mental health programs.  Shop and read more on Creativity Shell's website. If you are a quilt shop owner with an online Moda account, check in the Creativity Shell section of Marketing Tools for additional information to help you with your programs.