FACEBOOK QUILTS BEYOND BORDERS

Facebook Quilts Beyond Borders is a remarkable grassroots organization that utilizes a unique blend of social media, community participation, and old-fashioned craftsmanship to bring people together across national divides through the universal language of quilting. Founded in 2011 by American quilter Jennifer Payne, the organization has exploded in popularity in just a few short years and now connects quilters from around the world through their Facebook group which has over 500,000 members.

FACEBOOK QUILTS BEYOND BORDERS

Jennifer, who had long enjoyed quilting as a hobby, noticed how quilts told personal, cultural, and historical stories through their fabrics, patterns, and stitches. She realized quilting could be a platform to share kindness across borders in a way that engaged people from all backgrounds. She began an initial Facebook group focused on swapping quilt patterns between American and European quilters curious about each other's traditions. The group immediately resonated with thousands seeking connection.

This gave Jennifer the idea to expand further and launch Quilts Beyond Borders as a full-fledged initiative. The concept was simple yet profoundly impactful - by pairing individual quilters from different countries randomly through the Facebook group, they could get to know each other, swap cultural information, and collaborate long-distance on quilts symbolizing their newfound international friendship. These quilts would then be gifted to organizations aiding refugees or other vulnerable groups as a tangible symbol of welcome and compassion crossing boundaries. 

Quilts Beyond Borders exploded in membership as word spread of its inspiring goal to use the universal language of quilting to foster intercultural relationships and provide warmth and comfort to those in need regardless of nationality or creed. Membership includes quilters representing over 180 countries across all seven continents, with some located in even the most remote areas of the globe now connected through their shared love of quilting. 

The Facebook group functions as both an online social network and organizational hub. Quilters from different cultures and regions are paired randomly through the site administrators. They use private Facebook messaging and photo sharing tools to exchange ideas, patterns, fabrics representing their home regions, and pose questions about each other's quilting traditions. This gives members a unique window into places they may never travel to personally.

Over months of digital collaboration, friendships form across barriers as meaningful as culture, language, politics and distance. Paired quilters then work together long-distance using online guidance to design and piece unique quilts celebrating their new international bond and cultural exchange. Complex patchwork patterns, intricate embroidered designs, traditional fabrics and techniques of both partners fuse into works of art representing the bridges built between individuals.

Once completed, these "quilts of friendship" are gifted during annual global distribution events to organizations aiding populations in dire need of comfort, connection and hope. Past recipients include refugee camps, children's hospitals, women's shelters, hospices and community outreach programs on every continent. The quilts, each with their own layered story symbolizing international care and concern provide both warmth and inspiration through challenging times.  

Quilts Beyond Borders has evolved into a dynamic virtual village where friendships, cultural understanding and appreciation for shared humanity grows through the universal language of quilting. Its reach and impact have grown exponentially in just a few years thanks to social media connecting its diverse, global membership who take part both online and through real world acts of kindness without borders.