Shaadee Ighanian, a former children's apparel designer for the Gap and Old Navy, has a heartfelt mission to comfort victims of the Eaton fire in Los Angeles through her grassroots campaign, Stitch by Stitch: Quilts for Altadena. Shaadee and her husband, along with their seven-year-old daughter, live in a Glendale-style bungalow in Altadena. She’s reimagined their communal living room to be a colorful sewing studio where she creates quilts and sweatshirts that she sells on Etsy. She kicked off the campaign from her own living room. It provides guidance to inspire individuals to donate quilts, each accompanied by a “love note” detailing the quilt’s backstory and its maker.
In her previous roles, Shaadee found herself removed from the garment-making process. She wanted a less commercial, more tactile, beautiful depth of connection, and that’s where quilting came in. Her campaign’s Instagram post reached more than 1,000 followers in just seconds. This increase in demand heightened her immediate plea for quilt donations to help those displaced by the terrible blaze. Shaadee even hand delivered some of the quilts herself. She makes sure each recipient feels the love and support they deserve as they go through this difficult period in their life.
“It’s just me, my notebook and a stack of quilts in my living room,” said Shaadee Ighanian.
We’ve done an amazing job getting those quilts out to the communities. At the Altadena Kindred free store, 14 quilts went out in under 15 minutes! Shaadee’s personal touch doesn’t end with creating beautiful quilts. She personally engages with each recipient to learn about their needs, giving them a real feeling of autonomy and empowerment.
“I ask them what their needs are,” Shaadee explained. “I send them pictures of what I have in stock and let them choose what they want.”
Shaadee is deeply committed to demonstrating that quilts are so much more than pieces of fabric. Just like a great warm hug, they are an ultimate source of comfort. Each quilt reflects the labor and love poured into its making, providing comfort in the eye of the storm.
“Quilts are like a hug. You can feel all the time that was spent making them when you wrap yourself in the layers of fabric,” she noted.
The campaign hasn’t just given quilters a global creative outlet, it’s created connection among them, as one moving story shows. One woman even donated one of her very first quilts! She wanted to reach out in love to a soul she’d never encountered but somehow felt called to support.
“I thought that was so special. The quilt came full circle: This woman was gifting one of her first quilts to someone she didn’t even know,” reflected Shaadee.
For Wendy Self, a recipient who lost her home in the Kerr fire, the quilt she received has brought tremendous peace and solace. Her encounter with Shaadee’s sweet young daughter is an example of how empathy and raw generosity can prevail.
“Shaadee’s daughter was lying on the couch under a quilt that her mother had made. She said to me, ‘I’m so sorry you lost your house,’ unprompted. I told her, ‘I’m sorry too, but a lot of nice people are helping us’,” Wendy shared.
Beyond physical warmth, the quilt represents all the good will and support that has come from the community and the generosity that has surrounded her. Wendy’s daughter took the quilt back to college, bringing with her this physical manifestation of love.
“The quilt is so comforting – I sent my 20-year-old daughter back to UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara) with it – but witnessing this young girl’s exposure to acts of service and generosity really stuck with me,” Wendy added.
For her and countless others like her who lost everything in the fire, these quilts represent healing. They shine as examples of resilience in the face of hardship.
“A quilt is just what I need right now,” Wendy affirmed.
Shaadee is calling on her quilter friends to join her in this commitment. She brings attention to how incredibly powerful these acts of kindness can be for people who are grieving.
“For those who have lost everything, a quilt is more than just fabric – it’s a tangible embrace, a moment of peace in the chaos. So, I’m reaching out to my fellow quilters to help make that happen,” stated Shaadee.
Recognizing that rebuilding will take time for those affected by the fire, Shaadee's initiative offers immediate emotional support through these handmade quilts.
“It’s going to take people a long time to rebuild,” she acknowledged.
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