School Charity: Finished

This weekend I was able to finish up the school charity quilt. To learn more from an earlier post, click here. Short story, every year our school does a quilt raffle to support families in need for the holidays. 2016 was my year to make the donation! Here is how it came out ... 

When I first started machine binding it was a hot mess, now after many quilts those corners are finally worth smiling about! Plus, it probably holds up so much better than hand stitching. 

Details:

Finished Size: 56 inches x 64 inches, Pattern: Squares and Stripes by Cluck Cluck Sew: Fabric: Stash, Batting: 80/20 blend, Thread: Connecting Threads - Mint, Quilting: Straight Line - 1 inch.

The new batting I purchased is much thicker than what I have used in the past. So thick I actually had to release some of the pressure on my walking foot so it would fit underneath. Needless to say, it's nice and heavy. Now it just needs to find a new home!

School Charity Quilt

At my school the family and consumer science teacher has always donated a raffle quilt. All the proceeds go to help needy families in our building, as many of the families need help with the holidays. 

The torch along has been passed along! 

When pulling fabrics from my stash, I went with a gender neutral theme. The quilt will be done using Cluck Cluck Sew's tutorial Squares and Stripes. It looks like a nice quick pattern!

My absolute favorites in the bunch! 

Best Wishes Quilt

Earlier I had asked my Aunt if she wanted a quilt for a chairty event she was hosing for Make a Wish New Hampshire. I was so honored when she said yes! I can proudly say this quilt is going towards fulfilling children's wishes in the community. Hence the name Best Wishes.

Absolutely delighted.

Overflowing scrap bin? No problem!  

I started pulling pieces to make this quilt top in attempt to close the lid on my scrap pail. Check my "On the Issue of Scraps" post to learn more about how I pulled the color scheme for this top. Mostly I pulled pinks, purples, teals, blues, and low volumes and kept pulling and cutting.

Eventually I had enough for a twin sized top. I can now close the lid on my scrap pail but this quilt didn't put as many scraps to rest as I hoped.

The backing of this quilt is a light gray flannel, super soft and snuggly. Once it get's washed it's going to be hard to part with! Every scrappy quilt I make becomes another favorite, I just love them.

QUILT DETAILS: 

• Finished Size: 64 inches by 88 inches 

• Pattern: Boxes by Cluck Cluck Sew

• Fabric: Small pieces from Stash

• Batting: 80/20 blend

• Thread: Connecting Threads - Blush

• Quilting: Free Motion - Loops and Hearts

Fingers crossed this makes some money!! 

Fabric Used: - 15 yards

Net Loss: - 87 yards YTD

Little Charity Quilting for NHMQG

Our fearless Charity Committee members at NHMQG handed out packs of 15 blocks to make a small baby quilt. We used Cotton Couture from Michael Miller and the Janome 50 blocks. 

Not having much to work with I went with an alternating hourglass pattern to increase the size. Then added a contrasting color to add more visual appeal. I used Kona White, Ash, and Curry.

For this quilt I went with 100% machine binding. It was my second attempt. Last time I sewed the front then the back. This time I did the opposite, back then front.

I like the look much better. AND to highlight my improved corners, check that out!

The backing is pieced from Cotton + Steel and DS that was in my stash. I love the jewel tones in this quilt and wanted to pull those bolder colors. Not to mention the deep magenta/purple binding.

Yum

Someone was not happy I was trying to photograph plants and not spending time with her!
Quilts acceptable, plants not so much.

Net: - 2.25 yards, YTD: - 21.75

More HST's for Charity

Last one for a while ... 

The end has arrived.  Throughout the last year, I have systematically worked through my WIPs and quilted all my finished tops. This last check in the charity column was super rewarding! 

The quilt started with 40 - 10 inch square scraps and became HST's. Shamefully, I remember there being no dent in the scrap bin, even with the scrappy binding. 

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 48 inches x 60 inches 

• Pattern: Half Square Tringles

• Fabric: Scraps

• Batting: High-Loft Polyester 

• Thread: Connecting Threads - Lavender 

• Quilting: Straight Line

Usually with charity quilts, I like to experiment with something new. 

For this quilt, I tried high-loft batting. Truth be told, it wasn't my favorite. The back puckered as the spray basting stopped holding. It looks very fluffy and inviting, but a pain to quilt. 

Verdict: not again. I am going to stick with my beloved 80/20 blend. 

Net: - 4.5 yards

Year to Date: -21 yards

NHMQG: Charity Blocks

My guilds charity committee put out a call for a new charity quilt.  They made these super cute mini bundles of Michael Miller fabric for the holiday party. My sticky fingers got my hands on two! The committee asked us to make blocks from Janome's 100 Blocks in 50 Days. Here is what I decided on ...

It should be fun to see how all these blocks come together!

A Couple Charity Quilts

When I first started quilting about four years ago, I made a bunch of quilt tops but never finished them. This summer I cleaned out my sewing area and found them all. Not really knowing what to do with them I decided to finish them up for charity. I bought a sheet set (on sale!!) from Target to use as backings. My Great Aunt told me she always uses a sheet for the quilt backing, so I thought I would try it out. The grey pattern worked with three of the quilt tops so it was perfect, and it quilted the same with no issues. Here are the two that I got finished. 

BLUE SAMPLER:

This quilt was a lesson in fabric quantity. I wanted to make a scrappy quilt, so I bought a ton of fabrics in green, teal, and blue. Then started making up blocks. I needed up with enough blocks to make FOUR quilts, oops. Lesson learned. I kept one, my best friend from home got another, and my cousin got the third. That left me with one more! 

I used poly batting for the first time as well (great time to try out new things) and I love how much it make the quilting pop.  Although it's much lighter in weight than I am used too. For the quilting I stippled using a slate blue thread, then put the whole thing together with a scrappy binding. 

WATERMELON QUILT: 

This quilt was made with a variety of pink and green patterns so make up with watermelonish quilt. I don't remember much about the process or the inspiration. I went with straight line stitching for the quilting in a bright pink thread, once again using the Target sheet for the back and the poly batting. The binding is a pink polka dot I had cut into 2.5 inch strips a while back and I had enough of the same color to bind the whole thing. Sometimes things just work out :) 

Both of these quilts (and a pile more) are headed over to a local charity here in Southern New Hampshire called Marguerite's Place. They help woman and children in transition. Some of the students I have taught in the past have gone through this program to get out of a bad situation and back on their feet. Anyone else have a local charity near them that is a favorite donation spot?

- Patch & Chels 

One of "Those" Weeks

The past week has been a no-production kinda week. I have been sick, but as a teacher it's more work to stay home then it is to actually go in and teach. So, I have been going to work, and then going to bed at 6 p.m. This little sick spell has drastically cut into my sewing and blog reading time.  Putting me very behind in everything.

Now, it's Sunday and I have nothing to blog about, so I sewed up my last two charity blocks for our guild. Minimal production, but something. If you are getting comments on your posts from two weeks ago, I am also trying to read through my Bloglovin' feed.  Can I read 300+ posts in one day??? It's going to be a blog marathon. Hopefully, I can get some sewing time in later so I will have projects to blog about later this week.  Being sick is the pits.

Also, how do you like my new background? They are super easy to make, just purchase 2 - 2' square boards (I got these at Lowes) and painted each side for a total of 4 different colors. I was getting tired of with my white backgrounds and this was a cheap fix.  I used up some left over paint.  This color is actually the Pantone color of the year! You can also see my new chalkboard, my old one is traveling. If you would like to host the traveling chalkboard let me know! 

- Patch & Chels

New Hampshire MQG

Big news, I finally joined a quilt guild!!!!!!  (New Hampshire Modern Quilt Guild) Being naturally shy around new people it was kinda (ok, very) nerve wracking! Although everyone there was super nice and very welcoming, they really went out of their way to introduce me to the group. I am slightly ashamed at myself for not joining sooner!

Here are some blocks I put together for the guild's charity blanket. All the fabric was donated by Hawthorne Threads, how very nice of them to help the cause!  The tutorial is Scrappy X & + from Badskirt.

Sew long for now, 

Patch & Chels