Tag: Doing Good

July 2023 Donation Blocks

After seeing what Peggy did with a few of my coordinated donation blocks from last month, I decided to create some more for her to work with. Of course, that means going through my box and choosing the same colors. It doesn’t really matter to me which fabrics I use. It just matters that I use up the squares crammed in my little donation squares box. Black and grey blocks will be good for a boy.

I am also starting to work on more color strip blocks in black and grey. First, I’ll make some for the rainbow version I am planning and then for a grey version alone. I have a lot to do on those quilts.

Starting Ends n.17 top

Ends n.17 (Plaid) - start
Ends n.17 (Plaid) – start

Trying to assuage my guilt at not wanting to make log cabin blocks, I started another Ends quilt top for the guild.

The plaids are from the Plaid Block Party quilt I finished in 2020. I am enjoying using these fabrics again.

I wonder if three quilts is enough to make up for my reluctance to make the log cabin blocks?

Ends n.16 Top

Ends n.16
Ends n.16

Ends n.16 went together very quickly. I actually worked on it at lunchtime the other day, then after work yesterday and I was done. Of course, I had everything out and available, which made the process go faster. Now it is ready for Sew Day next week.

Yes, I used that crazy turkey fabric from the pillowcases I made last fall. LOL!

Ends n.15 Top

Ends n.15top finished (not quilted)
Ends n.15 (not quilted)

I quickly made another donation top  using some of the edges of the good quilts I have made in the past.

I wanted to use up some yardage (the taupe) that I won’t use for other quilts.I still have a lot of strips from the edges of various quilts to use up as well.

Also, there is a community quilt day next month where we will be making log cabin quilts. I don’t enjoy making log cabin blocks, so I decided to make as many quilt tops as I could to donate between now and then.

I didn’t make a back and thought I wouldn’t, but now I think I will.

Peggy the Miracle Quilt Top Maker

Peggy's Sawtooth Star
Peggy’s Sawtooth Star

The other day I showed some red and dot donation blocks. I brought them to hand in at sew day and Peggy immediately grabbed them. Very quickly, she came up with a block with my donation blocks at the center.

This is such a cheerful block. I love the way she used HSTs instead of Flying Geese to vary the color of the rays of the star.  I would say the block is probably 16″ in this form, but I didn’t measure.

Sawtooth Star donation top
Sawtooth Star donation top

As the day wore on, Peggy continued to work. Midafternoon, she came up and showed me the quilt top made with my block at the center.

I know I say this all the time. I love this about the guild community quilt program. I can hand in something half finished and Peggy or someone will take it and make something fabulous.

I wonder if the Spiky 16 Patch #5 inspired her?

This is such a cheerful quilt top and was very quickly finished. It will also be good for a boy or a girl.

Finished: Blue Strip #3 Donation Top

Blue Strip #3 Donation Top
Blue Strip #3 Donation Top

I finished the Blue Strip #3 donation top and back in the nick of time to take to Sew Day on Saturday.

As I mentioned, it was a weird shape, so I made an effort to widen it by making the side border strips larger than the top and bottom border strips.

It is still very much more rectangular than square, but more of a bed shape than a weird shape.

I’ll have to work on a blue color improv quilt like the others as I still have quite a few blue scraps. They seem to multiply when I am not looking. LOL!

Peggy, as usual, was very complimentary and happy to receive it. I plan to make another one using greys or blacks or both. The scrap drawer with greys, blacks and browns is very full.

Blue Strip #3 Heading Towards Finish

Blue Strip #3 donation top without borders
Blue Strip #3 donation top without borders

I had time this week to work on this donation top. I was able to finish putting the blocks together into a top.

The top is a weird shape – kind of long and skinny. I probably should have put the top row of blocks on the side to make it more square. I didn’t, however, so I will put a larger border on the sides than on the top to see about making it more square.

The pink cornerstones add a little spark to the top.

Color Strip Donation Blocks Ready

Color Strip blocks laid out
Color Strip blocks laid out

I am ready to put the Blue Color Strip blocks together. I have made all the blocks and laid them out on my small design wall, ready to sew. I hope to get the quilt ready to hand in on Sew Day in July.

I looked at the previous quilts and didn’t want to do the same thing, but also am not up for a lot of fancy piecing.

It came to me in a flash to add some pink cornerstones!!

Spiky 16 Patch #5 Ready for Quilting

Spiky 16 Patch #5 with border
Spiky 16 Patch #5 with border

I put the border on this quilt and made the back so it is ready for quilting now. I’ll be able to take it to the meeting on Saturday and hand it in.

It isn’t very exciting, but finished is better than perfect. I think the important thing is that I uncovered my sewing machine again and am sewing.

Spiky 16 Patch #5 back finished
Spiky 16 Patch #5 back finished

I used up some fabric for the back as well.

Spiky 16 Patch #5

Spiky 16 patch #5 top in progress
Spiky 16 patch #5 top in progress

I started working on the Spiky 16 Patch blocks again. I was really struggling with just getting to the machine and decided that this piece was what I should work on.

As you read before, I was struggling to decide how to set these blocks. After two weeks, I decided just to do a straight set and a border and move on with my life. I have a couple of donation quilts in progress and it is better to get them finished and out to people who need them rather than have them perfect.

I do think I’ll put a border on this one.

May 2023 Donation Blocks

I surprised myself by getting more donation blocks made than I thought I would.

I am definitely on a blue kick this month. I am definitely making another blue strip donation top even though I just wanted to make 3 blocks for the second Rainbow strip donation top.