Fresh String Quilts Up!

It's still July, technically, and we've got some of Jan/Feb's string quilts done! These are always a super popular block drive so it's a marathon to get them all turned into quilts.

Assembled and quilted by Holly

Covered in Love is blessed by the problem of too many blocks! Long-time supporter has Holly jumped in to help with assembly and quilting and she put together the one above.

This year's block design was an experiment and we are experimenting with different layouts as they come together.  You can see the design Tammy S. did here.  That one works best with sashing.

Assembled and quilted by Tammy S

Speaking of Tammy, she assembled and quilted these last two quilts from block drive blocks I sent her.

I really like this sort of flowered leaf panto she uses sometimes. 

Thank you to everybody who is helping us keep up with the need for quilts!  If anyone wants to throw in yardage with your blocks we are running short on large cuts (1yd or more) for backings at the moment. 

I wanted to share this story Chaplain Perry texted me. This was one of the unusual cases where a quilt was given out in a case where no one was passing away, but an exceptional patient needed extra comfort. (Word of advice, never let anything you own go into the hospital laundry).

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The July/August drive is going on now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday

Quilters to the Rescue

I had several new quilters offer to help with Covered in Love after I asked for help in May, like Beryl who I mentioned last week. This week features another new friend and a couple of old ones!

Ray from Florida offered to do some long-arming for CiL and quickly returned these two tops I sent him.

 

This top was sent in by Michele (you can see more of her work here) and quilted up with a pretty Baptist Fan design.

In total contrast to Michele's soft pastel quilt, this bold and bright floral top was made by Nancy R's sister and she passed it along to us.

Ray used a variegated pink to black thread to compliment it perfectly! Over the next few posts I'll be featuring several more new CiL friends. Thanks to ALL of you who continue to support this organization's mission to bring comfort.

Mighty lion overlooking his domain

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The July/August drive is going on now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday

What I've Learned About Masks So Far....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/777286224/tutorials-of-3d-face-maskcomfortable

This is my current favorite, especially for jobs where you have to wear it all day and talk. It doesn't touch your mouth so it's easier to speak clearly and cuts down on dampness. For a sculpted mask style it is very easy to make. I am making it with an outside of quilting fabric lined with stiff interfacing and an inside of flannel.

If you work in a job where you have to wear your mask basically every day all day long get enough that you can wear one per day and wash them in between. We don't wear socks or underwear more than one day in a row. Ew.

For a quick trip to the grocery store it doesn't matter so much, but for all day wear it's helpful to put a flannel layer somewhere in your mask to help absorb extra moisture from breathing. It keeps your mask from getting damp and irritating your skin.

Leave ear loops almost cartoonishly long until the mask has been washed a couple of times. Otherwise it will shrink and end up pulling on your ears, and it's much easier to remove elastic than add it.

Something very similar to this is what I have been using for nose pieces and it works great. It's basically a cut to length reusable twist tie. The wire is coated in rubber. I have seen them in two different diameters, closer to 1/16 of an inch and the 1/8th of an inch. https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/hme-products-rubber-wire

The primary purpose of a mask is to prevent you from potentially spreading disease that you may not know you have. To that end almost anything that physically blocks your mouth and nose will work. The secondary purpose is to protect yourself. You can increase the protective power of your mask by using more layers of fabric, three is a good compromise between easy breathing and protectiveness. It's good to use different kinds of fabric for each layer because each one will have different properties that help block different particles. In general tighter weaves are better (batiks, silky polyester, interfacing). Remember anything that would not feel good against your face or look attractive can be used as a middle layer.

Thank you for keeping yourself and others safe!

First Round of Puzzle Block Quilts

The first of the finished quilts from November and December's block drive with the puzzle blocks are ready to go! This first one (above) was assembled and quilted by Beryl. She answered the call in May when I asked for volunteers to help finish block drive quilts! 

Bonnie sent in her blocks already sewn into a top with nice borders, along with backing. I transferred it to Kathy and she quilted it. Thanks ladies! 

The remaining quilts on this page, six of them, were assembled and quilted by me.

You can see that many of the quilts are bound with a blue-green binding. Nicki sometimes sends me large rolls of prepped white binding and I'll dye them to match a particular block drive. This time I tried ice dyeing for the first time. 

All of the Nov/Dec blocks are at least at the top stage. There are three left to be basted and quilted here.

Actually, I take that back. There are three left from the original block drive batch, but Gail C. recently sent 5 completed tops with backing and binding. 

Too many quilts is a good problem to have :) I recently got a new shipment of batting and just placed an order for more cones of thread.

Things are still ok here with covid, mainly due to living in such a rural area. The hospitals are taking care of more and more patients however.  Seems most people here are catching it from family members, especially large family gatherings like birthdays and reunions. Be careful, wherever you are! 

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The July/August drive is going on now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday

Stringing Along

Happy Friday folks, we made it another week deeper into the summer! It's officially hot and humid outside, not good weather for anybody. 

Some of you might remember the tutorial I posted several months ago for a scrap-busting block that used 2.5" and 1.5" strings.  The main block is the one in the quilt below, with the black border, and the bonus blocks made the quilt above with the blue border. 

It's a great way to use up a whole bunch of strings in a hurry and make cozy scrap quilt in the process! These two are bound for the hospital with Covered in Love.

Sundae in her favorite sunny windowsill monitoring the birds and squirrels.

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The July/August drive is going on now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday

Oh my stars! {July-August Block Drive}

Welcome to July! We made it, and it is time for the annual Covered in Love red white and blue stars block drive. This is year 5!

Please check out last year's post here for all the details about the blocks for this fun drive.

My work week felt very long, and so this post is short and to the point. The heat here is incredible. I hope you all have a happy, safe, and cool July 4th weekend :)