Patchwork Mosaic Quilts-- Big Reveal!

Each month since August I've asked you guys to send in blocks for Covered in Love and each month you deliver!  Covered in Love has now provided quilts to 36 grieving families at ETMC! This gorgeous pair of quilts are from September's patchwork mosaic blocks.

The first quilt is just a jumble of blocks. It's busy, bright and rowdy; so many awesome tiny blocks you guys pieced!

I love how different these two turned out, the second quilt is soft and feminine.

I quilted ribbon candy in the vertical sashings.

Once again, some stunning piecing.

I made a ton of this striped bias binding, enough for 3 quilts, from donated fabric (thanks, Linda!)  Since I was making bias binding anyway I rounded the corners of the quilts. 

Thanks to everyone who contributed blocks to these quilts, I hope I got all your names! Thanks to Ann, Teri, Margaret, Debbie, Diann, Summer, Tricia, Mina, and Tracey.

I checked in today with one of the chaplains who delivers these quilts and he said, "This is a wonderful, powerful gift. [I] placed the Route 66 quilt on a bed Tuesday and the family cried and cried.  He had lived for many years in Amarillo and it was on the quilt! It was perfect!"

I hope that encourages those of you who have donated. These quilts bless lives! Thanks for your continued support.

Covered in Love donates comfort quilts to the families of patients who pass away in the hospital. If you want to participate in this month's blocks drive check out the block drive post here.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Friday.

Patchwork Mosaic #2

On the design wall now is the second patchwork mosaic top, you can see the first one here.  These two tops are the result of the blocks that were sent in for September's block drive. A big thank you to the dozen quilters who pitched in!

There are three columns of blocks with grey sashing between; the grey kind of fades into my design wall

Every month I ask for volunteers to send in blocks of a certain type to make quilts for my pet charity Covered in Love, this month it's string blocks if you want to play, too :)

I love how different the two quilt tops ended up even though the blocks came from the exact same prompt. The second top has a much softer color palette.  I wish I could say I had the forethought to plan that, but it's just how it worked out.

This top also has some killer piecing on those tiny little blocks. Warning: photos ahead.

Each of these blocks finished at just 4" square. The skillful teensy piecing is so impressive!

I think this one is my favorite

You guys are the best! Keep sending in those blocks :)

Linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday.

October Block Drive: String Blocks

Fun stuff on the design wall today! The patchwork mosaic blocks from September's block challenge are still coming in, but I have enough already to put the first top together.

With September wrapping up it's time to think about next month's block drive.  Rhonda from the Tyler Modern Quilt Group gave me a bunch of foundation pieced string blocks which got me thinking, scrappy strings would be a great block drive for October!

Remember, these blocks go toward Covered in Love giving quilts to people who lose loved ones in the hospital.

Foundation pieced string blocks are super easy to make.  First cut 11" squares from some scrap fabric. I used an old sheet, you could also use muslin.  It won't be seen, so it doesn't matter what's on this fabric.  Then grab your string scraps. For this quilt let's go crazy, no color scheme, everything goes!  Start by putting a string across the foundation diagonally face up. Then grab another string and lay it on top face down. Sew a quarter inch seam along the side and press open.

Continue adding strings and pressing them out, make sure each one is long enough to cover the foundation square.  When you get to the corner, flip the block around and continue adding strings to the other side until you cover the entire foundation.

Once you have covered the entire foundation in strings you'll need to trim the block. This is easiest to do from the back so you can see the foundation.  Trim to 10.5" square.

If you want to send in a block or twelve please leave a comment or send me an for the address.  With the blocks Rhonda gave me we are already most of the way toward one top, I'd love to make three tops this month!

Linking to Oh Scrap! and Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Donations

Most of what's on my design wall today I really can't take credit for.  First off the patchwork mosaic blocks for this month's block drive are coming in! They look great together and I think there may be enough for 2 quilts. Thanks to everyone who has sent in blocks so far and if anyone else is thinking about it, there's still time :)

Also on the wall are these patriotic rail fence blocks sent in by Mina along with her September blocks.  She also sent a great finished star top and some other large blocks you'll be seeing later. Thanks Mina!

Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to Covered in Love!  We are going to surpass 30 quilts donated soon and all thanks to your efforts.  You guys rock :)

Linking to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

September Block Drive

Last month I asked you to send in flying geese blocks for Covered in Love and you did! I'll be putting that quilt together soon once the last few blocks come in.  But, it's a new month, and we have a new block!

This month we're making what I'm calling a patchwork mosaic block, using the color palette below.

These block are basically 9 patches made of 4" units that will measure 12.5" unfinished.  Each block has between 0-3 pieced blocks, the rest being unpieced patches.  Use pattered fabrics, please, no solids. Decide on the arrangement for your blocks and cut the needed number of solid patches to 4.5" square.

For the pieced blocks, you can make any block you want to that is 4.5" unfinished.  There's always a 4-patch, start with 2.5" squares. Or there are a bunch of blocks you could make from 2.5" HSTs.

You could make a log cab or court-house steps block from 1.5" strips.  You can make almost any paperpieced block by scaling it down appropriately.  Keep it simple or be as ambitious as you like. Have fun!

Arrange your pieces randomly and sew together into a 9 patch measuring 12.5".

(Edited to Add: View finished quilts here)

If you have blocks to send in comment here or send me an email at merlin775 at gmail for the address.  With your help we can make an awesome quilt :)

Linking to Sunday Scrap! and Design Wall Monday.