Quilt of Valor Stars 2017 Project - January Block - Friendship

Since last year was the year of getting UFO's done (25 total), I wanted to do something that would give back to the community.  One day I was pursuing FaceBook, and came across a group that makes blocks for quilts that get given to Veterans.  

The FB group is called Quilts of Valor Stars.  They are not the QOV.org group, but follow their guidelines for making quilts for veterans.  

Each month, members are asked to make a block or several blocks with a chosen block pattern, and then asked to mail them to the organizers who then will assemble the blocks, add borders, donate batting, add backing and then they have long arm quilters who donate their time to quilt the finished product, and then finally they have someone do the binding.  

For each block made, you can donate a name of a veteran you would like to receive a quilt.  When they have a completed quilt, they draw a name out of a hat and make arrangements to present the quilt to the veteran.

You can find out more about this group here, and you can join up as well and start making blocks.

January there was a call put out for the group to make 600 blocks.  The need it greater than the supply.  So they asked that the members make the Friendship block for January's goal.

I was able to pull from my scrap buckets and found some red, blue and white.  I made these blocks, mixing it up a little bit and ended up making 24 blocks.  The blocks are 12.5" square, and it only takes 12 blocks to make a quilt (adding sashing and borders).  

Next week I will be working on the February block and give you a look at it in my next QOV post.

Warmest...

2016 Finish Quilt - Mystery Quilt Grand Illusion - #23

The weather is still overcast and lots of rain or snow here in the Pacific Northwest, so no picture taking available yet for the blog.  I have about 10 quilts that I would like to get pictures, but the weather is being very uncooperative.   

This quilt is from 2014 when I did Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt.  You can read about all the details and the progression of making it here.

This was the last quilt to have the binding done in the last batch of five quilts I got back from the Long Arm Quilter back in November.  I like to do my binding while traveling in the car on road trips.  

Here is a picture of me working on the binding on a road trip a couple of weeks ago.  It was especially nice because it was very warm on my lap while I stitched away.

I was able to get it the binding completed once we got to the venue where we were having a trade show.  The venue building has lots of open space, so I was able to take some decent pictures of the final quilt.  Here it is all flat and laid out.  Remember, this was done from scraps of all my Thimbleberries projects.  It is a big one, measuring 90" X 90". 

This is a close up of a corner, giving you a better look at the border and the block pattern.  I used a green binding to tie it all together.  I think it looks really nice.

I had a good sized brown wide width backing fabric, but I was a little short, so I added some green around the top and bottom to get the backing big enough to cover the top.

The batting was an experiment this time, I found a queen sized flannel sheet at a garage sale.  I washed it up, and contacted my long arm quilter to ask if I could use it as a batting.  She agreed and I really like the result.  The sheet cost me $.50 making it very reasonable compared to the cost of batting. The best part is the flannel sheet makes the quilt heavy and not stiff like some of the batting I have been using from JoAnn's.  

Right now, this one is on my side of the bed, folded in half, keeping me very warm this winter.

PS:  This quilt pattern is available on Bonnie Hunter's site here if you are interested.  

Size: 88" X 92"

Fabric Lines Used:  Thimbleberries Scraps 

Pattern: Quiltville 2014 Mystery "Grand Illusion"

Designer:  Bonnie Hunter

Long Arm Quilter:  Carol Logan Nelson

Year Began: 11/2014

Year Completed: 02/2017 

Warmest...