Design Wall Monday ~ 17 September 2012

The Quilt of Valor is being quilted this week.  Slowly but surely...I'm hoping to be done quilting it this week.  Until then, this week on the "design porch" (lol)...

XOXO Quilt

I've gotten the the XOXO Quilt top pieced.  We sent out signature blocks to family and friends to write "well wishes" or marriage advice on.  Once I've got all of those back, I'll piece them into the back of the quilt and get it ready to quilt.  I'm hoping that my friend, Belinda, will let me try out her long arm for this project.  She's offered before, so I'm going to try to take her up on it!

For more of what's being pieced in blogland, check out Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times!

Design Wall Monday ~ 10 September 2012

Quilt of Valor - Ready to Baste

On the design wall (or "design driveway") today is my Quilt of Valor.  Last week, you saw just the center medallion and over the week, I added the string blocks and final border.  The backing is just pieced in 3 panels:  a solid blue, the neutral pebble print from the final border, and a solid red.  And yes...I just barely had enough batting to cover the area (it stretched just a bit more after I took the photo).

Now, onto the quilting (this is the scary part for me since I have only accomplished a little SITD (stitch-in-the-ditch) since purchasing the new Bernina.  I have an idea of a few techniques that I would like to try.  Tell me what you think about this plan:

• I thought first I would try a larger * in the center square (sort of SITD style).
• Then maybe a FM free loopy loop in the thin blue border
• Maybe a FM meander over the string blocks
• Finally a FM wandering star design over the final border

So, some questions...what do you think of this plan?  Do I need to SITD between rounds? 

To see more fabulous projects on quilter's design walls, check out Judy's Patchwork Times.

A Few More for Charity

Our quilt guild here is very involved in several local charities.  The guild members make quilts and adult bibs for the veteran's home.  They make quilts, pillowcases and soft toys for the women and children's shelter.  Baby quilts are donated to the local military hospital and school bags for a group of children in Uganda.  I'm sure I'm forgetting others because it seems like every month, there is a request for one charity or another.  

CareBear Pillowcases

This month we were asked to donate 2 pillowcases per member to the women and children's shelter.  We were also asked to begin work on one patriotic quilt each for the veteran's home or Quilts of Valor.  You can see my QOV in progress in my design wall post tomorrow morning!

Betty Boop Lap Quilt

This month I'll also be donating another lap quilt made from blocks and fabrics that were donated several years ago to my daughter's gold award project.  My friend Belinda also chipped in a great print for the backing that matched perfectly!

Baby Blankie

One more blankie to be donated will be this little cutie that was pieced together and tied by my oldest daughter, Kayla.  It's been sitting in the waiting to be finished pile for a long time...so...I took it to my guild meeting and whipped the binding onto it!  Viola!

Design Wall Monday ~ 3 Sep 2012

Today, on my "design wall" is the beginnings of a Quilt of Valor being done medallion style. It began with an orphan star block in set with a windmill. Then, a round of hourglass units were added with half square corner blocks. Finally, I added a strip border of stars on a blue background to break up the craziness of what is yet to come.

Quilt of Valor - Center Medallion

What's next? How about a round of string blocks and then a final thicker strip of border. That's what the current plan is, but we'll see what happens!