Friday, June 24, 2016

Quilts for Pulse - Boston Effort

Hi BMQG'ers! At our last guild meeting we talked about how we could help the Orlando MQG and their Quilts for Pulse effort. As I announced at the meeting, we're going to team up with the Cambridge MQG for a sew-in during our regularly scheduled July meeting (July 16th) where we will sew together heart blocks into quilt tops at the Lexington Community Center (39 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA). We'll be there all day, from 9am to 5pm, so come for the whole day or just for a few hours and help us out. Depending on how ambitious we are, we might even be able to get a few quilts quilted.

What to bring:

  • Heart blocks (some tutorials below) in a rainbow of colors
  • Sewing machine
  • Basic sewing supplies (rotary cutters, mats, irons, pins, thread, etc.)
We are also looking for donations of batting and fabric to help complete the quilts. Fabric Place Basement generously donated fabric for the backing of several quilts. Our biggest need at the moment is likely going to be batting, so if you have any lying around, we'd welcome the donation. 

Heart Blocks
The main block we're seeing folks make is the following 10" block (pictured above): http://cluckclucksew.com/2015/01/making-heart-blocks-in-multiple-sizes.html 

There's also a paper pieced version of that pattern on Craftsy by Elizabeth Dackson if you're a paper piecer. 

I (it's me, Jen here) designed this paper pieced block for folks to use for this effort. You can download it for free on Craftsy




If you do a search on Craftsy or online, you'll find a few additional heart tutorials out there. When making your blocks, please try to make them 10" finished or 10.5" unfinished so that we can easily assemble them.

The background should be a low-volume print or a solid white or cream/light gray with the hearts being a bright color that fits in the rainbow.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us. If you are unable to attend the July meeting but would like to provide blocks that you've sewn, please let us know and we can coordinate a hand off.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

May Show and Tell

Our May meeting was the first time we had show and tell in a few months given we had our retreat and show in March and April, respectively. Fortunately, our members kept busy during those months and had some really fun quilts to share at our May show and tell.

Judy made this darling quilt using a panel and some additional fabric to create a fun quilt.

Continuing on her panel kick, Judy made this colorful quilt using a panel she bought from spoonflower. How fun!

Margaret experimented with some whole cloth quilting and wound up cutting up her whole cloth quilt and making something totally different, proving that sometimes what you start with as an idea can morph into something great. 

Karen finally put the final border on her Aviatrix Medallion quilt that she started last year. Aren't the colors just beautiful?

Alison has been busy making a bunch of fun coasters.

Courtney made this great quilt using Cotton & Steel basics and is all set up to longarm quilt it. We can't wait to see how she quilts it. 

Elena has been busy working on some quilt as you go blocks. This is going to be a fun quilt!

Elena has also been busy working on her Dear Jane quilt. Don't you love her use of color here?

If you went to Old Navy this winter looking for flannel PJ's, chances are that Karen beat you too it and bought all of them. She made this great quilt using fabric from flannel PJ's. If only you could feel this quilt online.

Amy made this great Libery quilt that we all can't wait to snuggle under and just pet that Liberty fabric.

Amanda has been busy making these great maple leaf quilt blocks. I can't wait to see the finished quilt top.

We'll see everyone at our June meeting on June 18th from 1-3pm at Fabric Place basement where we'll kick off our pillow swap. See everyone there!