Sewing With Nancy

Several years ago, I developed and wrote lessons on how to make a quilt from a fabric stash. I posted online lessons, calling it "Quilt to Give," encouraging you to make a bed-size quilt and then give it away. In past episodes of Sewing with Nancy, I've featured how we've used this "Quilt to Give" project as a community service event at the annual Quilt Expo in Madison. Twin-size bed quilts have been made during this three-day event and donated to shelters near and far. The process, enjoyable. The results, satisfying. During this episode, I'd like to share with you how we set up this community service sewing project with the hopes that you and your quilt friends will "Quilt to Give" as well. First, the quilt design. It's a twin-size quilt that has ten columns. A column is made up of solid fabric strips framing a patchwork center. Here are pointers on how groups big or small can work together making full-size quilts for those in need. First of all, choose project leaders. Select one or two members of your sewing group to make or at least review the processes. It's an easy quilt. The first year, our leaders, Theresa and Rachel, made a quilt in advance. They knew the process well. Then, number two, request donations, considering sending out emails requesting fabrics and batting donations. After the first year, we learned to request solids needed for the outer columns. We had way too many prints. And to note that fat quarters are just too short or small for this project. Other things to request include thread, scissors, needles, pins, rotary cutters, large mats, rulers, irons. You know. You got it all. Then machines. Ask a few fellow quilters to bring in their sewing machine. Not everyone needs a machine. You'll need some people to be sorting fabrics, cutting the strips, and pressing. Then make advanced preparation. For our event, we have two or three quilts ready to sew. My staff and I sort fabrics, cut strips for the outer patchwork sections, and for each "Quilt to Give" worksheet is filled out. Now, this filled-out worksheet, you can get online. You can just print it out, and this is to make a twin-size quilt, which most people where we donate find that this is the most useful, the twin-size quilt. So you can check if you want to have a variety of every other quilt column being a different color. You can have one color scheme. You can see the options, and then there's a little area where you can color in the colors you'd like for the columns. Make some notes, and I just show you exactly how to do this. Then we make sure we have at least two or three quilts sorted out, the fabrics sorted. This is for the patchy centers. And then, this is for next year. We have ready-- You can see the combinations for the columns, and this is for the binding. So we make sure we have enough fabric, and it's kind of fun to see what type of color combinations you'll come up with. It's a scrappy quilt, after all. And then, number five, set up the event. Holding our modern quilting bee at a convention center, we are able to allocate a considerable amount of space for this event. Set up in the atrium, attendees pass by the event on their way to classes, which gives the "Quilt to Give" event great visibility. Perhaps you'll have 5, 10, or 20 people sewing at your event. Look for a location that has space for several tables and an area that has adequate light and convenient electrical outlets. Areas designed for fabric donation, you can have, you know, a table for that so you can sort out fabrics by color, auditioning and selection for one quilt. Each year, we have fabrics leftover to use for the next year. They call it seed fabric. Then you can have a sewing machine section. The number of machines depends upon the group size. As I mentioned, not everyone is gonna sew at the same time, so you just need a couple of machines. There's plenty of cutting and pressing, as I mentioned earlier. The cutting station, Just be sure you have your rotary mats so you can cut strips and you can also square quilt tops. And then you need pressing stations. About two, I would recommend. We know we all value sew, press, sew, press when we make a quilt. The same rationale applies to a modern quilting bee. If you can have a long-arm quilting station, it's a plus, where perhaps a professional quilter would donate his or her time and work with a local sewing machine. Otherwise, tie the quilts. And then give the quilts away. That's the best part. We give our quilts to a local shelter and national organization called Enchanted Makeovers. All shelters need their clients to have a safe haven that has comforts at home. What could be more comforting than a quilt? With a little research, I know that you'll find recipients in your community who'll appreciate receiving your "Quilt to Give" quilts. The gift is in the giving. Well, I hope you've enjoyed this first program of "Sew

Knits

Sew a Knit Wardrobe from Start to Finish." Next time on Sewing with Nancy, I'll be working with a top, skirt, and pants. Remember to go to NancyZieman.com, where you can find more information about the "Quilt to Give" quilt and watch many seasons of Sewing with Nancy programs online. Thanks for joining me. Bye for now.