Info on veterans quilts

 

I've been a little obsessed lately with making my own quilt kits for veterans quilts. I like making up kits so that when I go to sewing days, I always have something ready to work on. I might have gone a little overboard in making 22 kits!

But that got me thinking that I hadn't posted our info about the veterans quilt project in a while, so, for new members, here's all the scoop.

The quilts we make are donated to the Interventional Radiography Department at Richmond Veterans Affairs Hospital. They primarily gift the quilts to veterans with recent cancer diagnoses that are in their department to have chemo ports inserted. The staff says that the quilts are wonderful especially for patients who are extra stressed over their diagnosis.

- Optimal size for the quilts is 48" x 60". We can accept an inch or 2 smaller and a inch or so bigger, but the backing and batting is precut so we do not have a ton of flexibility. 47" - 50" is good for width and 58" - 63" is good for length.

- You can make any pattern or design that you want. As for fabric selection, patriotic quilts are always the first preference but anything masculine or non-gender is fine. Scrap quilts are great too. Avoid feminine quilts. They have so few female patients that those quilts rarely get distributed. Hanover Safe Place is a great option if you are making more feminine quilts.

- We now have several volunteer quilters so once you give us your tops we can usually turn them around within 60 days (2 meetings). They are quilted 2 at a time. We load one backing piece that's big enough for 2 quilts. 

- If you want to quilt your own quilt I (Vicki) can provide you with backing and batting. All you have to do is ask. I'll even do my best to dye a matching backing for you.

- Please avoid using any fragrance when you wash the fabrics or quilts. I'm very allergic. The quilts and the tops might stay in my house for a couple of months and I just can't have fragrance in my house for that long. I can't quilt tops that have fragrance in them at all. When I have received quilts that have been washed in fragrance detergent I have to hang them outside (on a covered porch) for as long as 2 weeks before I can have them in my house. I don't like doing that to your quilts but I have no other option. Quilts are returned to sewing days and meetings for you  to pick up and bind. If a quilt goes unclaimed for a couple of months we will seek out a volunteer to bind it.

Info about digital printed fabric

 In January, Laura Hamm's sister, Lisa, joined us with a great presentation about fabrics from Henry Glass. During that meeting, we discussed possible challenges with quilting on digitally printed fabrics. Lisa remembered that and sent us this new leaflet about working with digitally printed fabrics. It's specifically for longarm quilters but piecers may find some good tips there too.

You can download it here.

Second quilt delivery of 2024!

I came home from the meeting with so many quilts that it's time for another delivery! Thursday I'm delivering 22 quilts to our VA contact and that makes a total of 37 YTD. She told me they are completely out so they are excited to get a new batch.

Way to go!

Quilting Friends Field Trip!

Thanks to Sharon G., we are meeting on Friday, March 22, at Anna’s Italian Restaurant at 11:45 am. The restaurant is located at 7009 Mechanicsville Turnpike in the shopping center with Publix. After lunch, let’s go to Millstone Quilts at 8074 Flannigan Mill Road, Mechanicsville. Millstone has a broad selection of reproduction and grunge fabrics. So reservations may be made, please let Brenda know (text or phone), no later than Wednesday, March 20, if you are coming.

If your calendars are still handy, please mark Friday, April 26, for our next luncheon. We are returning to Kitchen 33 to order from the breakfast menu. We are meeting at 11:30 am so we can order before breakfast service ends.

 

And there has been a proposal that in May we should meet at Industrial Tap House (formerly Brenda’s) in Centerville; that's 12912 Plaza Dr. Henrico, west of Short Pump. Possible dates are May 17 and May 31. So keep these days open and join us for some laughs and good times!

Innova Longarm For Sale

 I have a local friend who is looking to sell her longarm. If you, or someone you know, is looking for a longarm, here's the info. Contact Vicki to get the seller's contact info. 

INNOVA Classic Series 1018 w/Lightening Tech Mach 3 Hand-Guided Longarm (no autopilot). 12-foot table and 18" throat. Lightly used with only 75.26 hours. Comes with instruction manuals, large-cone threads, and multiple accessories. $7,900 (cash or certified check only). 

 

March Meeting

 This March meeting is Tuesday, March 12 at 7:00 pm. The main part of the program is to work on setting plans for the snip-and-rip blocks that have been collected. Also, I spoke to Marcy Durrer from Hanover Parks and Rec recently and I will share what information that I was able to gather about the new Rec Center and the vision for the quilt club going forward.

These 4 veterans quilts have been quilted and will be ready for pickup at the meeting

March Sewing Days

I think we had record breaking attendance for Friday & Saturday Sewing. We filled the room using all the tables and sewed up a storm - well, not really a storm, but it did rain all day Saturday! Lots of sewing including Debbie's patriotic scrap quilt. Any colors could be used and it's a good way to use strips.  

This is what she did:

1. Sew together various widths of 7" fabric making a piece 19" long. Debbie says use larger pieces on the ends where they will be trimmed away. Cut a 10" square on the diagonal. Add the triangles - center on the strip. 

2. Trim block. Use a ruler with a diagonal line to place on the center of the strips.

3. These measurements make a finished 12" block. You could adapt it to make any size blocks you like. It makes a very striking design. 

FINISHED BLOCK