2026 Block Swap Challenge

Our 2025 9-patch block swap challenge was a lot of fun with about 20 people bringing their block each month to swap. This should result in a bunch of quilts for veterans.

This year we decided to make 6” PINWHEEL blocks. We will make 4 blocks – keep 2 and bring 2 blocks each month to swap.  Colors are blue and light (light cream, light beige, off white, but not white).

It’s really making a bunch of HST and the math for making HST is finished size plus 7/8” – You can make them using any method you like. Rather than cutting 3-7/8” squares, I prefer to cut 4” squares, cut on the diagonal and stitch. I use a ruler with a 45 degree line to square them to 3-1/2” (3” finished size).

Directions:

Cut 8 4” blue squares, then cut on the diagonal

Cut 8 4” light squares, then cut on the diagonal

Sew together and trim HSTs to 3 ½”

Arrange HSTs like this and sew blocks together.

 

TIPS: Spray starch your fabric before you cut. Press seams to dark.  

Thanks to Becky Brown for the great instructions! 

 

Dues!!

 It's January, so we will be collecting dues at the meeting tomorrow. Please bring cash or check for $25.

January Meeting

Lots will be happening at our January meeting, which will take place next Tuesday, January 13th.

Since we weren’t able to do our W.H.E.A.T. collection in December, please bring your items on Tuesday.  Cathy Williams will be available in the parking lot before the meeting (by 6:45) so you can transfer items directly to her car, or you can bring things inside. The list of needed items is available in an earlier post. 

Margaret Griffiths will be helping us to celebrate Christmas in January.

Nancy Hall will be presenting a program on making a Pocket Prayer.  She will do a demonstration and provide some instructions for you to make your own at home.

Be sure to bring your Show and Tell!

Tomorrow's meeting is cancelled

 Hanover County schools are closed tomorrow, so our meeting is cancelled. :-(

Cathy Williams says we can bring out WHEAT donations to the January meeting.

Next week's weather looks a bit better so sewing days are still on for Wednesday and Thursday, December 17th and 18th .

Happy holidays! 

December meeting and sewing days

Let's start with Sewing Days. Our December Sewing Days days are December 17 & 18. Take a break from Christmas madness and join us for a couple of relaxing sewing days......or just one, if that's all you can spare. 

Our meeting dates for 2026 are listed on the right side of the website.

The December meeting is Tuesday, December 9 at 7pm. Ann Webb is coordinating our meeting this month and the program is holiday show and tell. 

The holiday season is starting.  As you pull out your Christmas decorations, think about what you would like to share at our next meeting.(December 9th)  It can be quilted or maybe just a sewing project. Maybe you made it or it was a gift from someone. I loved seeing everybody's ideas from last year and hope to get some new ideas this year.

We will also do our regular collection for WHEAT. If you want to participate, you can make a donation of needed items or money. They appreciate anything! 

Here's a list of items that WHEAT has ongoing need:

• Boxes of breakfast cereal
• Boxes of instant oatmeal
• Oatmeal
• Pancake mix with syrup, some low sugar or sugar free
• Boxes of mac and cheese
• Any size/type of tomato products
• Boxes of spaghetti noodles
• Ramen noodles
• 16 oz jars of peanut butter and/or jelly
• 6 oz cans of tuna
• cans of chicken
• other canned meats
• canned vegetables
• canned beans and pork and beans
• dried beans, black and pinto
• pound bags of white or brown rice
• cans of fruit, some low sugar and sugar-free
• any soups
• any type of one-dish meals like Brunswick stew, beef stew, chicken and dumplings
• Dried milk in 1 quart envelopes
• Dried instant potatoes
• Dressing mixes
• Mel starters, like hamburger helper
• Paper bags
• Hygiene kits in a zipper bag containing soap, shampoo, hand towel, wash cloth,comb or brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, 5 bandaids, deodorant

Last Veterans Quilt Delivery

We weren't expecting another quilt delivery in 2025. The 23 quilts I have were going to be delivered in January.  But our contact had a special holiday request.  One of the nurses that Jen worked with in Richmond is part of a group that "adopts" 20 veterans in the VA nursing home for Christmas.  Jen asked if they could have 20 quilts for "their" veterans. 

I happily delivered these 20 quilts Tuesday.  That brings our 2025 total delivered to 123! Great work everyone!

Two Super Easy Veterans Quilts

 These are "instructions" to go along with the program from Tuesday night. I had cut these quilts out prior to the weekend but I got both pieced in one weekend amid house chores and visitors.

This one was created to use up backing fabric cut-offs and small bits of scraps from some patriotic quilts. It's made from 30 blocks that finish to 10" square.

It starts with the centers. Cut then any size you want. I tend to keep mine 2 - 4" x 3 - 6". You need 30 of these.

Next, cut pieces for the frame of the block. You can measure and cut perfect sizes or, do as I do, just cut pieces that you know are bigger than what's needed. I make this quilt from backing scraps so I just cut chunks and I stack them in block "kits".

I trim as I go. First I sew the center and trim up the edges.

Once my block is sewn together it looks a bit messy.

Just trim it up to 10.5" square. Lay them out 5 blocks by 6 rows for a quick quilt.

The second quilt is one that I've made at least 6 times. The original one was designed to use up a stack of plaid squares. It's based on a 4" grid and starts with 104 squares. It's another great use for scraps. You need about 1.5 yards for the two solid borders.

Start with the center made 4 squares by 7

The first solid border is cut 4.5" wide. The side pieces are cut 28.5". Top and bottom are 24.5"

Next add 2 rounds of 4.5" squares

The final border is also 4.5". Sides are cut 52.5", Top and bottom, 48.5"

Easy!