Sew Up Some Comfort!

Welcome to my blog!

 

Today is day 13 of American Patchwork & Quilting's Pillowcase Challenge Blog Hop!

 

It has been my pleasure to participate in some small way to this most honorable cause.

 

When I began thinking about what I wanted to do to help, I thought about all

of the women who banded together in the early years of our country's history.

They formed Soldier's Aid Societies, the Sanitary Comission,

 and worked in their communities and churches, to offer help

and comfort for folks with all kinds of need.

 

So...in honor of the efforts made by our quilting ancestors,
I sent out an invitation to my own group of Prairie Women. 

Let's meet at the quilt shop one evening and sew!

 

 One evening last week, we met to sew together at our favorite quilt shop, The Quilt Merchant.

Some of our club members couldn't stay to sew along with us, but came in to drop
off pillowcases they made at home.  Thanks, Debby!

 

 Even shop owner, Docia Fuller, joined in the fun.

 

 Sandy and I chose to make pillowcases using the Roll It Up! (burrito) method, because
neither of us had ever made a French seam, and we wanted to try it!

There are lots of pillowcase patterns available from the AP&Q website.
Click here to see them all!

I had never made a pillowcase before, and I have to say, it was fun and easy!!
For the first pillowcase, I chose fabrics from my first fabric collection,
Heart of the Prairie.

The rest of them were all made from novelty fabrics.  I don't often have a need
to buy these fabrics, and it was great fun to choose some.

All in all, we made 52 pillowcases that evening!  It went surprisingly fast once
we all got into a routine, with each one cuter than the other!!

All of the pillowcases will be donated to the

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's hospital at
Central Dupage Hospital in Winfield, IL

Every child who is admitted into the hospital finds a
fun, cheery pillowcase on the pillow when they arrive.
What a nice way to bring a bit of comfort and joy to a child!

 

Please consider making a pillowcase for a worthy cause. 

Click here to find all of the info you need.

 

If you don't have a favorite charity, or aren't sure where to donate, no worries!

Click here to see a long list of charities who would love to recieve your gift!

 

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The fun is not over yet! 

Be sure to visit all of the participating blogs for more ideas,

and inspiring stories! 

 

Schedule:

1. Welcome from American Patchwork & Quilting (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
2. Rashida Coleman-Hale (http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com/)
3. Olivia and Alayna's Pillowcase Project(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
4. Morgan’s Smile Factory (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
5. Pat Sloan (http://blog.patsloan.com/)
6. Northcott (http://pattispatchwork.com/)
7. Betsy Chutchian (http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/)
8. Vanessa Christenson (http://www.vanessachristenson.com/)
9. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
10. Laurie Simpson (http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/)
11. Oak Hill, Ohio (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
12. Robert Kaufman Fabrics (http://www.swatchandstitch.com/)
13. Pam Buda (http://www.heartspunquilts.blogspot.com/)
14. Indygo Junction (http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/)
15. 4-H (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
16. Katie Hennagir (http://baywindowquiltshop.wordpress.com/)
17. Anni Downs (http://hatchedandpatched.typepad.com/)
18. FreeSpirit Fabrics (http://www.freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/)
19. American Patchwork & Quilting Staff(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
20. Patty Young (http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com/)
21. Moda Fabrics (http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/)
22. Monica Solorio-Snow (http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/)
23. Moda Bake Shop (http://www.modabakeshop.com/)
24. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
25. Roseann Kermes from Rosebud’s Cottage(http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/)
26. Ann Kelle for Shannon Fabrics (http://www.annkelle.com/category/blog/)
27. Therm O Web (http://blog.thermoweb.com/)
28. Edyta Sitar (http://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/blog/)
29. Fabri-Quilt (http://inspiredbyfabric.blogspot.com/)
30. Cherri House (www.cherryhousequilts.com)

Thank you, American Patchwork & Quilting,
for leading us on such a fun and worthwhile cause!!

Happy Pillow-making!!

Pam


 

 

 



 

Forget Me Not Sewalong ~ Parts Nine & Ten

Well....we're just cruising thru the sampler of blocks, aren't we?  Hope you're having fun with them so far!!

Did you cast your vote on my last blog poll?  I asked you to tell me....what is the smallest finished size Nine Patch block are you were willing to make?  I found it very interesting that the majority of you (47%) said you would make a 1 1/2" finished block, with a 3" finished coming in second place (28%).
Hhmmm....I'll be keeping that in mind for future projects!  My thanks to all who participated in my poll!!  It's fun!

I've been busy traveling a bit, giving lectures and workshops, which allow me to meet some really great quilters....I love that!!  I also met with a bunch of my own Prairie Women Wednesday evening for a pillowcase sew-in at my favorite local quilt shop, The Quilt Merchant, where we teamed up, and made several dozen pillowcases for our local charity.  Do visit my blog again on September 13th when it's my turn to post as part of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine's blog hop all this month, all about making pillowcases for charity.  Perhaps you can take a short break from stitching your next two Forget Me Not blocks and click over to many of the other participating designers for AP&Q's blog hop.  Simply scroll down to my last post to see the list and click on the links!!

Here's your cutting and sewing instructions for Part Nine:

Light Print #1 ~ opposing corners of the block
*Cut (2) 2" squares

Light Print #2
*Cut (3) 2 3/8" squares for HST.

Blue Print
*Cut (2) 2 3/8" squares for HST.

Pink Print
*Cut (1) 2 3/8" square for HST.
*Cut (1) 2" square.

Directions:
*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (3) 2 3/8" Light Print #2 squares.  Match with the (2) blue print and (1) pink print 2 3/8" squares to make HST.  Make (4) blue and (2) pink HST that should measure 2" unfinished.

*Arrange the units for the block as shown. 

*Sew units together in rows; press to create opposing seams.  Sew rows together; press.  Your block should measure 5" unfinished.

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Here's your cutting and sewing instructions for Part Ten:

Light Print
*Cut (2) 2 3/8" squares for HST.
*Cut (4) 1 1/4" x 2" rectangles.

Green Print
*Cut (2) 2 3/8" squares for HST.
*Cut (4) 1 1/4" x 2" rectangles.

Pink Print
*Cut (1) 2" square.

Directions:
*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (2) 2 3/8" Light Print squares. Match with the (2) green print 2 3/8" squares to make HST. Make (4) green HST that should measure 2" unfinished.

*Sew (1) light print and (1) green print 1 1/4 x 2" rectangles together; press to the green.  Repeat to make (4) strip sets that should measure 2" unfinished.

*Arrange the units for the block as shown. 

*Sew the units together into rows: press to the strip sets for opposing seams.  Sew rows together: press.  Your block should measure 5" unfinished.

 

Hope you like these blocks as much as I do!  I can't believe that next Friday,

you'll receive your last two sampler blocks! 

 

Have fun stitching.....Pam



 

Make A Pillowcase ~ Make A Difference!

Yesterday, American Patchwork & Quilting magazine launched a month-long blog hop to celebrate their wonderful Million Pillowcase Challenge campaign!  They asked me to be a part of this very worthy cause, and I am happy to help!  So....we invite you to hop from blog to blog throughout the month of September, hoping to inspire you to make a pillowcase for charity. 

Here's a list and the schedule for all of the participating blog hop designers:




Schedule:

1. Welcome from American Patchwork & Quilting (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
2. Rashida Coleman-Hale (http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com/)
3. Olivia and Alayna's Pillowcase Project(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
4. Morgan’s Smile Factory (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
5. Pat Sloan (http://blog.patsloan.com/)
6. Northcott (http://pattispatchwork.com/)
7. Betsy Chutchian (http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/)
8. Vanessa Christenson (http://www.vanessachristenson.com/)
9. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
10. Laurie Simpson (http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/)
11. Oak Hill, Ohio (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
12. Robert Kaufman Fabrics (http://www.swatchandstitch.com/)
13. Pam Buda (http://www.heartspunquilts.blogspot.com/)
14. Indygo Junction (http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/)
15. 4-H (http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
16. Katie Hennagir (http://baywindowquiltshop.wordpress.com/)
17. Anni Downs (http://hatchedandpatched.typepad.com/)
18. FreeSpirit Fabrics (http://www.freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/)
19. American Patchwork & Quilting Staff(http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/blogs/apqstaff/)
20. Patty Young (http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com/)
21. Moda Fabrics (http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/)
22. Monica Solorio-Snow (http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/)
23. Moda Bake Shop (http://www.modabakeshop.com/)
24. Andover Fabrics (http://blog.andoverfabrics.com/)
25. Roseann Kermes from Rosebud’s Cottage(http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/)
26. Ann Kelle for Shannon Fabrics (http://www.annkelle.com/category/blog/)
27. Therm O Web (http://blog.thermoweb.com/)
28. Edyta Sitar (http://www.laundrybasketquilts.com/blog/)
29. Fabri-Quilt (http://inspiredbyfabric.blogspot.com/)
30. Cherri House (www.cherryhousequilts.com)

Be sure to check in with me on September 13th for my blog post!  I'm taking inspiration from our quilting ancestors, so be sure to check my blog post to see what I did!!  In the meantime.....grab some fun fabric prints, and make a pillowcase for the charity of your choice.  If you need some pillowcase pattern ideas, no worries.....click here!  You'll find great step-by-step instructions for a variety of pillowcases that are fun and easy to make.

Click here if you would like to see a list of places where you can donate your pillowcases. 

Join the fun and make a difference!!

 

Thanks so much.....Pam