Is a Quilt-a-thon Right for Me?

Let me reassure you that whether you are a novice quilter, non-sewer or professional quilter or anyone in between there will be something at a Quilt-a-thon that will allow your talents to shine. 

Megan and Erin, members of a local girl scout troop came by in the afternoon to see what a Quilt-a-thon was all about. They showed off finished quilts to the volunteers. Behind them are volunteers who are coordinating flannel backings, cutting fabric into 6 1/2" squares and ironing seams that had been sewn today.

Judy and Joan opted to bring their sewing machines and work on pre-assembled kits. Judy is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Area Church First Parish Sherborn, where most of our Quilt-a-thons are held. The UUAC is one of our prime sponsors as well. Joan is a member of the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild. RNQG is our other sponsor and a prime resource for support volunteers who can help those new to quilting.

Although most of our volunteers are frequent Quilt-a-thon attendees there are always first time volunteers as well. They are immediately welcomed to the team of Power of the Quilt Project Believers. Can you tell who is new and who is seasoned on this page? Unless you were at the October 13, 2007 Quilt-a-thon, I doubt it. That is what makes this such a fabulous group of volunteers to work with, everyone is seasoned and made to feel part of the team within minutes of walking through the door.

October 13, 2007 Quilt-a-thon

We had a great turnout on Saturday for the October 13, 2007 Quilt-a-thon held at the UUAC in Sherborn, MA.

Here is a photo of the first completed quilt (front and back) from this quilt-a-thon. Attending were UUAC members, RNQG members, along with their friends and families, as well as friends of the PQP.

Attendees were treated to a wonderful lunch made by Dana, highlighted by the freshly made and baked apple pies and ice cream. I had several helpings of this wonderful delight.

Quilt-a-thon: Large Block Quilts

Here is a quilt pieced and quilted by Ellen consisting of 35 - 6 1/2 inch blocks, along with a set of 6 1/2 inch borders. Ellen quilted this by stitching in the ditch, and backed the quilt with a piece of polar fleece, which she brought to the front for the binding. Since the polar fleece is so thick and soft, there is no need for batting in this quilt, so it goes together quickly.






This second top is pieced by Paul using 12 - 12 1/2" blocks which Ellen provided. This top went together very quickly.

Quilt-a-thon, Modified Comfort by the 9's

Here are a couple of quilts that took a Comfort by the 9's quilt top kit, and left the strips as 6" blocks, instead of the additional cutting and sewing to make the 9 patches.

Ellen pieced and quilted this first top.




This second top, Ellen took scraps she had laying around, cut them into 2 1/2 inch strips, and created strip sets of 3. Paul then cut those strip sets into 6 1/2" blocks, and pieced the top. This top has not yet found a person to quilt it.

Quilt-a-thon: Comfort by the 9's pattern

The October 13, 2007 Quilt-a-thon is quickly approaching, and here are some examples of quilts made with the Comfort by the 9's pattern. Ellen has quilted and bound this quilt (quilt top piecer unknown). If you click on the quilt, you should be able to see some of the details of the quilting.













Paul quilted and bound this top made by Patty from an Easton quilt-a-thon. For quilting, Paul used a walking foot and selected different stitches on his sewing machine, instead of just a simple stitch-in-the-ditch. There are also some quilting lines on the diagonals, and a variagated thread was used to add some interest to the stitching.














Here is a second quilt that Ellen quilted and bound, again using the Comfort by the 9's pattern (Quilt top piecer unknown). The next picture shows the flannel back for this quilt. Ellen took scraps from some of the previous comfort quilts she had sandwidched and quilted, and put those scraps together to make a flannel back. What a wonderful collage of color. This would even make a great comfort quilt on the front of the quilt.

Using a printed panel

Here is a quilt that uses a panel, along with a coordinating fabric for the top row.

A simple top to piece, just 1 seam between the coordinating fabric and the panel.

Simple quilting in the ditch finished off this comfort quilt.