Sherborn Quilt-A-Thon - First Quilt Top

The Power of the Quilt Project held a quilt-a-thon on Monday, January 19th, 2009 (Martin Luther King day), and John-Paul helped out in various functions: pinning a quilt top, working in the kitchen baking cookies and dealing with lunch, takedown, carrying machines. But his biggest accomplishment was that his sister showed him how he could sew a quilt top. So here is a proud John-Paul with his very first quilt top, made in about an hour, at the Sherborn Quilt-A-Thon.

Comfort Quilts Go Green

Comfort Quilts Go Green (or 100 Ways to Recycle those unused blocks)

Quilters have been using their spare blocks and creativity to create comfort quilts for the Power of the Quilt Project. Blocks that were made but never used are being recycled into comfort quilts.

With spring in full swing, perhaps you are doing some spring cleaning. You can turn your unused blocks into a comfort quilt, or you can donate them to the Power of the Quilt, and one of our many volunteers will ensure your blocks get a good home in a new comfort quilt. Bring your blocks to a quilt-a-thon or to a RNQG meeting, and give them to one of the Comfort Quilt volunteers.

Comfort quilts are roughly 40" x 52", and if you don't have enough blocks to make a full top, you can always add some borders to fill out the top. Or you can make a partial top, and donate that to the Power of the Quilt Project.

Quilted Comfort Challenge 2009

Broaden your quilting horizons and be one of the first 5 people to turn in a group of three (3) or more completed quilts or quilt tops to the Quilted Comforts Chairperson.

A spool of variegated thread and the warm feeling that comes from doing a good deed!

The QCC recommends,

"Expand your design skills, and/or your piecing skills, turn in a grouping of 3 or more tops. If you want to expand your quilt finishing skills, such as binding or quilting, turn in a grouping of 3 or more completed quilts. "Feel free to show off your work during the meeting's 'Show and Tell' session. Get your quilting friends involved and turn in a grouping of 3 or more tops or quilts from your afternoon quilting group. "And when you have completed your 3 tops or quilts, hang them up, or over the sofa, take a step back, and compare and contrast how they turned out. Did using a darker purple in quilt #2 enhance the pattern from a distance? Does the denser quilting change the hand of the quilt? What do you like or dislike about each variation? Take notes. Perhaps you will be enthused to do a new variation on the theme for your next grouping of 3 tops or quilts. "Enjoy the journey, stop and see and smell the flowers. Take that path less taken, and see where you end up. Above all, have fun!"

Please note: Quilt kits are always available for the asking from the QCC. If you want to play with design, the QCC can also provide you with fabric. Just let them know what you are looking for with respect to color and quantity. You can also request completed tops to practice your quilting or tying skills (yes, tied quilts are acceptable). And remember -- it is best to use a flannel backing on comfort quilts!