Details on our Group Quilt Project for Charity

A local group that I’m part of is putting together a round robin quilt project. Most of us will donate our quilt projects to Quilts of Valor, to be awarded to veterans.

So, Here are the details.

• We will each create a quilt packets with our fabric selections.
• We will each make a 12.5” square quilt block 12 times – each time with fabric from another member’s quilt. (12” finished size, plus ¼” seam allowance on all sides)
• We will trade packets (and make one square for each packet) regularly – most likely, every time we meet.  We will do two squares each summer and swap quilts once during the summer.
• If you are new to quilting and need help with your block, we can set you up with a mentor to sew with.  (This is the education part of the project!)
• Come to each meeting with a packet (containing your completed quilt block) and trade for a new packet (we will set this up in a prearranged order).
• At the end of the 2-year period, you will have either:
  • a finished quilt to present with Quilts of Valor
  • a quilt top ready to finish

Quilt Project Fabric Requirements:

Remember to pre-wash your fabric. You can choose not to, but do not mix pre-washed fabric with not-pre-washed fabric, or you will not like the results!

Each quilt will require the following fabric:

• Background & Inner Border: 5 yards
• Light prints (still needs some contrast from background): 5 fat eighths*
• Medium-light prints: 5 fat eighths*
• Medium-dark prints: 5 fat eighths*
• Dark prints: 5 fat eighths*
• Outer Border, Binding, and Sashing: 3 1/2 yards

^* Fat eighths should be in varying colors for variety

Quilt Schematic:

This schematic is just a suggestion. I wanted to see what a finished quilt would look like, so I drew it out like this.

Quilt Blocks

Each person in the group will sign up to create a quilt block. As I create instructions for each quilt blocks, I’ll link them here.

There are additional blocks pictured in the schematic that I have not written up instructions for. I do plan to write them one day soon. The chapter members chose other blocks for their projects, so the final pictures do not match the schematic.

The quilt is still lovely and I appreciate everyone’s help with the project!

Completing the Quilt Top

There are more steps to finish the quilts before they are considered “finished” and can be awarded. I will add instructions as I complete the steps myself, but I won’t go into a lot of detail into the quilting step.

• Quilting (you can either pay to send it to a long-armer or make the quilt sandwich and use either free-motion or stitch-in-the-ditch on your domestic machine)
• Binding the quilt (you may be able to pay your long-armer to do the binding)
• Adding the label to the back of the quilt.

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us with this project! This is a labor of love and we are receiving help from so many places. We couldn’t accomplish what we’re doing without their assistance!

• Valerie Hunt is directing our chapter project.
• Riley Blake donated fabric for us to use.
• Jennifer P. Lee from Quilts of Valor presented to our chapter and is helping coordinate awarding the quilts to veterans.
• Chapter members are nominating veterans.
• Chapter members are choosing fabric and sewing quilt blocks.
• Elizabeth Thompson washed and cut the donated fabric.