Veterans Quilts

We have been making veterans quilts now for several years. I just realized that the latest batch (Oct) did not get photographed, so am posting ones from earlier in the year, but you get the idea. The quilts themselves don't change much pattern wise, only the various donated fabrics change.

In Oct. we got 17 lap size quilts for the vets done and given to the correct groups who will distribute them. We work strictly with donated supplies and volunteer time. Usually there are 3-5 of us working on them. It's a fun way to get alot done, and what a nice wonderful warm feeling to be doing something productive for our heroes. I'm not the type to go out and picket, although I have written letters to the "big brothers", it just seems so much more constructive to do something for them, rather than try to change policy. Some of the vets face many months in medical care and rehab, and some will live out their lives in veterans or nursing homes. I don't think we do enough for our vets......

Veterans Quilts

VETERANS QUILTS: Actually spent several hours working with the "girls" and got several quilts done for our US veterans. Some will go to Andrews AFB to be handed out as the guys/gals are taken off the planes before they go to military hospitals for extensive surgery, rehab, etc. Some will go to a group that gives the quilts out to resident veterans in nursing homes. Either way, it is a good cause to help out with.

CHALLENGE QUILT 2010

CHALLENGE QUILT 2010 - For the recent quilt show, members were asked to make a wallhanging less than 40" square that used Ohio Star blocks with a black background. I made mine for Christmas with glittery red and black fabric blocks, and a cardinal border. Mine is 38" square and machine quilted by RLM. Done completely in August 2010.

QUEEN'S CROWN #2 (small quilt with beads - hand quilted)

QUEEN'S CROWN

Supplies:

• 1 pre-printed 18" block from  https://www.quiltingstencils.com/ 
• 22" piece of muslin for backing
• 22" piece of batting (I used left over poly)
• Glass beads in your choice of color (I used dark blue and gold/yellow)
• Quilting thread (I used cream colored)
• Binding fabric

To start, I thread basted this very well in a bright thread that would not blend in.  I did not use a hoop or frame but just rolled it up in my hand.  I started the quilting in the center and worked on it in quarters.

The beads are quilted on - every time the needle came up through the top, a bead was put on the needle and I completed that quilting stitch. Time consuming, but makes for a pretty finished project.

Once complete, I washed by hand and laid between 2 white pillow cases in yard and allowed to dry flat.

Part of back of quilt

"CARS"

CARS: I made this lap quilt for my husband last Christmas. It's great for him to snuggle under while reading or watching TV. He is a big fan of "Cars" and thinks this is really neat. Machine quilted by MG in Dec 2009. I added fabric borders to make it big person size.

NINE PATCH BASKET WEAVE #1 (Handquilted)

NINE PATCH BASKET WEAVE #1: I did not own a rotary cutter when I cut out this top. The finished size is 85" x100". I was cleaning out my scrap bin, so the fabric is both cotton and cotton/poly. It was pieced 1986-1990 in Germany and Illinois. It was handquilted in Illinois and Maine during 1990-1991. The binding was done by my wonderful quilting buddy (SB) in Maine. This is a cheery quilt and it was fun to do for myself. At this point, it lives with another family member who likes it alot too. (#80)

NORTHERN NIGHTS

NORTHERN NIGHTS: This was mostly pieced in northern Maine Sept.1 - 9, 2000 during vacation up there, some of which was spent stitching with my wonderful quilting buddy SB. We each contributed fabric, but where it ended up in each quilt is different, so they are not exactly the same, but almost twins. I added the border on Oct. 14, 2000 at home in Indiana. Machine quilted in August 2001 by MG. Finished size is 56" x 70". (#305)

FRIENDSHIP STAR

FRIENDSHIP STAR: The top of this quilt is made entirely from 1920's German fabric I was given while living in West Germany during the 1980's. The fabric has an entirely different feel than American fabric.

 It was machine quilted in 1993 by BE. Approx. 45" x 60". Poly batting and flannel backing. I did the piecing during the early 1990's. (#122)

TEAPOTS (Handquilted)

TEAPOTS: 

This quilt was just flat out fun to do. The teapots themselves were pieced/appliequed by various people in the local guild (1998).

 I added the teacups in the border.

 This lovely quilt was handquilted at a nice old fashioned quilting bee at my house back in 2001. We had a great time working on it and managed to get most of the quilting done.

The scrap sashing and posts was left overs from my 2000 and 2001 charm quilts.

Queen size. (#303)

3/28/2020 Update: 

Here are some better photos of this quilt.  I have gotten out the tea pot pattern again, and think I will make another quilt from it.

Here is a link for this quilt as well - https://indianaquilter40.com/personal-quilt-show-road-trip/

AMISH BUGGY QUILT

AMISH BUGGY QUILT: Another quilt from southern Indiana that I purchased just last month at an antique store for $5.00. I simply gave this poor orphan a good home. It has a wool top in red and dark brown, a greenish/brown real homespun for the backing, and what feels like a blanket (or maybe another older quilt??) in the center. It's tied with yarn. It's small - 30" x 40". Perfect condition - complete with a few horse hairs. I am guessing the backing is late 1800's or very early 1900's by comparing it to some fabric that is in my stash that is similiar and dated to that time.

ARROW

ARROW: I had never seen this pattern before, so when I saw this top at an antique store last fall in southern Indiana, I had to get it, especially at the wonderful price of $30. It is about double bed size, intact and in good condition. I am guessing it was sewn by several people over many years as the fabric is very definately from different times (late 1800's to 1940's), and the piecing has several different seam and stitch sizes. I had it machine quilted by RLM. It has a poly batt, and a red and white toile for the backing. I did the binding in the fall of 2010.

Ok, I confess: I collect toile fabric (any color or design) and then can not bare to cut it up for quilts. The solution is to piece together enough of it is the same colors to make backings for my quilts, which I have done since my husband suggested it.

At a local quilt show Sept 18 - 19, 2010 I spoke to several elderly ladies while there, and none of them admitted to knowing what the pattern was either - ok, so maybe the maker made it up. If only someone had taken time to document something about this quilt in a tag on the back.........

FALL FESTIVAL (another 9 Patch Quilt)

A simple and  beautiful quilt in wonderful fall colors:

This quilt is just a simple 9 patch with sashing and posts between the blocks, but it sure shines in these fall colors. I love fall (especially in Maine), and the colors and textures that go with that season. It is a scrap quilt and the 9 patch blocks are made up of 4" squares.  The sashing and posts are 2.5". The top was pieced January to June 2010.

 I realized last fall how much I like the colors purple, green, black and orange together. I am not a Halloween fan at all, but this quilt is just flat out cheery. I just finished the top yesterday!!!!!!

Yippee !!!! The top is done.

It was fun to go through my scraps to find orange and purple scraps that were big enough to cut 4" squares from them.  I found a lot of purple scraps but not many orange.  I ended up cutting into my orange yardage to get enough squares for the blocks.

The outside border was hard to decide what I wanted to do - I finally opted just to continue the sashing and posts as the border and call it done.

Update 6/19/12: It was machine quilted by RLM in Sept. 2011, and I got the tag done over the winter.

The quilting is a swirly design

Finished size is 96 x 96 inches.

The backing is a black floral on white that I purchased at Paducah, KY and of course there is a cross stitched label to go with the quilt.

This quilt is #773 in my quilt scrapbook.

QUILT INSPECTOR

Quilt Inspector - This big guy is her pet, Mr. Pepper. He came out one evening and appeared to be checking over this quilt pretty good, so here he is with the quilt, Flying Geese.

SUNSHINE AND MAINE BLUEBERRIES

This quilt has been an idea for ages and the fabric has all been set aside, but time is always an issue. While in Maine during March 2010, I was able to cut, and sew together all 36 blocks for a queen size quilt. One side of the blocks is all various yellow fabrics, the other side is random blues. I also got blueberry fabric for the border. Got that far on Monday and Tuesday, so now it is in a container waiting it's turn to be finished. The log cabin pattern is traditional and easy. Will try to get some pics of the blocks put on here soon.

7/3/2010 Here is a pic of the blocks, and the other photo is the what will be a narrow inside border (green) and a wider outside border (blueberries). 6/19/12 The top two photos are the finished product of those beautiful blocks. The backing fabric is a repeat water scene with loons and as always there is a label on my quilts. The finished size is: 96 x 96 inches. I put the blocks together into the top during Dec. 2011 and it was machine quilted by RLM during Feb. 2012.

FLYING GEESE (Handquilted)

Flying Geese - Again, the fabrics are reproductions of fabric from mid 1700's through the Civil War. I had plenty of geese cut out and some sewed before leaving home for Maine last week, but they were all in various stages of sewing and I did not count to actually be sure I had enough to do a queen size (I didn't - glad I took some extra with me in-case). I got the sashing and border fabric at the fabric store in Chapman, ME. Anyway worked on this Saturday and finished it on Sunday. It will be hand quilted in May at a Revolution War re-enactment that I do the handquilting demo/teaching at every year. Will use a wool batt and plain muslin for backing. It is approx. 90" x 90". The top photo is this quilt in the quilting frame at the historical event in late May. Currently there are 6 complete rows of "geese" quilted and areas of some other rows done. I have it at home now, and work on it a little each eveing. Soooooooo relaxing......

The bottom picture is of the quilt now that it is completely quilted. I finished handquilting all but the very outside border in March 2011. The outside border was machine quilted by RLM in April 2011. I took a suggestion and used 6 different blue toile fabrics from my personal collection of toile to make the back, which allows me to use the toile without cutting it up since I just sew the yardage together for the back. In this quilt it really adds to the old fashioned look of the total quilt.

MINI BIRDS IN THE AIR AND FLYING GEESE

Mini Birds in the Air and Flying Geese - Returned yesterday from my break and had a wonderful time. My quilting buddy (SB) in northern Maine and I spent many hours in her sewing studio working on our own unfinished projects. In my case, I finished piecing these two small quilt tops that are done from reproduction fabrics from 1700's up through the Civil War that I purchased at Paducah last year at the national quilt show in April. I got the rows put together and bordered on Friday eve. For now they are put away, but they will be one of those projects I drag out later and quilt. Tomarrow I am back to work, and Monday starts school again.

X BLOCKS

X Blocks - The pieced blocks (approx. 1850-1860) were given to me by the same elderly man who gave me the Devil's Claw blocks. I set them together with reproduction fabric from the Smithsonian Museum in 2008. The gray border is from the inherited stash of my grandma. It was machine quilted by RLM in April 2009. I bound it in late 2009. Size: 46" x 42". (#521)

ONE PATCH

One Patch - I only cut this one out, it was actually used as a math project by a family member who thought it should be on here too. The back is wool/cotton red and black check. The blocks on the front were picked out by the student from my scrap bag. Student tied it. Size is 32.5" square.

LAST ROSE OF THE SUMMER (or a trial in Yo-Yo's)

Quilt #153 in my scrapbook

I have a 1930's doll quilt that was my mom's when she was little.  It was done with yo-yo's and I had a brilliant (no, not really) idea to try my hand at making some for a quilt. I discovered very quickly that it was not a technique I wanted to do for anything bigger than a wall hanging.

I made an even dozen of them and used them as "roses" for this 30" x 33" project.  I actually entered it in a local contest at Ben Franklin store - no ribbon, but lots of comments about it being unusual.  I just machine quilted it "in the ditch" around the various straight lines of the quilt.  

Cotton fabric and poly batting.

Pieced and machine quilted Sept - Nov. of 1995 in Laurel, MT.

I have since given it to my daughter. 

ANGELS

Angels - Size: 27" square. Pieced in 1993 in Montana for a Ben Franklin Store contest in MT. Didn't win anything, but fun to do. It is machine and hand appliqued and machine and hand quilted in 1993. Currently owned by female family member. (#128)

PIECEMAKERS

PIECEMAKERS - The blocks and x-stitched center were made for me as a good-bye gift from the quilt guild I was a member of before moving to Indiana. I put it all together and added the buttons instead of tying or quilting it. It usually hangs in my office. Size: 24" x 16".(#193)

JACOB'S LADDER

JACOB'S LADDER: I purchased the top at an antique shop in Farmerburg, IN for $5 in 1997. It was in really poor shape and I ended up cutting about 18" off all the way around because mice had obviously been chewing on it and having a wonderful time. After cutting that off, I added a border of feedsack fabric from my grandma's inherited stash and had it machine quilted in Nov. 1999. It is now proudly owned by a girl in the family. Finished size: 66" x 58". Bubblegum pink and unbleached muslin.(#272)

DRESDEN PLATE (Handquilted)

Dresden Plate - I started this one while in Germany, and finished it in the early 1990's. It is hand quilted. The plates are machine appliqued. The backing (cream with small pink flowers) and the foundation fabric for the blocks are actual 1930's feedsacking given to me by my grandma. It belongs to my daughter. Finished size is 28" square. (#71)