friendship quilt

The things we do for friends... it's time for my annual charity friendship quilt. Blocks appearing almost daily in the mailbox (the bestest part). Directions this year said they could make blocks 6.5" or 12.5", whichever suited their design concept the best. Most had no problem, because most did some kind of applique and left it big enough to trim. But one lady sent me 2 pieced blocks. Sigh.

They were about 13.5" not-quite-square. Too big to fudge. And chopping down to size would have been sooooo obvious (also cutting off her signature). So I have been frogging, pressing, trimming each patch, and putting back together into a dead accurate 12.5".

I could feel her frustration, bless her heart. She obviously didn't have any inch rulers in the house, only centimeters. She clearly made a cardboard template. Probably drew it with a nice thick pencil line and cut right outside the line. then traced each piece on the fabric with a nice thick ballpoint line and carefully cut right outside that. A generous centimeter seam allowance (works on her European machine's seam guide). The machine stitching shows a lot of thread breaks and wobbles. She doesn't sew much, probably owns a piece of junk from the discount store. Seams backstitched 2 or 3 times at beginning and end, making it impossible to press flat. And in spite of cursing every minute of this task (little blue glow hanging over the blocks), she soldiered on and made me 2 blocks!

Well, now they are exorcised of crappy thread and poor stitching and wonky seams, nice and flat and square, and her lovely color choices show. Got all her signature in too! Roberta in D

Reply to
Roberta Zollner
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Now that *is* a labour of love!

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Roberta, you are a real friend!

MAmadurk

Reply to
MAmadurk

Bless you for that, Roberta. That was a really kind thing to do. . In message , Roberta Zollner writes

Reply to
Patti

There's one in every crowd. I'm the person who will laugh if you fall down and break your neck. Next, I'll come to your aid. So first I just had to howl over the little blue glow over those blocks. Mercy, Roberta, how truly awful. There will be a star in your crown for that work of love. Among many, I expect. Polly

Reply to
polly esther

You say it so well, Polly. A true example of a friendship block. KJ

Reply to
KJ

Roberta's tale made me even more appreciative of those of you who have assembled this group's hug quilts. Probably more than one of them wanted to just show up at my door and whop me on the head with a rolled-up newspaper - but I've gotten more considerate. I don't know what measurement challenges Anne in CA had when she was putting my own beloved hug together but I'm certain trying to control a gaggle of gators tested her very soul. Polly

Reply to
polly esther

Howdy!

You are a true friend.

Good work, Roberta!

Ragmop/Sandy

Reply to
Sandy Ellison

What a good friend you are, Roberta!

Reply to
Donna in NE La.

Reply to
Kris in Portland, Oregon

Kris, don't let lack of experience stop you. Making a block for a hug quilt is such a feel-good thing(especially once the hugee receives it), that you shouldn't deny yourself that feeling. Just make a nine-patch, or even a four-patch. If you aren't quite sure of your measurements, make each square a little bigger than normal - that's easy enough for the hug-maker to cut down to size. Heck, some people even send a square of fabric instead of a block, and that works fine too.

Hope you'll decide to join in the next hug that comes along!

Reply to
Louise

Kris, please don't hesitate to make hug blocks. I promise you the recipient doesn't care about your level of experience. I treasure the 4 and 9 patch blocks on my quilt as much as the appliqué and paper pieced blocks. It's the love and prayers that go into a block that counts.

Reply to
maryd

Piggybacking here. I'm like Kris, would love to make blocks for Hugs and friendship quilts but haven't got the nerve to expose my quilting to experts. Oh, well, some day.........

And in the meantime I am learning so much from all of you! Thanks for being there.

Reply to
Carolyn McCarty

Carolyn:

Who are those experts to which you refer? Do you think that the hug quilts go to a judge for critique? Of COURSE NOT!! I just do not understand why some quilters are so reluctant to join the hug quilt projects.

The hug quilts are given to people who need a bit of support usually. Sometimes they go to people who are celebrating a marriage or other happy event, but generally they are given for difficult situations. The recipients are just delighted ... every single time ... regardless of the style or 'precision' of each contribution. When I contribute, I like to send very simple blocks: a four patch, or a square in square is good. I tend to make them a tad oversize, so I try to do blocks that will still be okay if a bit has to be trimmed.

PLEASE, I say to Carolyn (and all others who are modest about skills) do not be too modest ... give it a go next time ... YOUR friendship is welcome in the hugs quilts, too.

PAT > Piggybacking here. I'm like Kris, would love to make blocks for Hugs and

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Absolutely!

Just jump in. I made applique blocks for a hug and left them bigger so they could be trimmed to fit any ol' space by the hug maker (who was very kind about my "unsized" contribution). And I sent fabric for the last hug I took part in 'cos I couldn't meet the short time line from OZ.

You just have to be part of one. It's a fabulous feeling and the brilliant people who put them together are kind AND clever.

Reply to
Cats

As a real beginner, I have sent many hug blocks hoping they were ok, but sent them anyway, always a little oversize so whoever could square them up. Pick a simple, non triangle :) block and like the comercial says, just do it!

Denny

Reply to
Kiteflyer

Reply to
Taria

I have participated in a few "hug" quilts and anyone who has seen my work knows that I'm not a expert ;-). I do my best and hope that the "hugee" knows that work was guided by my heart. If I had to wait until I was an expert, no one would get a block from me.

I'll keep trying and slowly improve, I hope.

Reply to
Bonnie NJ

Roberta, congratulations on doing all of that. It must have been just as frustrating for you as it was for her.

Reply to
Sandy Foster

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