Hug quilt discussion

How are we doing so far? ........... I'm kind of wishing I had never asked for this discussion. I feel like hiding for awhile. So much trouble stirred up. Who knew? sigh

Karen, Queen of Squishies

Naaa. Never hide. it's good to get the opinions of others. Clears the air. Now we can get on with the business at hand: helping each other and quilting.

Are we there yet?

amy in CNY

With all due respect, Karen, Pfffft.

Why don't you apologize for starting the thread on broken needles? Or asking about a shop that for all intents and purposes, ripped you off (how's that going, BTW??).

My point, heavy-handed and jerk-y as it is, is that you posted looking for opinions, feelings, ideas, etc. And if you're going to apologize for one, then apologize for all. Why don't you go ahead and apologize for everything everyone learns here? Where's the regrets for giving others your warm cyber-hugs and good thoughts?

FTR, I highly doubt that you were sitting there, rubbing your hands with glee, giggling like a 10 year old girl, hoping for chaos and disorder (though I would not be surprised if the goober was!!) ... you were looking for an open forum where adults could communicate their feelings, opinions, and ideas.

Bottom line ... whatever that goober said (and I think we know who I'm talking about), you're much loved and respected. Repect and love you, love and respect your posts!! :)

You get my point, yes? ;) (still not enough caffeine, *&^% it!!)

Big quilty hugs!!

-- Connie :)

Ya know, I'm glad you posed this question. I don't think any trouble was stirred up....just good dialog.

I am on the HUG list.......I don't often manage to send off a block. Usually because I am running a long arm business and don't have time to piece for myself, let alone a complete stranger. However, when I do have the time, or the supplies handy (no shopping involved) I will make a block and send it along. And I have never questioned an askers motives. I read the group messages many times a day and throughout the evening so I am on top of all the topics - including the OT's and the prayer requests. I am familiar with the regulars and laugh and cry along with the rest of the group. I appreciate the wisdom of many.......those who have been here forever! and those new, fresh voices we are hearing! and the stories of families....and pets......oh, and of the many, many quilts that have been made. I don't often share my own personal stories because, frankly, they are quite boring . Nothing tragic or horrible has happened....so far. I *can* talk of worry though. I just haven't.

Anyhoo, I can say that I think it is awesome that a group of wonderful people, who most likely have never met F2F can get together and share love, hope, sorrow, happiness and pain with an extremely simple gesture of a quilt-y HUG. A few pieces of fabric.......something that can mean so much to the recipient.

The discussion this topic has generated has made me more thoughtful of the process, more thoughtful of the people involved and more thoughtful of how a small investment of time and money can make such a BIG DIFFERENCE in someone's life.

So, having said ALL that, THANK YOU, to those that initiate the HUGS, those that coordinate the HUGS and those that contribute to the HUGS. I think it is a good thing.

Laurie G. in CA

I treat hug blocks the way I treat quilt gifts in general. I hope that the recipient gets as much enjoyment as I did making the block/quilt. I hope they take care of the quilt, but once it is sent as a gift, I just wish it on its way. I participate in hugs when I have the time/fabric. During the winter, while I'm in Florida, I don't have access to my stash, so often don't make a block unless I have the correct coloured fabric with me. I'm trying to be good and use up my considerable stash, so I'm only buying fabric to finish projects - I have an un-ending number on my "want to make soon" list.

responded privately, Leslie, let me know if you don't receive.

I was a newbie sewer/quilter when I discovered this news group. Also, I am one of the "quiet ones", both in person and online. I do pipe up and say something once in a while, but I did not post anything online to the group until I heard about the HUG quilts.

For you see, my SIL had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and had been told that it should have been caught a year earlier -- her mammogram had been misread. She ended up electing to have more aggressive treatments due to all of that.

She is an excellent quilter and had even taught it. Given I could hardly sew a straight line (still have some problems with that, LOL), I thought that a HUG from the group would be more appropriate than a totally mismatched points/crooked quilt from me. Happily some of you straightened me out on that score :-). You all were so kind as to help me not only to host a HUG, but to also strongly encouraged me to make a quilt on my own.

I ended up doing "my" quilt first. She received it when she was going through the throes of chemotherapy, and I know it helped boost her spirits during that trying time. I still remember a couple of her comments upon receiving it:

• She hadn't realize how much I cared (being a "quiet" one can have adverse side effects).

• She had given many quilts to others; that was the first time anyone gave her a quilt.

I also completed her RCTQ HUG. It took me a while, and I learned a great deal about quilting in order to put it together. I am glad that there were no deadlines -- or "Quilt Police". My SIL received that one when she was undergoing radiation therapy, which had such nasty side effects. Again, the quilt greatly encourged her. "Wanda's HUG" can be found on the last page of the posted HUGS at:

Was it "worth the time, effort and expense"? I'm sure that many felt that I had "come out of the woodwork". I am still amazed at how brazen I was to suggest such a thing in those circumstances. Of course it is "amazing" to what lengths love will lead us to go. To my mind those HUGS showered my SIL with love, which helped her recover from a terrible disease. I cannot express the depths of my thankfulness to those that helped shower that love on my SIL, in spite of the circumstances. Since that time I joined the HUG list and have made blocks for many HUGS -- love and prayers go with each one.

I've heard a comment in this thread, about not joining the HUG list until one is "good enough". Don't wait -- it is the "love" -- not "perfect patchwork/etc -- that counts.

Okay, back into the woodwork I go :-).

Bev in TX

I don't think this can be said too often!!! None of us care how experienced you are at quilting. If you want to join the HUG List, then you ARE a good enough quilter. Remember, many people send a simple whole cloth block to be used, especially if it matches a given theme for the HUG -- like pussycat fabrics :-). If you want to make a pieced block, then do a simple four patch or a half square triangle block. Some quilters send intricately pieced blocks for a HUG but there are as many who send something simple. Once a HUG is put together, it doesn't matter what type of block you sent or if the points match exactly. The HUG Hostess most likely doesn't care and is just happy to have the blocks to work with. So you quilting newbies, join the HUG list if you really want to and don't worry about your skill level. If you are concerned about it, just remember not to try an intricate block for the first time. It's so much easier to begin with something simple, and be proud of your finished HUG block :-). And DO NOT let your QIs make the HUG block!!! My kitties are *always* sneaking around behind my back and sending off finished blocks with kitty cat faces and such in them -- imagine THAT -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Bev, try looking at the fabric in front of the needle. Don't watch the needle go up and down. It will sort of hypnotize you and really just distract you. That should help with straight lines. Taria

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote: Given I could

When I have to do long straight seams, I tend to wobble. I think I get distracted. So I make myself a little barrier wall with a stack of post it notes so I have a long entrance to the quarter inch seam that stays a quarter inch. This makes my seams much more accurate and even faster.

Maybe you need to save the margaritas for AFTER sewing! ;-P

Now there's a thought......nah.....I'll stick to the post it notes.

Thank you for your message reminding us WHY we make quilts, Bev. Hugs to you and the woman who is lucky to have you for a SILL. PAT in VA/USA

I hope you were reassured by all that felt this was an interesting and useful discussion. You did an awfully good job for a long while and it was truly appreciated.

Crystal, momentarily surfacing