yesterday, i started two new projects.
the first, i’ve been holding onto for almost a month, because it makes me sad. our quilt guild makes special little quilts to donate to the hospital. these particular quilts go to the most sick little babies.. in fact, to the ones who are not expected to make it. it’s a little piece of comfort in the hospital, and a special memory for the parents to take home. so when our quilt guild asked for members to take home a package to make a memory quilt, i took one. i knew i wanted to make one, but it makes me so sad to think of the little babies that these quilts are going to. in the package, there is everything needed to make a little 25″ quilt.. 6″ charms for the front, fabric for the backing, batting and even binding strips, already cut. there is even a little printed tag for the back, saying that it’s from our guild and the address. apparently they’ve heard back from families over the last few years, and they’ve appreciated the quilts. in fact, one family loved the idea so much that they donated enough fabric to make 100 memory quilts!
memory quilt package (batting not pictured)
they suggest a very simple layout, like below. certainly, this would be the fastest way to put together a little quilt.. but it wasn’t speaking to me. i wanted something simple, but different.
suggested layout
so i sewed all the charms into HST’s and my Second Born and i had fun trying a bunch of different layouts. i decided to go with the layout below.
my layout, minus one HST. it got lost behind my sewing machine table.. it's since been found.
so over the next week or so, i will finish up this little quilt. they said that it doesn’t even need to be quilted.. you can tie it if you like. but i’ll probably quilt it anyways.. something simple, following the diagnonal lines.
and because this little quilt was making me so sad, i decided to start a happy quilt at the same time. i’ve been wanting to use my Rainbow Charms from the swaps i’ve taken part in over the last few months.. and i decided to use some of them to make a Rainbow Star flower quilt. i am making 12 blocks using my 5″ charms. they make a nice, 16″ block. i will still have lots of charms leftover for another project! i haven’t decided on my layout yet.. i’m not even sure if i will use all 12 blocks, and if i have any blocks leftover, i’ll use them to make a baby quilt.
playing with fabric placement.
all 12 blocks pieced!
I’ve always wanted to donate quilts to the NICU, especially since Calliope spent the first 3 days of her life in one.
Your rainbow stars are definitely happy.
Yes it is sad, but, at the samr time it gives the parents something to focus on, and remember.
I am really liking your star blocks..may just have to “borrow” your idea xx
This is awesome of you.
I love the rainbow stars, there are about a million rainbow quilts I want to do and this goes into that pile!