I am the hostess this week for the TGIFF link up party. Join in the fun and show us your finished items!
My project was born from a charity sewing event we have each month with my guild. We sew and quilt all year long to make quilts to take to a local hospital for all the patients that are there on Christmas Day. We usually donate close to 300 quilts each year. To encourage participation we supply fabric, backing, and batting from a store room we have use of located in one of the hospital facilities. It’s a great partnership.
In January we had a pattern ready for those who needed some direction on what to sew, Bricks. We just used 6.5″x12.5″ blocks sewn in offset rows to create a top. This is a great pattern for large prints, or pieces you just don’t want to cut up small! I collected some greens, beiges, and deep reds for my project. And even though I tried to keep things separated, I still got pools of color, but it’s OK, it still made a pretty display of color.
You don’t even know how many times I moved these strips. LOL! But finally I just grabbed things and sewed the rows together. It really does look like a Brick Wall.
To quilt it I decided to use my Antionette panto from Urban Elementz. I want to learn to do FMQ feathers someday, so why not practice with a panto? A lot of FMQ is muscle memory, so I want to get in the habit of bouncing feathers onto my quilts.
We do have wide backs in stock in our store room, but I try to use up the leftovers from my projects in the backs, and that’s what I did. It’s a mash up for sure! I used the cut offs from the backing to make the binding since I was out of all of the fabrics. I did have to add 1 strip of green from my stash to finish it off, but it’s done and that’s the most important thing. Ready for a patient who needs a Quilty hug!
chrisknitssews 
What a wonderful thing to do!
Our guild is one of the best, we are always making things for the various charities we support, from babies to teens to adults! I love my guild!!
>
Isn”t that a very pretty fabric! Nice panto, too.
Thanks! We are so fortunate to have a great selection of fabrics in our storeroom.
I really like the idea of a bricks quilt. How nice to give someone a Christmas quilty hug.
Thanks Vicki! Our guild is so giving, and the members are just the sweetest gals!
>
The bricks pattern is great, Chris. Love the panto you used.
Thanks Brenda!
I know it takes extra time, but piecing together the backing from the large scraps really is fun to do on occasion. Looks great!
And a great way to use up every last bit of fabric!
That’s a great pattern to us up some bigger prints. I get those in donations sometimes and then they sit! Thanks for the idea!
We are sometimes drawn to those gorgeous prints but finding a good pattern is elusive.
Love this finish and the pieced back is perfect…gets some fabric out of the stash and finish accomplished! How are you feeling about muscle memory from the panto?
After I make a pieced back I always think of a more balanced way I could have made it. My mind demands symmetry. LOL! Thanks!
>
That’s a great pattern for using up those big prints and sewing together quickly! Beautiful finish, Chris!
Thanks Diann, it did sew up fast! The quilting took much longer. LOL.
>
“Brick” quilts are perfect for charity quilts. I love how you quilted yours. Someone is going to be very lucky to receive this.
Thank you Gwyned, it was an easy sew and a fun quilting!
Lovely Quilt and charity project Chris.
Thanks Carol!
A fun finish for a good cause!
We love supporting this event each year.
>
Hi Chris! Thanks for letting me know about the RSC link on your sidebar. I checked out those gorgeous blocks from January. This is going to be one delectable quilt when it’s finished. I love it! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
I just hope I can find the colors I want each month without buying for it. But really, can it be that hard with my stash? LOL
>
Great job! That is just lovely, and will surely keep a patient cozy 🙂
Thanks! I hope it brings comfort.