I have never had the opportunity to make a quilt for Quilts of Valor, so the first thing I did was check out their website to see what the guidelines were and how to participate. Turns out that it's pretty darn easy! There are some size suggestions, and they ask that the quilts be pre-washed. You can choose to give a quilt to someone that you know, or if you like they can find a recipient for you! When you donate you are asked to register your gift so that it can be counted - so far the total of quilts given is over 200,000! Isn't that awesome?
There are even patterns you can download to use. I saw the Carpenter Star and decided to make that, thinking it would be fun to use with the Stack of Freedom Fabric I was sent.
There was the perfect amount of red and blue for the star, and I supplemented the white with the solid white yardage included. While I was cutting 6 7/8 inch squares from each piece, I had a brainstorm that I could make a piano key border using the leftover strips of fabric instead of solid borders. I love a scrappy looking quilt, so I was really happy with this plan!
Aren't these fabrics gorgeous? Love the patriotic look of them! I had a few issues with my math for the borders, but in the end they came out perfectly!
So pretty! One tip for making this quilt is that you don't have to sew the whole thing together in rows. I made four separate quarters - they are identical so it makes it easy to rearrange if you don't like the way the colors align.
I had planned to use white in the border as well before I realized that there was white all around the stars - which would make white bars in the border look kind of weird. I needed to cut some extra pieces from the yardage to make enough strips for the borders, but that left me with enough of the yardage sent to piece the back as well - but I didn't get a picture of that yet.
I quilted the white with a medium meander, and am filling in the blue and red with simple lines. I'm not quite finished yet, but will do the borders with loops and stars then bind it in the darkest blue.
I haven't found a recipient yet, and there is no local Quilts of Valor group. I am hoping to make a connection through a local project for veterans, and will definitely follow up and let you know who I end up awarding this quilt to. Thanks again Jennifer for the opportunity to make this quilt and show appreciation to someone who has served our country, and to Island Batik for providing the beautiful fabrics!
If you are interested in making a quilt yourself, make sure to visit Dizzy Quilter and enter her giveaway! There is also a block drive, if you don't want to make a whole quilt, make a block (or 2 or 10!) See the Quilt of Valor website for all the information you need to participate!
And make sure you check out these blogs for more Quilts of Valor, featuring Island Batiks:
July 1
Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty PineyDenise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail
July 2
Pamela Boatright — Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens — Sweetgrass Designs
July 3
Bea Lee —Bea Quilter
Carla Henton — Creatin’ In the SticksJuly 4
Emily Leachman — The Darling Dogwood
Joan Kawano — MooseStash Quilting
Jen Strauser – Dizzy Quilter
July 5
Steph Jacobson — Steph Jacobsen DesignsLeah Malasky — Quilted DelightsAnja Clyke — Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe — Mary Mack Made Mine
15 comments:
So pretty. The border was a nice touch.
Very pretty! Thanks for sharing
cork@pa.rr.com
Wonderful quilt! So glad you were able to participate in this wonderful hop. I am sure you can send it to one of the groups Jen or Becca is working with.
That's so beautiful!! I'm going to have to try that pattern now.
So beautiful. One of my favorite patterns - looks good in all kinds of fabrics and colors.
Gorgeous.
This is so beautiful! Thanks for participating.
Got to love the colors tyty for sharing your talents with us...
Looks fantastic! I love the pattern you chose. Thanks so much for helping out QOV!
Looks great
Love your star. Great minds think alike. Love your border, it adds a great touch to the star.
Beautiful and that border really makes it sing! I know it will be treasured by a deserving Vet.
You did a great job! That's one I've done for American Hero Quilts, too, but I do like the border the way you did it, and will try that one next time I use this pattern!
Turned out wonderfully. I made a quilt of valor for my four sons in the military and a few of their friends. I really do like the design you have chosen.
Your star is wonderful. Love that border!
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