Second Round of Just One Slab Quilts

Wow!

So many volunteers helping get this round of quilts together. You have no idea how much their help is appreciated. Thank you so much Linda, Carla, Kathy, Jen, and Becca. Not to mention all the volunteers picking up sets of slabs to sew together from Traditional Pastimes and Addie's.

Right now there is a backlog of 100 quilt tops, or so, making its way to quilters. I've got a stack returned and awaiting binding. More are out with long armers and more will be going. Oh, and did I mention that slabs are STILL arriving?

Wow.

Quilting Pieces Mystery Box

Our beloved neighbours are moving this week. They welcomed us when we moved here nearly 10 years ago, treated us like their own children, and embraced our kidlets like another set of grandkids. We've shared many a bottle of wine and Sunday dinner. I've taken care of their cat, and I hate cats. But we would do anything for them. So when he showed up with this random box on the weekend I couldn't help but say yes when the last thing I need is any more stuff in my house. Besides, the less they move the better. I'm a good neighbour until the end.

This is one of those boxes that makes you excited and afraid at the same time. You can see why...

What a treat to dive into this box! Patterns, notions, fabric, and so much more. A bit of history of someone who sewed in their family. And a bit of sewing history.

Loads of fabric scraps! My guess is that the fabrics range from the 30s-60s. Not sure of the fibre content of much of it, but some pretty sweet fabric. There is a lot more than what you see here.

A few sewing patterns. This horribly offensive one too. Interestingly, I think there is a nearly finished version of this skirt in the box (just missing the waistband) and it is gorgeous. Actually, there are a few nearly finished articles of clothing. And clearly they were made by someone with the tiniest waist ever.  I doubt I would get anything over one of my thighs! But, oh, the fabric.

A quick glance at this makes me laugh because it encompasses a lot of what a produced, slick book includes these days. Only 10 cents! I'll be keeping this one for reference for sure.

Vintage zippers anyone? If only I knew how to sew in a zipper. There were these and so many more trims and notions. Fun little bits and bobs for clothing. And they are sitting on this funky yarn pillow. Sadly, it has seen better days, but still pretty cool.

Then there was this! Roughly twin sized and made quite nicely. Full of fabrics that make me drool and get excited. I plan to finish up this into a lovely quilt. Seeing as the box came from a family member - they think a great aunt - I think this should go back to the family. My neighbours' daughter and husband like it so hopefully it will make it's way back to them by Christmas. What a find, and a what a treat to explore someone else's bit of history. Quilting Pieces indeed.

First Round of Just One Slab Quilts

This was the stack of slabs a week ago. A few more hundred added, a few hundred taken away to make quilts. Total count as of this morning is over 1900 slabs received, not counting finished tops that have been sent.

Last week my sister-in-law,

Lee

, and

Andrea

came over to have an afternoon of sewing to get some quilt tops done. It was a fun, frenzied afternoon. We ended the day with 12 tops done. A few bundles of slabs taken home for more sewing, and prep for more sewing. Only 80 some more tops to get done!

This response is overwhelming! In a good way. I'll be honest, I'd hoped I would get 100-200 slabs for quilts. To get 10 times that is insanely awesome! One way or another these quilts will get done and donated to flood victims. If anyone local wants to assemble tops, quilt, or bind then let me know. Another sew day is set up for today and I'm putting together sets of blocks for people in town who can assemble quilts at home.

It's really fun putting together these quilts. Playing with colour and ideas is addictive. Here is the first crop of quilts, enjoy the show!

Snippets on Dates

For the last two or three years I've kept this bin of fabrics scraps by my side while I sew. It sits next to one of my big glass jars full of seemingly useless snippets of scraps. Tiny pieces, big pieces, odd pieces. They all live together in the hopes of becoming something more.

Slowly, slowly, they are indeed doing that.

As I sew, particularly improv sewing, I use these little bits as leaders and enders. That is, instead of having dangling threads on every single seam I often grab two snippets and sew them together. At the end of a moment of sewing I have a new collection of pairs.

Some pairs are small, some a bit larger, and some teeny tiny. Eventually, they will all get sewn together into some kind of crazy, hot, scrappy mess. And I will love it. For now, however, they are still sitting in pairs, like some sort of speed dating event.

On the weekend I wasn't in the mood to sit while we watched UFC and Le Tour at the end of the night. So I set up my iron and finally tackled the pressing of these lonely dates longing to be part of the crowd. And three hours later I wasn't quite done, but I made a good dent.

Now it is time to create a new set, by sewing these piles together. And so on, and so on... It really is going to be chaotic when done, but I'm pretty sure I'll love it. How can I not, when I have these little precious combos littered throughout?

Keep these leaders and enders in mind when you're making your slabs. Makes the process faster and neater.