Finally, the H2H baby quilts done and mailed

       Even though I had sewn the Hands2Help baby quilts for this year's challenge, for many reasons, could not get them quilted and bound in time for Sarah's deadline (Sarah told me not to worry). I did finally get them done and then mailed out using the Give Back box postage plan for Little Lambs of Utah and was relieved. I made one girl one and two boys. I used the same pattern (Scrap Jar Stars), but different fabrics. I quilted each one differently. They are about 50" x 50". I printed the butterfly on the label with a rubber stamp and fabric ink then added words.

I used the same fabric for all 3 bindings- a wonderful stripe.

The box ready to go

Hands to Help Quilts

      Every year I try and complete some quilts for Sarah Craig's Hands to Help Challenge. This year, as last, I will send these 3 baby quilts to Little Lambs when completed. The great thing about them is they participate in a shipping service that lets me ship all them for one low price.
    This year, I made one baby girl and two baby boys. I used the same design to make things quicker and easier. For a while, I have been making a scrap quilt called Scrap Jar Stars as a leader ender. When I started it, I made sample blocks for the star. I loved the little one (uses 1 1/2" squares), but the amount of blocks needed to make a quilt was daunting. I used 2" squares for the center, 3 1/2" for the HSTs. As I looked at the blocks, I thought, why not supersize? I graph papered it out and used stash fabrics. Later, I found that she has a baby quilt pattern available for this star. Well, my brain got a workout, always good.
    Because of the eye surgery, I have not been able to quilt them yet. I may miss the June deadline to ship them, but I will complete them and send them. I am making the backings now. They are about 49 x 49.

Big and little stars

Girl quilt

The Starry Night fabric for the border is special because it is from my friend, Terri, was passed away in December, and I used it in her grandkids quilts. I know she would have loved to see this.

Hands2Help Wrap Up

      I almost forgot to post the last day of the Hands2Help Challenge.  I made three baby quilts, 2 girls and one boys, for Hands2Help and Little Lambs. I used the free pattern, Speedy Baby 2, 45 x 45. They were mailed a couple of weeks ago using the $15.00 flat shipping available for certain charities. I have enjoyed participating in this challenge for every year except when I had a heart attack 4 years ago. Then, I shipped the top to Sarah and she quilted it.
    First time I ever used flannel in a quilt and backing. It quilts real nice.

H2H finshed, Utah bound

      Finally, I finished the last and third quilt for the Hands 2 Help drive from Sarah. All three tops were sent to me by Alycia from women she knows. I added borders and quilted them. Packed them all up and the box goes out this morning to Emily. The postage cost took my breath away. Yikes.
     I think that the border I added and the quilting enhanced and calmed down the xblocks so that it is quite lovely.
     I admit that receiving tops, tweaking them and quilting them for comfort quilts is quite pleasantly satisfying and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope I can do it again.

The original top I received

The finished top, Stonehenge fabric border, stripe binding

Back, a batik that I had to soak for a while to stop bleeding

Quilting texture before washing

Quilting texture after washing

The quilt roll as packed

H2H finishes, almost

      This year, I am participating in Sarah's Hands 2 Help Challenge. I have three quilts that are going to Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo. I was helped by a donation of three tops from Alycia's friends. Two quilts are done and ready to go. The third got bumped behind two comfort quilt requests. Just one before it now. Once the third quilt is quilted and bound, all three are going in a box to Quilty Hugs
      When I first received the three tops, I decided to enlarge each of them by adding borders. Glide Pearl for the quilting.

As it came to me

Borders added

All quilted and ready to go

     The next quilt, I added the green border and pieced the back because my math was whoopsie. Glide Celery for the quilting.

Pieced back

     Number Three is coming! It is hanging on a hanger right next to the longarm.

Challenge Met

     I have been struggling to post. I have pictures and work, but struggle to write. I read blogs of my favorite people, and comment, but am unable to write my own. I am sweating just trying to write this one, but I promised to do the Hands2Help Challenge and I completed all three and they are in the mail to Little Lambs Foundation in Logan, UT. They are about 46" square and my grandchildren held them for me in my yard. I used Glide on the top and PremoSoft in the bobbin.

Baby Quilts times three

     For this year's Hands2Help Challenge, I am making three baby quilts. I was able to use orphan block pieces to create a center medallion and did a simple surround. The request was that the quilts were anywhere from 36" x 36" to 48" x 48". I think these will finish around 45". The two blue ones are identical in size, so I made one backing and will try to quilt both at the same time. The pink/orange one will be quilted by itself.

All the quilts jammed on the wall. Time to clear off.

Leftover pieces of double hourglass

Leftover ends of strips from 2 Diagonal Variations

Four for the Basket

     Four done baby quilts for Jack's Basket. I used scraps donated, partially done blocks donated, and some stash. The backs were given to me also. I tried to quilt two at a time on the longarm (different backs next to each other and it was a bit challenging). These are for the Hands2Help challenge sponsored by Sarah Craig.
     You can go to the link and see all the other quilts people have made. I had other tops for another charity, but I could not get them quilted in time. Now, I have to get these packed up and shipped out. I enjoyed making them and I hope they give the recipients some smiles.

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Jack's Basket baby quilts

     Every year, Sarah Craig, of Confessions of a Fabric Addict, has an event called Hands2Help. Different groups are listed every year for quilt donations. In the past, I have been fortunate to make quilts to give to one of the groups. Last year, I made a quilt, but couldn't quilt it due to my heart attack, and Sarah graciously quilted it and donated it for me.
     This year, new, is Jack's Basket. It is a group that celebrates Down's syndrome babies and gives a basket of goodies to the family. One of the items is a 36" x 36" quilt. I decided this year to make 4 of them using parts of blocks and a panel to design and create for them. 
     Going through donated block parts and figuring out a great quilt is not easy or quick. I want each quilt to be artistic and beautiful, not just sewn together. I despaired at the beginning as nothing was working. I used graph paper and battled my math skills. As I got the first one done, an Eric Carle panel, the ideas started flowing. In 2 1/2 days, I sewed all 4. Now, I have to sweat and see if I can get them all quilted by the end of May.

Started with a 20" panel

Made piano keys to match the small printed border and cornerstones.
Added the green like the grass.

Frog blocks and turquiose ones were donated, but taken apart, reassembled,
and added a dragonfly border.

Leftover heart blocks were sashed with fun polka dots and bordered with the same.

A bunch of HSTs were sewn into flying geese, some funky dividers and a bright orange border.

Crazy multicolor circles in blue enclosed the bright orange.