Around the Block

I've spent the past 2 days making QAYG blocks and managed to get 30 made so far. I'm taking the opportunity to tidy up my scraps and I must be making progress but the room is still messy. LOL
I also received a beautiful package of baby yarn from the lovely Kaite in Bathurst so I can knit more premmie jackets and hats.
The postman was very busy as there is another parcel for me to pick up at the post office as well as a parcel of QAYG blocks from Shona H. from Coleambally.
Thanks so much to my "team of supporters" I plan to have more QAYG quilts finished tomorrow. I have decided to make myself stop sewing by 8.30pm and crochet or knit instead so I don't burn out. It's good for me to use different muscles too.
I am very grateful for all the help offered and the donations made so we can bring some comfort to the people who have been affected by the Qld floods. Unfortunately it doesn't look like the rain is going to stop soon and there seem to be more reports of flooding, even in areas that have already been inundated.
It's a tough country to live in so I hope you all stay dry and safe. There have been warnings of a flash flood for us at the end of the week so I plan to buy supplies and keep sewing.
Hugs Jan Mac

A Change of Pace?

I was thinking of making pillowcases yesterday and then saw the large pile of batting scraps and remembered that I was going to make some dolls with brown skin to be donated to aboriginal kids.
I found a pattern that looked easy enough and got it made in the afternoon. I've thought of a few changes to make it easier and will make some more. It used up lots of batting scraps which are too small for the QAYG blocks so that was a good thing. I also made 8 QAYG blocks at 13.5" to match the 4 that had been donated. Today I put that quilt together and will show a photo later.
I've also been busy making more QAYG blocks. I keep trying to tidy the sewing room by sewing my way through all the scraps but although I'm making plenty of blocks I don't seem to have made much progress with the tidy up.
I read on one of the lists that a quilter from the US tidies her sewing area by making crumb squares from all her scraps and gets everything tidy and ready to start new projects for the rest of the year. I try it every year and make lots of quilts but still don't seem to have a tidy work area. This will keep Kate happy as she thinks I have a secret group of elves who help with all the quilts. Actually most people think I work with a team of quilters to get the quilts done and I'm the only one on the team. I tried to recruit DH but he wouldn't be in it. LOL. So yes there is a team but if I'm not here to work them they don't produce anything.
It's not a problem as I'd rather be quilting than overseeing a team of workers. I do that at my paid job instead and that's enough. Back to the pile of strips.
Hugs Jan Mac

QAYG Blocks Tutorial

Once again I'm asking for Quilt As You Go (QAYG) blocks to be made and donated for the people affected by the devastating floods in Queensland (Australia). These blocks are very easy to make using scraps of batting and string pieces of fabric. By making them this way it means that I can make a lot of quilts quickly without needing to buy a lot of batting. However if any international blog readers wish to send blocks without the batting to cut down on postage costs then that would be fine too. I can just join the blocks sent and make more if needed to make the quilts in sets of 5x7 or 6x8.
The blocks are made to 10.5" finished and I start with an 11"square and then trim to 10.5" when the strips have been added.
So start with any fabric for the backing- all different colours won't matter and you can even piece the backing square.
Then I lay batting scraps across the backing, on the wrong side, enough to cover the square and without overlapping the batting. I also cut the batting away from the corners to make it easier to join the squares without extra bulk. Then I pin a string piece of fabric diagonally across the square.

Then start sewing strips of fabric across the square and covering the seam allowance of the previous strip. I use any width up to 2.5" across the squares and just make sure the strip is long enough to cover the backing. I use whatever comes out of the scrap pile as long as it fits across the square and as long as it hasn't already been used in that block. I also join smaller pieces to make a long strip and that is then sewn down across the square.
Keep sewing until the entire square is covered. I use larger triangle pieces for the corners so that there is less bulk in the joining seams. I press as I go and then press the block before trimming.
Then I turn the block to the reverse side and measure it to 10.5" square and trim the sides. I turn to the reverse side to make sure that I don't trim the backing too short on one side.


I also sew down across the triangle corners to make sure they lay flat. I keep making them until I have enough for a set.
If making these blocks without the batting, I use thin fabric such as old sheets and sew the strips down in the same way using the thin fabric as a foundation. Then trim as before.
It's an effective way to make up quilts fairly quickly. I join the blocks using strips of binding cut to 2.5" wide and I use 21 strips cut the width of the fabric for one quilt set 5x7.
Any questions please ask me and I'll try to explain more clearly.
Bye for now, Jan Mac

2010 Wrap-up and Queensland Floods

As we have started a new year I thought it was time to post about the
progress of quilts made and donated for the year. Over the past 12
months, I sent off 497 quilts to various agencies. They have gone to the bush fire affected areas of Kinglake and Flowerdale as well as to people who lost loved ones in the fires; sent to East Timor; and to Pakistan
after the earthquakes there; donated to the local women's refuge for the
ladies and teenagers who participate in their programs; to a group which
supports refugees who have been settled in Vic; to farmers in Sth Aust.
who have been made homeless after droughts and then floods; as well as to some individuals who were in need of some support. They have all been shown on the blog site at http://ozcomfortquilts.blogspot.com
I haven't made all of these quilts from scratch and have received
many beautiful quilts, tops, blocks and fabric from many generous quilters which has made it much easier to give support and quilts when needed. Now that these floods are devastating Qld and NSW, I've been busy making quilts so that I have a supply ready to send up there when
needed. I was unable to send them after the last floods in Qld as I was so busy with the bushfire quilt appeal but I want to support those areas now as the quilters from those areas were so generous with donations for the bush fire quilt appeal.There will be quite a period of clean-up
required and as some houses will have been submerged for some time, they will most likely start off with needing to replace everything that they owned. Of course donations of money are needed at the moment but I also expect that quilts will be welcomed when the time is right. I've heard that they have enough clothing for those people affected and I'm also making tote bags and pillowcases as they will be useful and also are a good way to give out quilts by placing a quilt in either a bag or pillowcase. At the moment I'm also putting quilts together using
QAYG blocks and it makes it so much easier to get them made quickly when I've received donations of the blocks.
If anyone has a little time and a few scraps of fabric and batting
then I would welcome any QAYG blocks again, measuring 10.5" square. Also
any tote bags and pillowcases would be very helpful if you have the time
and the fabric. I have been using the complimentary bags which are given
out by lots of companies now, or even the green bags sold by the
supermarkets, and I just sew a pocket over the printed logo. They will
be useful for the quilts at first and then can be used for their
shopping etc. There's no need to send me finished quilts but if you have
any to donate I can post a collection point when that is available in
the affected areas.
I hope that this year is a much better one for all of us and that the
New Year brings lots of laughter and good health for all of us.
I'll post another tutorial about how to make the QAYG blocks on my next post for anyone who is interested.
I also forgot to say that the quilt on my previous blog post was from donated QAYG blocks and I only had to join them together.
Stay dry, Jan Mac

Another QAYG Quilt

I had intended to blog and quilt more quilts yesterday but was called into work to cover sick leave and as it helps to pay for the donation quilts it was rather timely.
I did manage to finish this variation of a QAYG quilt and I had to do this one in the more traditional method of stitching the joining pieces down by hand on the back of the quilt.
Today I did manage to quilt 4 quilts and now that my back and shoulders are aching I think the binding may have to wait until tomorrow.
Instead I'll probably knit or make another crocheted scarf to use another set of muscles.
Cheers, Jan Mac

Pedal to the Metal

I've had a fun couple of days putting QAYG quilts together as well as making some more QAYG blocks. It's good to get more quilts made for the flood affected areas and I've also made some bags and a pillow which will be going to an agency which supports homeless people. The bag will hold a quilt and the pillow and I plan to get some more made too.
I've been to my "Magic Cupboard" and found some heavier curtain fabric which will be ideal for the bags and make it easier for the agency to give out the items.
I'm also gathering books to send with the quilts and this lot will go to the Footpath Library which gives out books to the homeless in Melbourne and Sydney. Check out their website for more information. I used to allow books to stay on my bookshelves in case I wanted to read them again but I'm now realizing that it's better to give them away so others can enjoy them too. If I want to re-read them then I can borrow them from the local library. Today I've been putting a QAYG quilt together in the traditional way as it would have ruined the design if I'd used my quicker way. It does take a lot longer though and yesterday I finished off 3 QAYG quilts and today I'm still working only on one. Btter get back to it as there is still more hand sewing to do.
Take care, Jan Mac

A Wedding and a Quilt

We had a wonderful time at our niece's wedding yesterday and it was lovely to catch up with family again.
Luckily it wasn't as hot as predicted and we got home at 2am so today was a quiet day of recovery due to lack of sleep.
I did manage to finish the QAYG quilt and have put half of another one together. These are 60"x80" and in more masculine colours and will be donated to people affected by the devastating floods in Qld.
If anyone has some time and fabric and batting scraps I can use any QAYG blocks you care to donate. They are made to 10.5" square and in any colours. I'm also making tote bags and pillowcases to put the quilts in and this will make it easier to hand them out and of course they will be useful as well. The tote bags and pillowcases can also be made from poly cotton or curtain fabric and I've been using those complimentary bags that many businesses give out, and just making a pocket to cover the business advertising, or you can also use the cloth bags that many supermarkets sell.
The affected communities aren't ready to accept donations yet as it may be some weeks before they finish the clean-up and the flood waters haven't started to recede yet. Of course they can also use donations of money but as many will have lost all their possessions due to their homes being submerged for some time, the quilts will be welcomed as a they try to return to normal.
I hope that we don't have bush fires as well this summer but I guess we'll just deal with what happens and try to make the best of things.
I hope you all have plenty of fun and laughter this year as well as good health.
Take care, Jan Mac