Charity Quilt from Cheryl

This charity quilt top was made by a blog reader who is a prolific quilter, Patricia Templin in Spokane, Washington.  Pat has donated so many quilt tops through my blog, and it makes me think that the charities I support are not the only ones that benefit from her work.  Maybe Pat will leave a comment and tell us how she makes and donates so many quilt tops.  Does Pat have a staff to assist her? Or maybe a houseful of servants to take care of the home so she can quilt all the time?

The quilt top as Pat made is was 72” x 84.”  This one went to Cheryl in Dallas because she works on quilts for a charity that uses bed-size quilts.  Pat’s quilt top is made of quarter square triangles in beautiful pale florals.  So many florals!  And so many varieties!  There is also a variety of neutral QSTs, but they are all whites or white-on-white prints.  And nary a stretched-out seam in sight.  Wonderful sewing.

Pat added a narrow navy border, then a border of floral strips that are 2” x 3 1/2,” and lastly a wider navy border.

If you have seen any of the tops that Cheryl in Dallas works on, you know that she likes big quilts because they are used as bedspreads at her favorite charity.  Can you see what she did to Pat’s quilt top?  Yep, she added yet another border of floral strips that added 4” all the way around the top.  Now the quilt top is 80” x 92.”  That is plenty big enough for a twin size bed.

Work is getting started on Pat’s quilt top.  Cheryl in Dallas floats quilt tops on the longarm.  The excess top and batting get kicked under the machine to try to keep it out of the way.  That works pretty good for people feet but not so much for doggies who want attention when quilting is going on.

The quilting pattern is Bossa Nova, designed by Natalie Gorman.  It is such a pretty, flowing edge-to-edge pattern and is a nice compliment to the sharp angles in the quilt design.

Bossa Nova pattern is looking good.  This digital pattern is sewn at 12 stitches to the inch.  How do expert hand quilters, like the Amish, make stitches that are 14 stitches to the inch?  It seems impossible to me.

Another finished charity quilt!  What a nice joint effort.  At this distance, you can tell that the outer border is brighter than the center.  But I won’t tell if you don’t.

Such pretty and delicate prints.  A flower for every flower lover.

The backing is made of two pieces of white fabric.  A pieced strip of fabrics used in the last border connects the two white pieces together.  I admire quilters who make pieced quilt backs, but that is not me.  This one is a good compromise — just enough piecing to hide the center seam.

This quilt is headed to the House of Hope in Gainesville, Florida.  The House has expanded to 14 residents and each lady needs her own Quilt Welcome Gift!  Cheryl in Dallas sent this note along with the photos:

“When I was visiting my mother in Gainesville one time, she asked if the House of Hope ladies ever write thank-you notes when they receive a quilt.  I told her they didn’t.  She replied, ‘Well, they should.  They were raised better than that.’  I had to point out that sadly, most of the women were NOT raised better, most of them were on their own by the time they were young teens, and life on the streets lead them down the inevitable path of crime and jail.  These ladies apply to join the House of Hope residential program so they will have a support system when they get out of jail.  During the 6 or 12 months they are in the program, they learn how to become good employees, good mothers, and good citizens.  I like to think their quilts remind them that someone they don’t even know is rooting for them as they walk this new path.  Many thanks to you, Jo, and to your wonderful blog readers for making this project possible.”

Thanks so much ladies…and for any of you who want share your charity quilting projects, here’s the link up.

Thanks so much for all you do in your life that is charitable. We need more people who freely give!!