Quilts of Valor 10th Anniversary quilt block

Join the Choo Choo Quilters and contribute a block to the Quilts of Valor project. The 10th Anniversary block is shown below with assembly instructions. A downloadable PDF pattern is available on the QOV web site here.

Quilts of Valor 10th anniversary quilt block
8.5" square (unfinished),  8" finished size

Fabrics: Red, white or cream, blue
Cutting: four 2.5" squares BLUE, two 3" squares ALTERNATE BLUE, two 3" squares WHITE, four 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles RED.

Assembly: Use scant 1/4" seam allowance. Place white and blue 3" squares together right sides facing. Draw a diagonal line from corner to comer on the back of the two white squares. Stitch 1/4" seam on either side of the line. Cut the squares on the diagonal line and press open. Square up to 2.5". (You have made two 2.5" half square triangles.) Repeat for second set of squares. (For a total of 4 half square triangle units.)

Refer to the photo for color and unit placement. Sew the half square triangle units to the blue squares. Sew this unit to the red rectangle. Make 4 of these units. Assemble four units as shown in photo. The unfinished block (raw edge to raw edge) should be 8.5" square.

Guidelines:

• All blocks MUST be red, white or cream, and blue. You may mix these colors in any position. 
• Sign each block with your first name and state.
• Do not trim the blocks.
• Unfinished blocks (raw edge to raw edge) should be no smaller than 8.5" square. Adjust your seam allowances as necessary.

The Choo Choo Quilters will collect completed blocks at the June 17 guild meeting so they can be sent to Dennis Taylor, Region 8 Tennessee Coordinator, who will attend the Leadership Conference in Nebraska in July. However, blocks can be made through November 2013 in honor of the 10th Anniversary and given to a local Quilts of Valor Group Leader or an Official Under Our Wings quilt shop.

How to make a Quilt-As-You-Go table runner

For the next Choo Choo Quilters Guild meeting on May 20, we'll have Team Beverly demonstrate two techniques;

• A Quilt-As-You-Go Table Runner with a lovely hexagon design
• A Magic Binding technique that is applied all by machine, and leaves you with a contrasting piped inset.  

Hexie Table Runner using a Quilt-as-You-Go technique.

Everyone who is participating in the Brown Bag Challenge will need to bring their bag in for the big swap. We've got some interesting quilts making the rounds in this challenge, and it's fun to play with a new idea for a month then send it on it's way.

And as always, we'll have show and tell, we'll collect any cuddle quilts you have finished, and we'll have refreshments and get to visit with creative people.  It's all good!

See you Monday May 20 at 6:30!

Got Cuddle Quilts?? Bring 'em in!

Cuddle Quilt made using
pre-cut strips and the "lasagna"
quick quilt assembly method.

Do you have any cuddle quilts in the works? Now is a good time to finish the quilting and get them bound! A representative from the Chambliss Center for Children in Chattanooga will be talking about the Center and sharing its mission in a presentation at the April Choo Choo Quilters guild meeting.

The Choo Choo Quilters and the Chambliss Center have had a long-time partnership through the guild's annual Cuddle Quilt Project. At the January guild meeting, a demonstration on making a "lasagna quilt"—a quick sew technique using pre-cut fabric strips—was given that could be used for making Cuddle Quilts. A show and tell of quilt tops followed at the February meeting. Guild members are urged to finish any of these tops and bring them to the April 15 meeting so they can be presented to the representative from the Center.

Several lasagna quilts were turned in at the March meeting. You can see a Show and Tell of these colorful quilts here. Be inspired to finish yours!