Stitching Hearts - Scrap Happy!

Fifteen quilt tops = 1 Queen, 9 Twin, and 5 Kid-size quilt tops

It all started with a box of scraps.

Stitching Hearts is a charity that "provides service opportunities for individuals, groups, and businesses wanting to help those in need. We offer caring volunteers the necessary tools and materials to make handmade essential items for those who suffer from natural disasters, human injustices, and unforeseen tragedies beyond their control."

Some of those essential items are quilts!  We first met folks from the Stitching Hearts group last summer at a local quilt fair where they had a booth.  Debbie was demonstrating her Disappearing Rail Fence blocks at the Quiltscapes booth (more on that later).  The gals from Stitching Hearts noticed that her block was a great use of scraps.  

Stitching Hearts ends up with lots of scraps that need to be made into quilts.  They asked Debbie if she would be willing to help.  

We stopped by their warehouse and the volunteers there loaded up a 12" x 16" box with their scraps.  Here it is, all laid out in color families.

Sorting through the fabrics, there were no large chunks of yardage and very few light prints that could be used as background.  Most of the scraps were leftover from quilt backings; long strips about 5" to 6" wide.  Definitely a challenge, but then, Debbie loves a design challenge!

For the first quilt top, Debbie used three of the largest pieces, and chose a couple of coordinating prints for the sashing and corner posts.  When she laid out the quilt, she realized that she would need to "make fabric" with some of the main print scraps to complete her design. 

She added a couple of borders from stash to grow the quilt to bed-sized.  Off to a great start!

Have a look at the quilts in this little video:

It was Debbie's quest to make the simplest quilts with the scraps available.  And all those quilt tops were made and put together in just 42 days; a real accomplishment!  Now other volunteers will have the opportunity to quilt these tops and deliver them to those in need.

Here are some of the things Debbie learned:

• Start with the largest pieces and adapt a quilt pattern that fits the size of the pieces. 
• Squares seemed to multiply at night!!  She initially thought she'd be able to make 4 to 5 quilt tops from what was in the box.
• Most patterns are not written for these types of scraps.  It would be difficult to make up quilt kits for others to sew without having to rewrite patterns.
• Take a black & white photo of the fabrics to show the value - very helpful when laying out scrappy blocks to balance the design.  Most of the fabrics were of medium value.
• Sometimes, if you have a large variety of fabrics that don't go together, they actually go together and make a great quilt.
• Remember to brush out the lint from the feed dogs and clean out the bobbin area when the bobbin runs out!  Sewing this much is a very linty process!

If you or your group are interested in volunteer opportunites, go to Stitching Hearts Worldwide for more information. ♥♥