Community Service Sew Day
Our annual Community Service Sew Day is coming soon. This fun event will happen on July 27th this year, and replaces our regular formatted meeting. Doors to the gymnasium open at 4:00 p.m. for set-up so we can begin sewing at 4:30 p.m. We need to be out of the building by 9:00 p.m. as usual. For those of you who still work, come whenever you’re ready. We have tables and connections for everyone who would like to sew. Jobs like cutting fabric, pressing, squaring up blocks, measuring and cutting batting are also available for those who don’t want to or can’t bring their machine. Sometimes it’s really fun to put the pedal to the metal when you don’t have to keep stopping to do your own pressing. You’ll see, but be sure to thank those who are doing the other chores for you. Pattern cards will be passed out at the beginning of the meeting. If you are unable to attend the Sew Day but would still like to contribute a community service quilt, you may ask a friend to pick up a pattern card for you or any left over cards will be available at the next meeting.
This year, we have selected two different patterns. The first pattern that the majority will be sewing is Malaysia (50 pattern cards available). This 48”x48” quilt requires ½ yard each of a light theme fabric, a dark theme fabric, light solid for HST, dark solid for HST, border and binding. Six fabrics in all unless the border and binding are the same fabric, in which case you will need 1 yard of the border fabric. To be ready to sew at 4:30 p.m., you may wish to precut your fabric at home.
Malaysia cutting instructions: From each theme fabric, cut two 7½” WOF strips; then sub-cut into a total of nine (9) squares. From each of the light and dark solid fabrics, cut two 8” WOF strips; then sub-cut into nine (9) squares of each color. Stop here. DO NOT CUT THESE SQUARES IN TRIANGLES as the card suggests unless you want to deal with sewing on the bias all night. We plan to make the HST before cutting the squares and will demo the technique for anyone who does not know it. For the border, cut five 3¼“ WOF strips. For the binding, cut five WOF strips whatever width you are most comfortable with (2¼“ or 2½“). Yea! You are now ready for the Sew-In.
Malaysia cutting instructions: From each theme fabric, cut two 7½” WOF strips; then sub-cut into a total of nine (9) squares. From each of the light and dark solid fabrics, cut two 8” WOF strips; then sub-cut into nine (9) squares of each color. Stop here. DO NOT CUT THESE SQUARES IN TRIANGLES as the card suggests unless you want to deal with sewing on the bias all night. We plan to make the HST before cutting the squares and will demo the technique for anyone who does not know it. For the border, cut five 3¼“ WOF strips. For the binding, cut five WOF strips whatever width you are most comfortable with (2¼“ or 2½“). Yea! You are now ready for the Sew-In.
The second pattern is Tiffany (10 pattern cards available for those who raised their hand at the May meeting). This is a 48”x60” (58”x70” with optional border) quilt
that requires forty 2½“ strips, and 5/8th yard of fabric for the binding. You will need 1 yard of fabric if doing the optional border.
If doing the optional border, cut six 5½“ WOF strips. If doing the optional border, cut seven WOF strips whatever width you are most comfortable with (2¼“ or 2½“) for your binding. If you are doing the smaller size quilt without the border, you will need six WOF strips whatever width you are most comfortable with for your binding.
Since Tiffany requires more time to complete, in preparation for the Sew-In, you may wish to sew together twenty- four (24) 2½“ strips into 8 random sets of 3, and sew together sixteen (16) 2½“ strips into 8 random sets of 2. To facilitate nesting, press four of the strip sets of 3 down and four of them up. Press four of the strip sets of 2 down and four of them up also. Yea! You are now ahead of the game for the Sew-In. This will help you possibly complete your quilt top in one evening.
If doing the optional border, cut six 5½“ WOF strips. If doing the optional border, cut seven WOF strips whatever width you are most comfortable with (2¼“ or 2½“) for your binding. If you are doing the smaller size quilt without the border, you will need six WOF strips whatever width you are most comfortable with for your binding.
Since Tiffany requires more time to complete, in preparation for the Sew-In, you may wish to sew together twenty- four (24) 2½“ strips into 8 random sets of 3, and sew together sixteen (16) 2½“ strips into 8 random sets of 2. To facilitate nesting, press four of the strip sets of 3 down and four of them up. Press four of the strip sets of 2 down and four of them up also. Yea! You are now ahead of the game for the Sew-In. This will help you possibly complete your quilt top in one evening.
We will take a brown bag dinner break between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. and will hold a brief guild business meeting during that time.
Community Service is calling...
Mark your calendar; sort through your stash; get prepared; and come join the fun!
Linda S and Sheila G Your Community Service Sew-In Team
