Friendship Quilts
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 10:27:17
From: Mary
Subject: Friendship quilt
I have decided (!) to create a memory/friendship/album quilt for my
parents' 40th anniversary next year. I plan to request input from a
variety of family and friends, some of whom I don't really know. To
facilitate, I plan to send an explanatory letter/instruction sheet along
with a 6" (well, 7" so I have some seam allowance) block of muslin backed
with freezer paper. I would like to call on the *collected knowledge,
wisdom, and experience* of this group to be sure I don't make some
horrible mistake. I will briefly summarize the instructions I will
include; please oh please if anyone has any comments or sees any problems
let me know! I will, of course, summarize for the list.
Oh, first one question: Is it true that you can type on
freezer-paper-backed muslin? If so, how permanent is it?
Ok, here are my instructions (altho I elaborate a little more):
1) use waterproof permanent pens, fabric paint; even a laundry pen. Please
do not use a ball-point pen
2) be sure to include your name
3) include any other thing you want, including embroidery, writing, cross
stitch, (typing?), paint; anything soft (no buttons, sequins, etc.);
include a drawing, a saying, a memory, a special date: ANYTHING!
4) remember that this is a permanent, lasting memory quilt for them, so
think in terms of creating something to last forever (i.e. don't be too flip!)
So, have I covered the appropriate bases? I assume that
most of these folks don't own Pygma pens (imagine!), so I mentioned
laundry pens; are there other, more common things folks can use? I don't
want to be too verbose (and, as you can tell, I tend to be!); I don't want
to put anyone off, but I also don't want a whole quilt full of six inch
squares with a signature in the middle that say "Congratulations!" Oh, I
plan to alternate the six inch muslin blocks with, probably, six inch nine
patch blocks; I really need to get the signed blocks back, to find out how
many I have to work with, before I can finalize the layout.
Feel free to all answer at once! I want to get these in the mail soon,
'cause I am SO EXCITED about this!!!!!!!!
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Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 11:11:38 PDT
From: Karen
Subject: Re: Friendship quilt
Another thought - remember to tell them not to write in the seam allowances (or
mark the usable area for them). This was the biggest problem I had with a
similar project - people kept writing/painting/drawing into the seams and I
ended up losing parts of things when putting blocks together.
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Date: Thu, 14 Jul 1994 10:16:12
From: Marina
Subject: Re: friendship quilt
I have a question--if you back the muslin with freezer
paper, how do you expect them to applique or do any
other type of needlework to it? It might be better to
include a piece of freezer paper and tell them how to
press it on if they want to use it.
Also, I would include some scrap pieces of the muslin
so they can practice writing, "laundry pens" might
bleed and create unattractive writing. Tell them
to use the scraps for practice and to make sure the pen
they are using is a good one for fabric.
You might also consider embroidering over their writing
if the pen they use is not permanent or too light.
The quilt will be a treasure even if every single block
isn't, go for it! :-)
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Date: Thu, 28 Jul 1994 09:58:25
From: Mary
Subject: Summary: Album Quilt
I asked for help a couple weeks ago in getting started with my parents'
40th anniversary quilt. I promised to summarize for the list; here it is.
It is *very*long*, because I got so many helpful responses. The only
caveat is that, since I've only just sent out all the packets, I don't
really know what's gonna work and what isn't. As they come back in, if
there's anything y'all should know, I'll post again. In no particular order:
1. Mark a margin; to get 6 inch finished squares, I machine basted a
5 1/2 inch margin (pencil or other markings must be removed).
2. Iron on freezer paper for people to write on; mention that if they
sew, x-stitch, whatever, just to remove the paper. Mention NOT to write
on the paper side, but the fabric side.
3. Allow for off-centeredness: I cut 7 1/2 in squares.
4. Send two squares (in case of error). This was *expensive* and
*doubled my time*. I don't know if it was necessary, since I haven't
gotten any back yet.
5. To send markers or not? Several suggested sending markers with the
packet; I did not, because I wanted people to be creative, not just sign
their names with one marker. Holdouts (and there will be some) may get a
marker from me to get their blocks in gear.
6. Packet: Two squares in a ziplok bag, SASE return envelope, cover letter,
instructions. (Two stamps required to send out; one for return.)
7. Utensils: Regular Crayola Crayons, when heat-set, do work, with some
fading with the first washing. I also suggested *fabric* paint or
*fabric* pens, cross-stitch, embroidery. Pens? Oooh, boy, what a variety
of opinions on Sharpies! I heard from two people who had a quilt *ruined*
by a Sharpie that bled, but I heard from many people who swear by them. I
am inclined to conclude that Sharpie's quality is not consistent, but that
overall they work fine. HOWEVER, they do "seep" when you write with them,
especially when they are new. A half hour or so with the top off make
them easier to use. The key is to use a practice fabric to see how fast
you need to move the pen. I found the "fine" tip way too fat: the
"ultrafine" was still not as fine as I would like.
8. Signature: several people mentioned that I should request each block
be signed in addition to any other work done on it; I also heard (and
believe!) that folks will sign the BACK, unless you specifiy that they
sign the front.
9. Keepsake: Suggest people include a note to the couple, and compile a
memory book to go with the quilt; ask them to specify what they used on
the block (so you know if it's ok); I'm keeping a written record of the
making of the quilt (who I asked, whose addresses I couldn't find, all the
close calls of mom and dad almost finding out about it, etc.)
10. Other: folks suggested sun printing (QNM did an article about it not
long ago) and photo transfers, both as potentially center medallions.
11. The best piece of advice I got: "Do not underestimate how your
carefully crafted instructions will get misinterpreted!" Again, it's too
early in the process to know the particulars, but this prepared me better
for what I'm bound to get back!
I just finished sending out about 60 to out-of-towners; another 20 or so
intowners in the next week or two. Then the waiting....and reminding....
and waiting.....and worrying.....and reminding begin. I hope to start
putting the top together as early as December or early January. I had
planned to have it quilted on a quilting machine (not my fav part,
either), but I suspect that's not gonna work out, so I need lots of time
to somehow quilt this baby myself!
Thanks, as always, for all your help!
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