My Newest Friendship Quilt

Prior to our trip to the UK I did a post about the friendship block project I was putting together for the tour.

My blocks were made from Liberty fabrics, and you can click here to read that post. While in Birmingham I collected the blocks from the participants. One evening it was time to lay them out on my bed, and gather 1 from each pile to make an evenly mixed stack for each quilter. In the past we would have the ladies walk around and pick up the blocks themselves, but it never seemed to come out right. I eventually discovered that making the piles in a quiet room by myself yields the best results.

Not everyone joined the exchange, so those who did brought extra blocks to get signatures from the others… and from interesting people we met along the way. Also, a few quilters stepped out and created their own exchange. It was fun to see the variety. One night we had a get together for the blocks to be returned, and then the collecting of additional signatures began.

During our travels, many of us asked people we met along the way to sign blocks too! Like Calico Kate!

And Jen Jones

A few weeks after our return home I went on a quilt retreat with the Fabricators. One of my goals was to put the friendship squares together – and I did. I also had some larger “test” blocks I’d made when coming up with the pattern, and I decided to stitch them into a back for my table runner (on the left). I got them both pieced while on retreat.

Then I finished it up at home. A few weeks later we had our trip reunion and I was excited to see what the others had done with their blocks!

Each one was delightful! Thanks ladies for making this project so much fun!

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And one more thing! Friends of mine from church were married last month, and I couldn’t resist making them a wedding quilt. I chose a top from my UFO pile, and finished it just for them. To read a post about the making of this fun, scrappy block click here!

I stitched their names across the top border, and because Wes and Rose are planning on going into the ministry, I included a Bible verse across the bottom.

Last summer I went to a rummage sale of a lady who’s sister was a quilter, and had passed away. She had some beautiful pieces of fleece, and one of them was perfect for the back of this cozy quilt. Isn’t it lovely?

May God bless Wes and Rose in their married life!