Tote Bag Charity Sewing Challenge

Tote Bag Charity Sewing Challenge

Today we're kicking off the SAMQG Health Care for Homeless Veteran's (HCHV) Tote Bag Challenge 

Many of our members are affiliated with the larger military community in San Antonio. When researching this summer's charity sewing challenge, I found Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), which is party of the VA system. After talking with the coordinator, Peggy, we determined that a tote bag for their supplies might be a perfect fit.

HCHV Description: "Initially serving as a mechanism to contract with providers for community-based residential treatment for homeless Veterans, many HCHV programs now serve as the hub for a myriad of housing and other services that provide VA with a way to reach and assist homeless Veterans by offering them entry to VA care." -from their website

So what is our sewing challenge? 

The SAMQG is hosting a challenge to create a tote bag. The goal is to create 100 bags to be presented to HCHV in September 2016.  That gives us May, June, July and August to stitch.

How do you make a tote bag? 

I'm so glad you asked! 

With permission, we will use the Morsbag Tutorial to create our bags and kits. GRAB THE PATTERN HERE. (Labels will be provided and are only needed for this pattern.)

If you have found a different internet tutorial (for non-restricted use: meaning you can make a ton of them for charity) or have a favorite style of tote bag to sew, you can make it, too. Make what you feel comfortable making. Our goal is simply to provide tote bags.

Will there be kits? 

Yes! We are very fortunate to have fabric donations and generous members. Kits will be available at the Sew-In's and at SAMQG meetings throughout the summer. Kits will be cut for the Morsbag requirements.

Each tote bag kit contains:

• 1 rectangle of fabric measuring 18" x 40"
• 2 rectangles of fabric measuring 18" x 4"
• 1 Morsbag label

The kits are ready and the pattern is shared. What next?

Official Sew-In Days at Sew Special are:

• June 21st from 10a - 3p
• July 15th from 10a - 3p

If you are in the SAMQG, please RSVP on our "EVENTS" tab on Facebook.

Of course, you are encouraged to sew as many tote bags as you like on your own, too. You do not have to attend an event to make a wonderful donation. GRAB THE PATTERN HERE.

Revolving Charity Table

 The Revolving Charity Table

What is the Revolving Charity Table? Well, I'm so glad you asked! In short, it is the ultimate outreach group project. Our guild takes unfinished donations (in all stages) from guild members and allows other guild members to work on them.

Sounds easy, right? Let me share how it works:

Patterns & Fabric: If you have a pattern or fabric kit that you've purchased or cut and are no longer interested in making, bring it to the guild. We have a members that love piecing and just want to give that a try.

Quilt Tops: Did you make a top that you are no longer jazzed about? Bring it to guild. We have members that love the quilting step but don't have desire or time to piece a top.

We have supply donations as well. Rolls of batting and easy pattern cards have been donated for our guild to use as we finish up projects on the Revolving Charity Table.

Binding: If you have *mostly* finished a quilt and it needs binding, bring it. Folks enjoy that final step, too. 

One thing we ask is that if you are donating a quilt in any stage of construction, please know it will be finished in the vision of whomever is finishing it. It will also be donated to the SAMQG Charity Charge. The charge for 2016 is Quilts For Kids which will then give the quilts to Santa Rosa Children's Hospital. (Drop off point for this organization is Sew Special on 1604.)

Fun fact: There is no timeline for completing the item you take. We do ask that you work on it and finish it to the stage you are comfortable. There isn't a "it has to be turned in next month" type rule. Take two or three months, that is ok. Just be sure you return what you take. 

At the next meeting, dive in and give the Revolving Charity Table a try. We are happy to hold the items from month to month and are even happier to receive finished projects which have been stitched by a few members.

Days for Girls SAMQG Sew-In

As you may know, the SAMQG issued a charity sewing challenge to create items for the Days for Girls Organization. (Read about the challenge here.)

I'm thrilled to report the results from our sew-ins have been great!

Thank you to Mesquite Bean Fabrics for hosting our two events. A small, but mighty army of stitchers went to work.

We had the serger set up and rockin' along. And we had the ironing station moving at a brisk pace.

The easy easy assembly line was in full swing.

With a couple finishing touches, we were able to finish every pre-cut kit in the box!

If my math is right (cough, cough) I think we will be able to share at least 80 bags with the organization at our May meeting. I encourage you to keep stitching! A representative from the San Antonio chapter will be joining us in May to receive the sewn items. We will also be awarding our randomly drawn volunteer prize, donated by Mesquite Bean, at the May meeting, too.

Keep up the amazing work and we'll see you in May! 

ps- If you are a member with specific questions, ask them in our closed facebook group. 

March Sew-n-Tell

Once again, I'm a bit behind.  But here's the awesome eye candy from the March Sew-n-Tell.

Sarah has been busy making beauties.

Even her backs are gorgeous.

Here's another from our prolific Sarah.

And another pretty back.

Kelli doesn't share often, but when she does,
she has some amazing quilts.

Kelli finisher her quit from
Victoria Findlay Wolf's workshop

Hexagons everywhere and a
unique binding method from Kelli.

Check out that binding.

Kelli's Improv is Quilt as you Go. 

The back really shows the quilt as you go
and great quilting.

Kelli found a way to really use up a lot of scraps.
Crocheting 2" strips into a bath mat.

Sorry, Can't remember who made this beauty. 

Hopefully they'll let me know.

Elizabeth made this for and auction for
her daughter's class.  Each of the students names

is on the cross in their own hand writing.

Can't remember who made this beautiful Swoon quilt but
I'm pretty sure Jen quilted it.  It might belong to Regan.

This is the back of the guild's QUILTCON

charity quilt for 2016.

This is the front of the guild's QUILTCON charity

quilt for 2016.  Sarah J posted the story behind this

on our Facebook site in case you missed it.

This queen size quilt is by Jen.

This baby size quilt is by Jen.

Pieced quilt back by Jen.

Jen made this from the BOM blocks she won.

She has more blocks still to sew together.

Cathy made this for Kristen's baby.

All washed and crinkley and ready to deliver.

Days for Girls Sewing Challenge

Today we're kicking off the SAMQG Days for Girls Sewing Challenge!

One of our members, Linda, brought the Days for Girls organization to our attention after seeing a presentation from one of their volunteers. The work Days for Girls does is amazing. Please take a moment to click that link.

Days for Girls Mission: Creating a more dignified, free and educated world through access to lasting feminine hygiene solutions.

You can also see the organization's founder, Celeste Mergens, TEDtalk as she shares the story of how Days for Girls started and why listening to the wisdom of those you serve is vital for creating culturally, socially and physically relevant solutions that change lives. -from DfG website. Video Link Here.

So what is our sewing challenge? 

The SAMQG is hosting a challenge to create drawstring hygiene bags (pictured above) which we will donate to the organization. Our sponsor, Mesquite Bean Fabrics, has donated a prize to be given to the randomly drawn volunteer. Each person who turns in a sewn item at the MAY meeting will have their name entered once.  {{See the bottom of this blog post for additional information and sewing opportunities.}}

How do you make a drawstring bag? 

I'm so glad you asked! 

Complete pattern directions provided with exact specifications are included on the Days for Girls official pattern. Please be mindful of the fabric prints required and restricted.

You will be able to pick up the Days for Girls label/patch at the April meeting. Each bag is needs a patch.

Will there be kits? 

For our last sewing challenge we offered kits cut from donated flannel. This round will be the same! Hooray for generous donors!! Thank you so much! We have about 65 kits ready so far. {{Kits are for drawstring bags. Scroll to the bottom of this post for additional sewing opportunities.}}

Each drawstring bag kit contains:

• 1 rectangle of fabric measuring 11" x 28"
• 2 pieces of grosgrain ribbon 36" long
• 1 Days for Girls label/patch

The kits are ready and the pattern is shared. What next?

Official Sew-In Days are:

• March 22nd from 10a-2p at Mesquite Bean Fabrics 
• April 8th from 10a-2p at Mesquite Bean Fabrics. 

If you are in the SAMQG, please RSVP on our "EVENTS" tab on Facebook.

Kits will also be available at spring retreat, if you are looking to make a quick bag in your quilt-y down-time.

Of course, you are encouraged to sew as many drawstring bags as you like on your own, too. You do not have to attend an event to make a wonderful donation. Grab the pattern here.

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Additional Sewing Opportunities:

I recently met with a representative for the local San Antonio Days for Girls chapter. It was quite eye-opening. The drawstring bags we create will be used to hold hygiene kits:

The kits include a couple different sewn items, including (2) shields and (8) flannel liners.

Get the shield pattern here and shield template here. The liners are every bit as easy as our previous blanket sewing challenge. 

The design is two layers of prewashed flannel, stitched together, turned right-side out, and stitched again. These are the liners which, when folded, fit into the shield pockets:

They are octagons folded in thirds. In the pattern HERE, you'll also find a square method for making liners using a serger.

Easily make a few liners by downloading THIS TEMPLATE and following THESE DIRECTIONS.

Cut pre-washed flannel easily by laying the template like this and cutting through two layers at once.

Easy, right?

Please be mindful of the fabric print requirements and restrictions listed on the pattern.

Bring any Days for Girls projects to the May meeting. Anything you stitch is a more than welcome donation! Thank you!!

Threads of Love Charity Sew-In

The SAMQG recently kicked off a sewing challenge to benefit Threads of Love. (Read more about that here.) 

As part of the challenge, the guild hosted a sew-in at our sponsor's shop, The Quilt Shop. Anyone was welcome to come and stitch with us in their classroom area. 

The fabrics were donated and cut prior to showing up at the sew-in. In an efforts to create the NICU blankets quickly, we first sorted the cut pieces into pairs. Two fabric squares are used per blanket. (Sewing pattern/tutorial here.)

We have plenty of flannel and cottons ready to go! 

Thank you to our member, Lynn B, who works with an organization that was able to donate supplies to the event!

These blankets go together so quickly! Dive in and sew!!

We were a small, mighty army of stitchers. 

At the end of the day, the car was packed with 43 finished NICU blankets!

These blankets will be combined with the individual member donations at the March 2016 meeting and given to the Threads of Love organization. 

Thank you to The Quilt Shop for hosting us and providing some gorgeous door prizes!

Threads of Love Sewing Challenge

Today we're kicking off the SAMQG Threads of Love Sewing Challenge! 

One of our members, Cindy, works with the Threads of Love sewing group and will be taking our sewing NICU blankets to them after the March meeting.

From the San Antonio chapter of Threads of Love: "We are a non-profit, non-denominational ministry dedicated to the production and distribution of clothing and care items to the premature babies - living and deceased."

So what is the challenge? The Quilt Shop in Castorville has donated a 10-pc Riley Blake Fat Quarter Bundle which will be awarded to a randomly drawn winner. To enter your name into the drawing, simply make a NICU blanket. You may make as many as you like. Each person who turns in a blanket will have their name entered once. 

The challenge will run through the March meeting. We will be drawing a winner at the end of the March meeting.

Blankets made by SAMQG Member, Emily R.

How do you make a NICU blanket? I'm so glad you asked!

Blankets are 20" x 20" finished and can be made from two pieces of flannel OR two pieces of quilters cotton with lightweight batting. The flannel blankets do not require batting.

Here's a guide:
Flannel Front + Flannel Back = no batting
Quilter's Cotton Front + Flannel Back = no batting
Quilter's Cotton Front + Quilter's Cotton Back = add a thin layer of batting

Blankets made by SAMQG member, Emily R.

1. Cut fabric 21" x 21". 
Note: Squares do not have to be pieced blocks; they can be solid pieces of fabric.
2. Matching right sides, sew around the square using a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave a 4" opening along one side.

3. Trim excess fabric from the corners.

4. Turn the square right side out through opening.

5. Push corners out and press the seam allowances into the opening. Pin.

6. Edge stitch around square. (Straight stitch or any decorative stitch may be used.)

7. Add some kind of quilting to secure the layers (with or without batting).

8. Use a zigzag stitch to attach the Threads of Love label to blanket. NOTE: These labels will be available at the February meeting.

My personal goal is to have the guild donate at least 50 blankets. I know you can do it! If you are a guild member and have questions about the challenge, feel free to ask them on our Facebook page. If you've found this tutorial and have questions, leave a comment or contact your local Threads of Love Chapter.

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Updated to add: This event was wonderful! Thank you all for your participation. Through the organized sew-in and member's individual donations, we were able to give 148 blankets to Threads of Love, so far. I anticipate a few more or a few dozen more blankets will come in throughout the year. Thank you!! Blankets pictured below were delivered on 3/5/2016.