20 Quilts
Posted on December 18, 2022 by prairiemoonquilts in QuiltsSince back in the spring of this year, I’ve been working to gather up and make wheelchair quilts for one of my local nursing homes. The gal in charge said they could use around 15 quilts, but I decided I’d make 20, just in case.
First, I gathered up all the quilts I already had finished that would work, since they needed to be approximately 36″ square in size. Then I went through my bin of un-quilted tops to see if I had any that would be quick to finish. Finally, I used up a few panels from my panel box, and a few scraps my sister had given me that would work well. And I got to the magic number of 20!
Here they are:
First up, a wall quilt I’ve had stored away. This was made from a pattern I bought on one of our horseback vacations, in a random quilt shop I found in Custer, SD, many years ago. It’s not quilted really well, because it’s one of the first ones I ever custom quilted, and I was still learning a lot, but it’s a nice, soft quilt that will make a good wheelchair using quilt:
Here’s one I pulled from my to-be-quilted pile, and trimmed down the size a bit so it would fit for a wheelchair quilt. The blocks were left over from another project that I had made too many for:
I used this panel fabric, and quilted it up like it came off the bolt. Someone will enjoy looking at the different barrel racer/rodeo pictures:
This one is made from leftover triangle trimmings from a larger quilt I made. I can never bring myself to throw those away, so I turned them into this cute quilt. It was languishing in my to-be-quilted pile, and was just the right size, so I finished it up real quick:
Here’s another one made from leftover triangle trimmings, too, which was also just the right size:
I had these two pillow panels, so I pulled 2 1/2″ squares from my pre-cut scraps and made these two quilts. Someone will like the hunting dog theme, I’m sure:
And I know someone will love the chickens. This is another pillow panel that I simply quilted up like it came off the bolt:
This quilt was in my finished pile. It was made as part of a pinwheel challenge from a group I used to be in. The squares in the middle have quotes about friendship on them:
Here’s another horse panel I had in my box of panels — My Cowboy saw this one, and I nearly didn’t get to give it away!
And another horse pillow panel that I quilted in one piece — My Cowboy liked this one, too:
Here’s one from another guild challenge that challenged us to use an orphan block:
Here are two more from my to-be-quilted bin. I had to add borders to each of them to bring them up to size, but they turned out OK:
And another one from my done pile that I had stored away:
This next one is from one of my first published booklets. I debated keeping it since it’s one I’ve had published, but all it’s doing around here is laying in storage, so I decided to gift it so that someone could have it out and be enjoying it. It’s called Millhazel Rose, and the pattern is on clearance in my Etsy shop, if you’re interested (I think there are only 3 booklets left).
And right around the time I was working on these, my sister gave me several boxes of her scraps, and in them, were enough squares, some of them pre-cut, to make these next four quilts.
Two of them are flannel Grumpy Cat:
And two of them have a retro Camping theme:
And there you have it! Twenty little quilts, off and gone to the nursing home for the residents to enjoy. I am glad there was a good variety of themes, and duplicates of some. I didn’t want anyone fighting over the Grumpy Cats or the Camping quilts — there’s plenty to go around!
I pre-washed them all to make them clean, soft, and snuggly (and to make sure they’d hold up to being used).
This was a good way for me to use up some of my panels, and quite a bit of yardage for backings and bindings. I also used up lots of scrap batting to get them quilted. In addition, it lowered the number of quilts in my to-be-quilted bin, and I removed a few from storage to give them a better life out in the open being used. I feel much better about that.
Next up, I’m doing the same thing with all my baby-sized quilts. There are no babies in my family, and none being expected, and I know a pregnancy center that would love to have them for their moms and babies.
Oh my you have a wonderful variety! The residents will be over the moon and something new and fun to look at. Happy Holidays!
I love that you did this for the nursing home – what an awesome idea! Looking forward to seeing the baby quilts. Hope you have a merry Christmas!
Good for you Shelly. Doesn’t it make you feel good to know that someone will be enjoying all those quilts? It’s hard for me to give away things others have given me, but the quilts I make are intended to be donated, so that is easy for me. The guild community service chair always wants more baby and kid quilts, which I don’t like to make, so most of mine go to QOV, the local VA hospital, the domestic abuse shelter, the local hospital palliative care unit, etc. She usually distributes most of them at Christmas time, but I like them given out all year long.
What a great idea for the smaller quilts. I may just do the same throughout the year as I am so behind having the gifts done for the family members who will gather here on Christmas Eve. Not to mention cleaning to eliminate the guests from leaving me messages in the flat surface dust – LOL! Merry Christmas to you and your Cowboy.
What beautiful quilts! I am sure the residents of the nursing home were excited to receive them. You made twenty people incredibly happy. Have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2023.
I love them! So generous of your time and resources to do that for them. I had a goal last year to do the same but I didn’t follow thru. You should be proud of yourself! I think my problem is that I didn’t have a connection for the donation so I will concentrate on that first and then I will feel accountable to someone other than myself😊. I did donate a pile of baby quilts I had to the pregnancy center earlier this year.
enjoyed your quilt parade and for such a great outpouring of your generosity. I know that warms your heart. Merry Christmas!
You have really been busy. I know they will be appreciated. This was such a good idea and I bet you felt great when it was done.
Well done Shelly!
What a wonderful, generous gift of your talents! Pat yourself on the back.
They are all so cute! I don’t know which one is my favorite. Such good ideas for using items that some times are difficult to figure out what to do with.
A nice donation while reducing your stash.
How wonderful of you to do that for the oldies in wheel chairs. I can just imagine them all wanting a good look through them, then choosing a favourite.
Doesn’t it just make you feel wonderful knowing these quilts will be loved by someone that needs them? Wonderful work.
good solutions… and great kindness…
Wonderful and I’m so glad you had a nursing home that wanted them. I’m sure all the residents will enjoy them.
You are so giving in your time and talent. We should all be more like you.😊
Thank you for the goodness in your heart.
Wow! Well done…what a great thing do for the rest home and also a good way to clear out some of your shelves.
Blessed Christmas to you and your Cowboy.
I know there are and will be many people that will enjoy those quilts.
Shelly, wonderful gift. My Dad, a VA patient, once received a nice lap quilt. It made him smile and he appreciated the work & thoughtfulness of the giver.
It kept his lower body & legs warm when escorted
in a wheelchair. He was always proud of that lap quilt.
What a lot of pleasure you are sharing! With us who get to see your lovely quilts (and find inspiration for our own makes) and then the residents who get to snuggle with them. Thank you! Have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.
OMG! I also made that acorn quilt!!! I could send it to you for the nursing home in case there’s a fight over yours!
How wonderful of you! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
It is a good idea to have a “to be quilted” bin. I must be more organized. 2023 will be the year for me to be more organized. I have little piles here and there and after a long time, I forget what’s there. Time for that to end. You are a great motivator for me. I have begun the log cabin quilt that you finished; first with cutting strips and starting the sewing. Keep it up!!
What a wonderful gift for your nursing home. To be the benevolent giver that will help your pregnancy Center will truly be a blessing. Happy New Year to you and the Cowboy. 🥳