A Day for Quilting

Nine Patch Stars and Stripes by Kathy Lichtendahl,

Did you know that there is a day of the year devoted solely to quilting?  It all began in 1991 when the National Quilting Association (NQA) passed a Resolution designating the third Saturday in March as National Quilting Day.

The idea had begun in 1989 when the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society organized "Quilter's Day Out" to celebrate the rich traditional of quilt making in Kentucky. The first National Quilting Day was observed in 1992.

Suggestions for ways to celebrate this day include: 1) Making it a service day to work on a quilt for your favorite cause; 2) organizing an exhibit at the local library or historical society; 3) working on a quilt with a school, 4-H, Scout troop or by simply taking time to sew with a grandchild; 4) sponsoring a Sewing Day making lap quilts for Seniors, turning it into an oral history project by capturing stories of the community; and 5) giving a baby quilt to the first baby born on National Quilting Day each year.

Each year a free quilting pattern is offered to quilters. This year, the pattern is Nine Patch Stars and Stripes designed by Kathy Lichtendahl of Powell, Wyoming. The photo above was taken by Linda Miller. Suggestions for using this free pattern include creating it to donate to an organization supporting veterans, people serving in the military or their families. To download the free pattern, click here.

Sponsored by the Fabric Shop Network

In 2013, the Fabric Shop Network is hosting their first Worldwide Quilting Day, Saturday, March 16. Celebrating independent quilt shops, participating shops are creating a variety of activities to commemorate the day. Suggestions from the Fabric Shop Network include 1) shopping at independent quilt shops who need love and support on their special day; 2)spreading the word about the day; and 3) participating in any sales or activities a local shop might have for Local Quilting Day.

One fun event this year is the 7 Summits Strip Quilt Challenge where quilters will be putting together fabric strips to create quilts for their favorite causes. Using 2-1/2″ strip bundles, quilters will piece together quilt tops, counting each inch in an effort to reach the top of the seven tallest summits in the world (figuratively, of course!). Each 2-1/2″ strip bundle works out to a 1600-inch strip when pieced end to end, which translates to 218 quilts to reach the top of Mt. Everest! To learn more about the challenge and to enter to win the daily prize drawings, click here.

New Embroidery Patterns by Aunt Martha

Sunbonnet Days #407

Aunt Martha has just come released six new booklets filled with iron-on transfers for embroidery. Reminiscent of those old-fashioned embroidery transfers of a by-gone era, you'll love the versatility of these pattern books. Each book contains eight pages, each with approximately 20 different designs. They are laid out so that you can cut out the designs that you want to use, transfer with a hot iron, and begin stitching your project. You can see color suggestions on the front and back of the booklet or use your own imagination and creativity! I recommend using six strand cotton DMC floss for your embroidery work. It's been around for many years and is perfect for this type of work. Separate the strands so you are using two strands at a time.

Playful Puppies #409

I particularly like the choice of subjects Aunt Martha choose for this set of booklets. Sunbonnets have been a favorite of mine for years. And, of course, there's a book filled with puppies of every size and description. Since Stephen and I have a very elderly daschsund, I particularly enjoyed seeing a pattern for a 'weiner dog'. The Clever Kitties pattern includes 20 different patterns for cat lovers. (And believe me, with 10 of them on the farm, we are cat lovers too!)

Clever Kitties #408

The other three books in the series are The Great Outdoors #406, Fanciful Flowers #410, and The Four Seasons #411. You may want to use these designs on Flour Sack Dishtowels, for quilt blocks, or to embellish pillowcases and other projects.

There are now 12 different booklets in the Aunt Martha Embroidery Patterns series. One of them is sure to be perfect for your embroidery projects. The only difficulty will be deciding which one of them you want to stitch. Whatever you decide, these designs are sure to be fun, fun, and more fun to create.

Old-Fashioned Flower Sack Towels

Flour Sack Dishtowels

When I grew up, in an age without automatic dishwashers, Grandma had me dry the dishes with her old-fashioned flour sack towels. These were large, thirsty towels that could get the job done in a no-nonsense way. She would wash and I would dry. 

Sunbonnet Baby from our Redwork Club

As a professional cook, Grandma used flour sack towels for a variety of tasks around the kitchen. When the bread was rising in the bread bowl, she'd lay a cotton towel on top of it to keep it warm. When canning season arrived, the flour sack towels became strainers for fruit. These towels wiped down spills on kitchen counters, were folded up to make pads for hot dishes, and wrapped around bowls of ice to keep condensation at a minimum. If you accidentally burned yourself in the kitchen, Grandma would grab some ice, wrap it in a dishtowel, and place it on the burn.  

     

Dancing Dishes Days of the Week Design

Grandma had flour sack towels for every day use, and flour sack towels with embroidery work on them that she "saved for good." When she taught me to embroider at the age of 9, she traced a design on a flour sack towel and showed me how to make days-of-the-week sets to put in my hope chest. It was like finding an old friend when we discovered a source for these old-fashioned flour sack towels. I find myself using them almost as often as Grandma did. 

These 100% cotton flour sack towels are designed to be bleached and to withstand many trips through the washing machine. Each towel measures 28" X 28" and is made from Egyptian cotton, a long staple cotton that is super absorbent. 

Flour sack towels are available individually or in packages of seven. Seven may seem like a funny number for a bundle of towels, but not when you consider the popularity of those Days of the Week embroidery patterns for stitching onto these towels.

Grandma's Attic has everything you need to stitching these towels. The towels themselves, Aunt Martha transfer patterns, redwork patterns, transfer pencils and tracing pads. It's a fun, relaxing way to make gifts for family and friends--or to "save for good" in your own hope chest!

Quilt Challenge Winners!

1st Place Award for the Color of Wonder Quilt Challenge goes to Terrie Lynn Kygar, Cheryl Libby and Linda Perry of Dallas, Oregon for their entry, "Color Our World with Wonder." Using color crayon techniques, and fusible web applique, Terrie and Cheryl created the quilt top. They sent it to Quilt Artist Linda Perry for machine quilting. These quilters win a $100 gift certificate from Grandma's Attic. "Color Our World with Wonder" also won the category Best Use of Color. The prize for this category is a basket full of Color Tools.

Debbie Garvin of Corvallis, Oregon won 2nd Place in the Color of Wonder Quilt challenge for her quilt, "The Wonder of It All....Lifecycle of a Butterfly."  She wins a $50 gift certificate from Grandma's Attic. This quilt also won Best Interpretation of Theme so Debbie will also receive 5 yards of fabric.

Brenda Lopez of Auburn, California won 3rd Prize with her entry, "Beautiful Blooms." And while the picture does not depict it very well, this quilt is three dimensional. Brenda wins a $25 gift certificate from Grandma's Attic.

The Color of Wonder Quilt Challenge is a charitable event designed to raise funds and bring awareness to Sable House, a Polk County, Oregon agency assisting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Earlier this year, Grandma's Attic provided applicants with entry packets consisting of five fabrics, then challenged entrants to creatively incorporate these fabrics into a final quilt design. All proceeds benefited Sable House.

Voting took place July 26 through August 7, 2012. The general public was invited to view the quilts on display at Grandma's Attic, then vote for their favorites, plus the categories of Best Use of Color and Best Interpretation of Theme. Winners were selected on August 8. All of the quilts were then displayed at the Polk County Fair in Rickreall, Oregon, August 9-12.

Grandma's Attic is strongly committed to the health and safety of women and children in Polk County and supports various local resources who share these goals. In addition, Grandma's Attic is dedicated to raising awareness of domestic violence and sexual asasult issues through the arts and crafts.

Melissa and Michael's Wedding

Our youngest daughter, Melissa, got married to her long time beau Michael on July 21st of this year. The ceremony and reception were held at Chatoe Rogue Hop Yard in Independence, Oregon--a beautiful setting for the occasion.

5th and 59th Photography did an outstanding job capturing the occasion and I absolutely love their photography. Click here if you would like to view gorgeous pictures from the wedding and reception.

The day was perfect and now it has been beautifully memorialized in pictures.

1930s Sears and Roebuck Catalog Ads

Here's a page from a 1933 Sears and Roebuck catalog showing different types of fabrics that were available for a few cents per yard. My favorite pieces are the fabric in the upper left hand corner of the page.

This second advertisement is for Silk Bubble Crepe fabrics from a 1934 catalog. It is a really nice representation of the colors of silk bubble crepe that were available. Crepe was all the rage for dress fabric during this time.

The Color of Wonder Quilt Challenge

Our new Quilt Challenge is here! Grandma's Attic is hosting a Quilt challenge to support Sable House, our local domestic violence shelter. Our theme for the past few years has revolved around "The Color of" concept. So far, we've hosted the Color of Peace, the Color of Love, the Color of Courage, the Color of Healing, the Color of Hope, and the Color of Compassion. This year we're hosting The Color of Wonder. Doesn't that sound inspiring?

Entry packets for this year's theme include five theme fabrics, challenge rules, and an entry form. All proceeds from the sale of the packets go directly to Sable House. The maximum quilt size for quilts entered into the challenge should not exceed 180 total inches when all sides are added together; however, there is no minimum size requirement. Each quilt must incorporate all theme fabrics, although the amount used is up to you. The remainder of the fabric used can be quilter's choice.

Quilts are due in to Grandma's Attic by July 21, 2012 where they will be displayed from July 27-30, 2012. The general public will be invited to vote for their favorites. Winners will be selected by customer ballot (one vote per viewer) based on Best Interpretation of Theme and Best Use of Color. (Remember, this is the general public, not professional quilt judges, so don't be afraid to enter!) First Place prize is a $100 gift certificate to Grandma's Attic; Second Place prize is a $50 gift certificate; Third Place is a $25 gift certificate. In addition, Best Interpretation of Theme will win a five yard fabric bundle and Best Use of Color will receive a Gift Baskets filled with color tools.

 Quilts will also be displayed at the Polk County Fair in Rickreall, Oregon held in August, and on display at other locations as well. All quilts will be returned to their owners by the end of August, 2012. If you'd like to participate in this quilt challenge, you can purchase a packet either at the shop or on the web. We can't wait to see what you've dreamed up!