My local Quilts of Valor group has been working on the coolest project. Back in June, Anne, our coordinator, arranged a school assembly at a local elementary school. There was a presentation ceremony for several veterans, and afterwards children were allowed to sign quilt blocks.
Then our group assembled the blocks into tops, and next the completed quilts will go back to the school so the kids can see how their blocks look in a finished quilt.
I love looking at the individual blocks. The messages from the children are so heartfelt.
The blocks have been assembled now, and I was lucky enough to be the chosen quilter. I like to do custom quilting on signature block quilts. I don’t stitch over the writing – I think it detracts from the star of the quilt. Sometimes these are challenging when I get two at the same time. They deserve original treatments, but once I figure out a good design, I want to do it more than once.
If you want to get involved with Quilts of Valor, I would suggest reaching out to them. They are a great group to work with. My local group is especially wonderful.
My favorite part of this project is that it reminds me of a project we did in my elementary school. Every year the school made a quilt together. Each student would do a drawing on a theme. I remember doing a shoe, my car, and my house. The older kids would turn the images into appliqué blocks. I guess the teachers stitched the tops together, then the quilt was put on a frame and we quilted them. There was an auction each year, and the quilts were a big money maker for the school. I remember being disappointed every year when we didn’t win the quilt. Those quilts were amazing. I hope these children are equally excited to see their blocks in a quilt.
Want to see some of my other QOV projects?
Kids love these projects and yes those school quilts are always great fundraisers. Love the way you quilted it. It is really fun to see quilts like this get done. I am so amazed at the change in productivity for these things now that longarm quilting is around – more great comfort quilts – a very good thing.
What a really great project. I would have loved to be involved in something like this in school and I’m glad you have memories of group quilts.