Love the Idea!

Remember back, during the first week of National Sewing Month, when I wrote about adding my own flare to something I’ve seen others create? Well, I’m doing it again!

I stumbled upon the idea of a Fidget Book the other day. Of course, I would refer to them as an Action Book for adults with Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or traumatic brain injury. As I’ve mentioned before, “Fidget” is a derogatory term in my mind.

I’ve never created a “fabric book” before! Of course, I did a google.com search first, then moved to Pinterest to gather some ideas! Oh. My. Goodness. I found LOTS of fabulous ideas!

Not being blessed with having children, through this search I learned the term “Quiet Books” - that is, those that are for children! But, I did find lots of additional ideas (that I pinned) of how and what to incorporate that can be used for adults!

Lella Boutique shares a wonderful photo tutorial on the basic book structure. It’s for a little boy, but can you just imagine doo-dads for an adult – like I do on an Action Quilt??!!! This example has frayed edges…

I’m thinking I want a smooth, finished edge… but how to join together? I really don’t want to use rings, but maybe I’ll have to rather than stitch it together – depends on how thick it is.

BINGO!

Pictures are worth a 1000 words…

Although I found on Pinterest, a website in Russian (I’m sure google would have translated), Baby Blog shared lots of photos that speak VOLUMES!

I believe “Mother Load” is another saying that fits the bill here!

Now, my creative juices are flowing… I’ll figure it out!

Take Care of Others

A friend of mine recently gave me several lovely books, one of which was Comfort Quilts from the Heart by Jake Finch. Published in 2008 by C&T Publishing ~ where Mary works. Now out of print, it’s available in eBook format here!

Found on the website, this describes it perfectly: 

Whether you make these projects for a loved one or someone you've never met, you'll give the irreplaceable gift of loving care. Projects include quilts for babies in intensive care units; handy projects for wheelchair and walker users; quilts for adults and children bedridden at home or in the hospital; and therapeutic quilts for stroke, Alzheimer's and other patients with brain impairments.

Needless to say, I highly recommend this book!

Besides the easy to follow projects ~ with the first one being about “fidget” quilts (aka Action Quilts) ~ Jake also includes chapters on:

Materials, Tools, & Techniques

Healing through Words – Labeling Your Project

Group Effort: Making Comfort Quilts at Large

Who Needs the Help?

Sources

As it says on the back of the book:

Thoughtful, useful gifts for Those Needing a Helping Hand

I’m going to work on the project found on page 26…

Chair Bound: A Wheelchair Quilt with Footwarmer!

I’ve never made one before, but can see how wonderful this would be for those who cannot walk!

While Momma was basically wheelchair bound after breaking her femur at age 84, she had to have help to stand/transfer to bed or another chair. I can see how she would have loved having that extra warmth around her only sock covered feet!

I’ll let you know how it goes!!!

Creating an Action Quilt - Part 9

Backing - Quilting - Binding on an Action Quilt

I cut the batting about 2" larger than the top - all the way around:

I cut the backing at least an inch bigger all the way around than the backing:

I took only the batting outside, and laid it out on a leftover styrofoam thingy that was packing from something we had to recently buy ~ a new air conditioner (window unit). I highly recommend doing this OUTSIDE (out of the wind) and any surface will work, but know the basting spray will get on everything and it's very sticky!!!

(This is what I use, from Walmart, Dritz Basting Spray)

I carefully carried back inside, and placed it down on the wrong side of the backing, smoothing it out nice and carefully. You do have a little time to make adjustments if necessary:

After the basting spray dried a little, I started pinning the top to the backing/batting set:

You can't really see the "quilting" stitches from the front side...

Maybe you can see it a bit better from the back side:

Now it's time for the binding!

Prepare binding as you would any other quilt.

I cut 2.5 inch wide strips and sew together on the diagonal to make the length needed. I then fold in half and press the length of the binding. On one end, I press a 45 degree angle and that's the end I start with. To determine length needed, measure sides and ends, 14.5, 14.5, 18.5, 18.5 = 66   / 36 = 1.8333 yards of binding needed.

I've learned several things since I posted last September for National Sewing Month - making a quilt top...

A friend of mine shared not to trim the backing and batting close to the top until AFTER I do the first stitching down of the binding. Oh. My. Goodness. Does it ever go quicker and makes a nicer application! Again, Thank You, Dianna!

Any, and all, of my quilts, I start the binding on the lower left side. Somewhere, another lifetime ago, a training class for creating effective newsletters, I learned the lower left side is a blind side... the eyes go every where else first!

Once the binding is stitched down, I then trim off the excess backing and batting.

After pinning down (I love these clips!), I'm ready to stitch the final trek around the Action Quilt.
Here is another trick I've learned this year from a friend... use a zipper foot!!! I love this! I can adjust my needle to run right along the edge of the binding. Thank you again, Ann!

The Action Quilt is DONE! And, it's gone through the laundry cycle perfectly!!!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! I encourage you to make your own Action Quilt to give a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia! It will surely put a smile on their face!

I hope you share pictures!!!

Creating an Action Quilt - Part 8

Sewing the pieces together! 

Oops! I do need another piece! See the green mat showing about center of the Action Quilt!

Note: I've already stitched together the two pieces on the left... the white/purple to the green with a white corner.

No problem! It will be a perfect place to add a photo pocket! I cut some clear vinyl, and I'm adding a piece across the top, like a binding, like I did the red pet screen pocket the other day.

I'm using red terry cloth (like a towel) for the background. If you've never worked with vinyl before, I would highly recommend using a regular piece of 100% cotton, something sturdy. This terry stretched and I almost started over!

I pinned it to hold in place, not worrying about the extra hanging off at the bottom - I'll trim that later!

I stitched across the bottom first, then up the sides - all within the seam allowance.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - keep your iron far far away from this vinyl! You can just imagine the mess you'll make on your iron, as well as the vinyl itself!!!

Now, back to sewing the pieces together. I did the top row first, then the second row.

Notice in the next photo how the left side (unit 1) is longer than unit 2!

No worry... I trimmed off a little at the top and the bottom!

Because I left room when I did the doo-dads, I have space to trim a little here and a little there.

Now I have to add the zipper unit across the entire bottom... it too extends past on the right end. Again, no problem!

Also, notice no seams join together. I do this on purpose because I don't want to have to worry about pressing seams one way or another. The seam allowance (pressed together rather than open) goes which ever way the doo-dads fit better without causing hardship. You'll understand "hardship" when you do this.

Most of the time, I "finger press" anyway.

I pin right sides together, making sure I don't stretch either unit.

I trim off the excess!

Remember my no rules/patterns... no ripping out? Do you notice what's different?
Yep! When I stitched the first unit upside down, I flipped it!
Do I rip out and turn it around? Nope!
Who will notice? Just you & I!!!!

It's a perfect size!

Tomorrow I'll share how I baste it together, and quilt it using my home sewing machine! First I need to figure out what backing fabric I'm going to use!

Oh, I just remembered, I need to now get the dental floss and stitch down that red button!
See you tomorrow!

Creating an Action Quilt – Part 7

Thinking outside the box …

I won’t be using the following doo-dads on this Action Quilt I’m making with you. I do, however, want to share how / what some “unconventional” things or ways I’ve used items on other Action Quilts. It’s “thinking outside the box” when it comes to doo-dads!

A large yellow acrylic bead threaded with grosgrain ribbon. I also took a piece of felt and cut slits large enough for the bead to go through. I stitched both the ends of the ribbon and the felt strip securely within the seam allowance of pieces.

Rubberized shelf liner… now that’s a cool texture for Loved Ones to have on an Action Quilt! It goes through the home laundry cycle (cold water/low heat) beautifully!

String ball shaped buttons on a metallic cording! Of course, I secured the ends of the cording within the seam allowance.

Take a piece of gingham and do a cross-stitch design!

Here I embellished a purchased dolly by crocheting a fun yarn around the edge, then doubled each button set and knotted a narrow satin ribbon through their holes. Knots and more knots on the back side secures the buttons – only scissors will get them off!

I bought a package of stretchy headbands… I made the ceramic pendant years ago (I rarely throw anything away) and put them together! I stitched the ends of the headband securely in place. Now the Loved One using this Action Quilt has something to put in the pocket! (In addition, with the pendant tucked inside the pocket and the caregiver using a safety pin to keep it in place, it will protect the washing machine & the dryer when going through the laundry process!)

A nicely covered pony tail band used as a slider…

I like using strap sliders on ribbon…

Sometimes, something catches my eye… like this scrapbook page design “Layering Papers”. I have it pinned on my Pinterest Action Quilts Board.

So I created something similar out of fabric…

 Tomorrow I’ll start putting the pieces together. I’m thinking I’m going to need one more fabric piece cut. It will be a perfect place to put a clear pocket for a photo!

Creating an Action Quilt - Part 6

Making Fluff –

If you’re familiar with chiffon, you know how soft and flimsy and easily it ravels out. Organza is also thin and ravels!

Dictionary.com describes Chiffon as “a sheer fabric of silk, nylon, or rayon in plain weave.”

They explain Organza as a sheer fabric and the same content, but then adds an “and” to the end: “with a crisp finish…” Yes. The organza has a nice body texture to it.

Because of raveling issues, I “pink” both in no particular shape. Because I had the selvage available on this “scrap” ~ I kept it! Why not! It won’t pucker like 100% cotton selvage would.

Then I take a little bit at a time and “pleat” the raw edges (including the selvage side), pinning as I go. It’s easier for me to sew if the majority of the pleats are going the same way – away from the presser foot.

It’s not critical to keep the raw edge of the chiffon even with the raw edge of the piece you’re using. This process is totally different than when sewing large quilt pieces together or any garments. The ONLY thing you need to be concerned with is catching all raw edges of the chiffon within the stitches you’re now sewing!

Please. Please. Please. Never sew over a pin!

You’ll see in the picture, I’m within the seam allowance (about 1/8” from the edge).

As with all doo-dads ~ I’m stitching it again to keep it nice and secure!

I treat organza the same way! I’ve used organza on a couple of other Action Quilts:

Tomorrow I'll share a few uncommon items I've incorporated onto Action Quilts! It will be "thinking outside the box" time!

Creating an Action Quilt - Part 5

I find adding doo-dads to an Action Quilt is the best part of the entire process! While going through my stash of ribbons, trims, and textured fabrics, I’m constantly asking myself, Would a Loved One like to touch, feel, squeeze, or work with this or that doo-dad?

In my world, doo-dad is a “catch all” term representing anything added to an Action Quilt! I’ve already shared about a pocket and zipper… there are so many other things and ways to add a doo-dads!

About 99% of the time, each individual piece of fabric I’m using – either a square or rectangle – I first stitch down the doo-dads within the seam allowance.

Note: I use a 1/4” seam allowance when joining the pieces together,

so “within” seam allowance is about 1/8” – stitched several times!

Purpose: to keep the doo-dads in place rather than getting pulled out/off.

An example:

One of my pieces cut was 6.5” square. I had a scrap of white corduroy I thought would be interesting on its corner…

Then squared it again…

I then added a bit of red balled trim, first stitched straight, then added a basket stitch for a tad of embellishment…

Easy Peasy!

Remember the other day when I wrote about not ripping out? I suggested either modify or start over! I didn’t like where the doo-dads lined up on two pieces… so, I simply took off about 1/4” on one and replaced the fishy ribbon! No. Big. Deal.

Button holes…

I’ve learned Loved Ones love to work buttons through holes. Others have recommended, large buttons work best and when the buttons are not tight against the fabric.

A few things I do when stitching buttons to an Action Quilt…

1. Use dental floss rather than thread as it’s much stronger.
2. Put a small piece of batting (or a good thick substitute) on the wrong side of the fabric where the stitches are going to come through for the button. This will make the button much more difficult to pull through the fabric itself.
3. Use a spacer, such as a toothpick, between the button and fabric when stitching it down.

On Monday,  I’ll show you how I work with fabrics like chiffon! The same process applies to organza or other soft type fabrics. I find it so exciting to add these textures to Action Quilts!