Save the Date!

I wanted to give everyone a heads-up! The American Patchwork & Quilting magazine’s

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

continues!

Save the date!

September 16 – 17
for their 3^rd annual Sewathon 24-hour Marathon!

After doing a search here on my blog for “pillowcase” (because I know I’ve shared how to do the roll-up method before), I also saw that I’ve shared about their challenge since the beginning! Back in 2013, their mission was listed among the Community Sewing organizations I suggested!

The basic pillowcase is sew easy to stitch up! If you want to create some fun and really creative pillowcases, click here for free patterns and ideas!

The thing about this mission, you donate the pillowcases to the charity or cause of your choice! For which charity/cause will you donate the pillowcases? My heart is leaning toward the flood victims in south Louisiana. Bless their hearts. Such tragedy.

As of this writing, APQ’s website reports they have almost 690,000 pillowcases toward their 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge! How fabulous is this?!!?! With our help, this just may be the year they hit the 1 Million mark!

Stay up-to-date with all the going on’s by liking their Facebook page!

And, don’t forget to log your numbers on their site! (Click here to learn how to update the pillowcase counter.) Let’s help them reach their goal this year! Will you gather a group together? Will you make some on your own?

Check out the stories, and see the various small/large groups that have contributed to this mission! Be sure to add your own story!

Game Plan - Part 2

I’ve already started a few of the Community Sewing projects mentioned previously.

A Veterans scrappy lap quilt is in the works. I need to finish it up before I get into the box of scraps I’ve set aside for it and do other projects with them instead! I started it back in August/September when I had my sewing machine in Dallas, while caring for my mother. After completing only two rows, I decided my back needed my normal cutting island rather than one of her regular dining tables. I had to put it on hold until I can dedicate the time to finishing!

While back at the country on a short visit last week, I could not not sew! So, I created a few shopping bags. They are similar to the Green Bag Lady’s, but a bit more finished & detailed. I completed five and have an additional five cut out & ready to sew but ran out of time due to helping with house renovation projects. Anyway, I may take the time to do some appliqué on a few of the bags! Or, at night while watching television, I could weave some ribbon fishes for a bit of embellishment!

My goal is to provide everyone in my little town a shopping bag! According to the 2010 census, I have 1,617 more to make!

I’m thinking… I may need to re-think that goal unless I get some help! I can see an assembly line and not everyone participating has to know how to sew! Cutting out and ironing/pressing would be awesome help! Maybe I can get a small group together! Wouldn’t that be a great winter project to do for and with the community?

Anyhoo...

In addition to the shopping bags, as I pull out to work a box or sack of fabric that family and friends have given me, I’m sorting the larger pieces to use in creating fun pillowcases. None are cut out ~ yet ~ but I know where I stacked the dedicated pillowcase fabric pieces!

I don’t remember how I found them, but I contacted Volunteer Match. I found a call out for sewing items I could create and simply mail to the organization for distribution where needed. Something called dignity scarves caught my eye. Come to find out, they are similar to my Wearable Napkins! So, I’ll use some of the larger pieces of fabric to create a few for their needs.

Working on a few more ideas.

Part 3 is a "work in progress" game plan to get things done and seriously downsize my stash!

Who Would Have Thought

This is a must try! The Sidekick mini suitcase by Sew Fearless! What a clever idea! Can you tell how excited I am to discover this fabulous pattern and tutorial? I just had to share with you! I’m sew going to try my hand at this little jewel! 

I envision filling it with a starter wardrobe* for 18” dolls, along with a brand new doll, for a special little girl I’ve yet to meet. I may never meet her face-to-face, and that’s totally okay. One thing I didn’t mention in my Community Sewing article, I want all little girls ~ who want one ~ to have a doll, and a starter wardrobe, to replace one she may have lost due to fire, flood, or any other natural disaster. Maybe her family cannot afford a doll…

 *Starter Wardrobe:

            Pajamas or gown with matching robe

            Blouse and Jeans, store bought tennis shoes

            Dressy dress, store bought black shoes

            School dress (to go with the black shoes)

            Panties

Wonder what else I could make, to include in the suitcase? Any suggestions?

Community Sewing

Do you hoard fabric? Are you waiting for that special project to create from the fabric you purchased ~ or acquired one way or another ~ one, five, or ten years ago? Are you overwhelmed with it all?

In addition to my personal hoarding tendencies over the years, within the last three months I’ve received SEVERAL generous sacks and boxes of fabric from lovely family members and friends. Each one told me the story of how they acquired the stash. They all shared that I immediately came to mind when they received the fabric – to pass along to me, knowing I would create something worthwhile.

Again, a heartfelt and humble Thank You to all of you for thinking of me!

What should I do with this wonderful donated stash of fabric? It’s a no-brainer – community sewing projects! But then, I thought: who, what and where? So, I went – you guessed it if you’ve been following my blog – to the Internet.

Quilts of Valor Foundation – I like to piece quilt tops, but have issues with hand quilting. I learned from this site, they match up folks like me with long arm quilters who also donate their time and expertise! 

CyberSeams created a list of charities. Although some are knit or crochet projects, many include sewing projects that the charities need. I’ve pulled out a few that especially touched my heart:

• Blankets of Hope has a no-sew blanket, too! Perfect for those who want to contribute, but don’t know how to sew!
  
  
  
• Heads up family and friends… no more wrapping paper! I wonder if I could make a Green Grocery bag for every soul living in my little town? Will you meet the green grocery bag challenge?
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The Green Grocery Bag lady explains how and why she started this project –

And, she created a video to show how to make one! Easy! Simple! Quick!

• Care Wear is nationwide and in Canada and in Italy!!! They have a list of items needed, and a link to sewing patterns. I clicked on “Hospital” and entered the information I wanted to see. For example, I was pleasantly surprised with the many different locations around Texas!

• On the All PeopleQuilt website you’ll see where American Patchwork & Quilting is sponsoring the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. Their motto:

Make a Pillowcase. Make a Difference.

• Are you in Colorado? Check out the Warm Hearts ~ Warm Babies website and see how you can help. 

I hope I’ve given you the inspiration to do a few community sewing projects! And, I hope I’ve given you some resources for the who, what and where!