Quilts of Valor

Tuesday was the monthly Quilts of Valor sew-in.  A few quilt tops were turned in on Tuesday.

Instead of sewing on Tuesday, we were cutting kits for the National Quilts of Valor sew-in on Saturday, Feb 2, 2019.  We got quite a few kits cut out.

We also had the honor of presenting some Quilts of Valor to some deserving veterans.

The first veteran served in the Navy during WWII.

he looks great for 96 years old

Later in the day two Vietnam veterans received their Quilts of Valor.

It is an honor to be a part of making quilts for these veterans.

*I'm sorry, but I had to add a captcha to my comments.  I received 16 Arabic spam comments in 11 minutes on Thursday.  Hopefully this will end those spam comments.  

Quilts of Valor sew-in

I haven't been to a Quilts of Valor sew-in this year.  Something has been going on every month, that has kept me away (new grandbaby, trips, house guests, ill, etc).  Marilyn and I finally got to this month's sew-in.  We both turned in completed quilt tops.  There were quite a few quilt tops turned in yesterday. 

Marilyn's top

my top

another one of Donna's lovely string tops

sorry for the blurry photo

this is NOT a panel, it is pieced and appliqued in the center

I worked on the third of my 3 Sapphire Stars quilts.  I completed Clue #5 (except for trimming the blocks) and the Surprise Clue.  Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of my finished clues. 

Quilts of Valor, National Sew-In Day!

Saturday was the annual Quilts of Valor National Sew-In day!  We had at least 35 people sewing, ironing, and cutting on Saturday, at our location.  Our area had 2 different locations hosting sew-in's. 

We presented 4 different quilts during the day.  First, we presented quilts to a former Navy man, a former Marine and a former Army guy.

Navy, Marine, Army

showing the back of their Quilts of Valor

Jerry, the Navy guy, also worked with us most of the day.  His cousin, Rita, is the state coordinator for Illinois.  Jerry ironed blocks for us.  Thanks for the help, Jerry.

Later in the afternoon, we got to award a Quilt of Valor to a Chicago lady, who was in the Navy during WWII.  She has been in the news the past few months, since she was mugged and beaten, while standing in front of her building, waiting for her daughter to pick her up for a dentist appt.  At least they caught the guy (he has done this to at least 2 other elderly ladies).

being wrapped in her Quilt of Valor

It is always special to see a Quilts of Valor presentation, and get to meet the veterans that we sew for. 

As I said, it was a large group, of 35+ that was working on Quilts of Valor quilts on Saturday.

ladies stitching

cutting and prepping blocks

more ladies sewing (see my purple featherweight?)

even more ladies sewing

another group of stitchers

last group of stitchers

4 ladies ironing

One lady was from Alaska.  She has sewn with the group in the past, when she come here to visit friends.  Always fun to see returning faces.

I finished 2 quilt tops during the sew-in.  I have to give a disclaimer: the first top was done a while back, it just needed a small border cut and stitched on to be finished.  I've been bad, and hadn't done the border.

Crosses & Losses pattern

My 2nd finish has been in strips for a while now, I just hadn't gotten around to sewing the 5 rows together (bad me).  It is now done, too.  I have the backing and binding ready to be stitched on Tuesday (our regular monthly sew-in date).

Disappearing 9 patch pattern

We had several other tops finished during the day.

panel surrounded by pieced blocks

another panel surrounded by pieced blocks

Our chapter has an Opportunity quilt every year.  We sell opportunity tickets all year, and draw the winner in November.  This is the new quilt.

2017 Opportunity quilt

Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.  Let me know if you want a ticket.

One of the ladies wore a great sweatshirt.  She let me take a pictures (and post it).  I'm trying to find this online, but, I'm not having any luck so far.  It is a 'Life is Good' shirt.

Life is Good sweatshirt

If you see this online, please let me know, since I haven't found it yet. 



Tuesday is our regular Quilts of Valor sew-in.  Maybe I'll finish my 3rd quilt top.  We'll see.  I'm trying to get all of these UFO's done and out the door before I start any more new one's. 

Happy Veteran's Day!

This picture of my grandfather, during WWII, was at my family reunion, last month.  I'd never seen it before, and quickly took a picture of it

Carson Anthony Gayler, U.S. Army

My other grandfather was in WWI and WWII.  I don't have a picture of him in uniform, but, I've seen pictures.  He was in the Navy, and, during WWII, he was recruited into the OSS.  

Thank a veteran every time you see one, not just today.  And, if you are interested, check out Quilts of Valor, and stitch a quilt for our veterans.


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Quilts of Valor Sew-in

Today was one of our monthly Quilts of Valor sew-ins.  There are several throughout the month, at different locations, but, the first Tuesday of the month sew-in, was the first one for this group.  Until December, it was at a quilt store in Batavia, IL, but, that store closed, and we moved to the Moose Lodge in St. Charles, IL, last January.  Our local chapter is the Land of Lincoln Quilts of Valor.  I started sewing with this group at the 2nd sew-in, in 2008. 

There were 10 different quilt tops turned in today.

We had quite a few sewers there.  I missed a few that came in after I'd taken pictures.

measuring and making backs, for the tops

2 sisters, and one of their daughters, a family stitching time

cutting table

I was working on making Half Square Triangles with the Triangulations method.  I prepped  everything last Thursday evening, at the Ladies Crafting night at church.  Here is my stack, ready to be stitched.

I'm using some of the fabrics I got at Marshall's Dry Goods, last month.  I'm using the two matching fabrics (one red, one blue) in the middle of the stack.  I'm also using a white fabric that I also got that day.  Not sure what I'll do with all those HST's, but, I'll figure it out, before they are all finished.  I still have 36 more to prep.

Of course, I used a 'fun' machine.  I don't like stitching on just one machine (BORING)!  This machine is great for making HST's with Triangulations.

1914 Singer 66 hand crank

Our temperatures reached 77 degrees today.  What great weather for November, near Chicago.  I hope our winter doesn't make us pay for the nice weather we've been having lately.  It's been so warm that my raspberry bush has new raspberries on it.  I pulled off 4 raspberries, to eat, today.  There will be more, ready to eat tomorrow.  Weird weather!