SAVE YOUR SELVAGE!

I thought I had seen it all, but now I’ve found the ultimate in recycling for quilters. One site even calls out to the “Raiders of the Wastebasket”. This latest rage is selvage quilts. Your heard me right – selvage quilts. Kinda like strip quilts, but using the selvage edge of the fabrics that we all have tossed – until now! That little strip of fabric that we’ve always been told to cut off and throw away is now the basis of a new style of quilting.

Often the selvage edge contains all sorts of information about the fabric. The best, I think, are those little squares that show all the colors used in the fabric. You also usually have the maker of the fabric, the collection and, sometimes, the year of the collection.

Selvage Quilts.com has a great tutorial on making these quilts. I love all the variations in layout. Just go to http://www.selvagequilts.com/how-to-make-page/howtomakeaselvagequilt.html. The owner, Karen Griska, also has a book and a blog dedicated to selvage quilting. You can find her blog at http://www.selvageblog.blogspot.com. She has posted lots of examples of selvage quilts from some of her followers on the blog.

MODA Fabric’s “Moda Bake Shop” site has always been a great source for free patterns. Now they have one for a super gorgeous selvage pillow. It almost makes me want to go out and buy a lot of fabric just for the selvages! Check this out - http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/03/selvage-pillow.html.

Womenfolk.com also has some great info and pictures on the subject at http://www.womenfolk.com/frugal_quilting/selvage_quilts.htm.




I don’t know about you, but I’ll be saving all my selvages from now on! Just look at the stack I've already put together.

What about Wednesday?

Today I want to talk about a way that we as quilters can help our local communities through quilting and sewing. One of the ways to do this is through a really neat organization called Project Linus.

Project Linus provides sick children with blankets and quilts. At a time when they are scared and away from home simply getting their own special blanket or quilt brings them a sense of comfort. I first came into contact with the organization several years ago but for some reason had forgot about them Then back in February when my youngest granddaughter was sick and admitted to the hospital a nurse brought her her own special quilt. I asked the nurse if that was through Project Linus and she only knew they had a stack of them that are brought in. I did some research and found that they were indeed from Project Linus. I quickly forgot again until I saw a story on the news about the project and this time wrote myself a big note so that I would not forget again.

How you can help.

Click on the link http://projectlinus.org/

go to the chapter listings at the top of the page. Then click on your state and it will take you to dozens of local chapters. Contact the one nearest you to find out what they need and where you can drop them off. Some will even pick them up.

My challenge to all of you. Make at least one quilt or blanket to donate to Project Linus. Come in here and share your experience with us. I want to keep a count of how many were donated.

Ok, now back to sewing dear sisters.