Blog / charity

Ages ago (I honestly can't even remember when!), my friend Natalie and I decided to make a small dent in our respective fabric stashes by creating collaborative quilts together to donate to the charities of our choice. Our idea was to pick a block pattern, each make 1/2 of the blocks needed for a quilt, and mix them together. We then split the basting, quilting and binding duties. 

Though this is a very informal project, we did want to create labels for the quilts so that they could both be identified and numbered. We came up with the name "The Modern Quilt Collective" and I designed a simple label which I printed through Spoonflower. Each quilt is hand numbered. 

We both really like the quarter log cabin block, so for this first round of quilts we made, we stuck with that design. This large rainbow quilt went to a family in Newport, NH, who lost their home to a fire. (Photo by Natalie.)

We also made a batch of baby quilts using restricted color palettes, which were sent to recently resettled refugee families in California, who are either expecting, or recently had, a baby. I loved shipping these quilts out knowing that they were destined for brand-new babies!

As you can see, we stayed scrappy on the backs as well. It was so nice to use up so many cuts of fabric!

I was able to connect directly with these families through the amazing organization Miry's List. You can either donate directly to Miry's List to support their work, or purchase needed items from families' Amazon wish lists. These tangible items help families set up and start their new lives here in the US, and perhaps bring some comfort during what otherwise must be a very disruptive time in their lives. I highly recommend checking Miry's List out if you're interested!

Right around the time of our move to NH, it was my turn to act as the quilter for the Wish Circle of do. Good Stitches.

I requested all of my circle members to create two Birds in the Air quilt blocks, albeit with a slightly different color placement than the tutorial. I asked for a mix of solid whites and grays, with an orange print in only one of the two blocks.

Once I received all of the blocks, I played around with the layout, winding up with something quite different than I had originally envisioned---which I love! I also love the variations in the shades of solid gray, and the random pops of orange scattered throughout the quilt top.

I used an orange Marimekko circle print for the background, quilted it with intersecting lines in orange thread, and bound it with a scrappy orange binding.

This quilt will be donated to my local chapter of Project Linus.

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Way, way back in November, I tasked my fellow members of the Wish Circle of do. Good Stitches with making blocks for a Fieldcrossing Quilt. I asked everyone to use the colors of the Purl Bee's Felt Alphabet as their inspiration when selecting fabrics (they always use the best color palettes for their projects!): various shades of pink, yellow, rust and mustard.

Everyone did an excellent job of making blocks within the color palette, using prints and solids from their stashes. Once I received all of the blocks, I assembled the quilt top.



For the backing, I paired a coordinating Heather Ross mermaid print with a super-soft beige Japanese bunny print.



I did lots and lots of straight-line quilting, mostly with white thread, but I stitched a few lines in light pink as well. Two brown/pink/orange floral prints were perfect for the binding.


The resulting quilt turned out to be a nice size, perfect for a twin bed, and I really love how all of the disparate fabrics came together so beautifully! Like all of the quilts our group makes, this quilt will be donated to Project Linus.

Quilt Stats
Finished dimensions: 58" x 70" 
Fabrics used include: Mermaids by Heather Ross for Spoonflower (no longer available, but can be purchased in another colorway here); Brown Calico from Heather Ross's Briar Rose collection
Quilt pattern: Fieldcrossing by Elizabeth Olwen and Cloud9 Fabrics