2012 is going to be a banner year. Relief Share volunteers have rolled up their sleeves, opened their wallets, filled their schedules with charity work and the results of dedicated love for the babies is showing up in a plethora of donations to where it counts the most!

Donation out to Texas County Food Pantry and Crisis Center, January 12, 2012 delivered in person by Relief Share Vice President

1 receiving blanket
3 pair mens pajamas
4 baby bibs
7 baby sleepers
4 coats
4 pants
1 roll masking tape
4 tops
2 baby onesies
1 pr mittens
1 dress
2 pr socks
1 dog bed and pillow

Donation to Newborns in Need, Springfield Chapter (run by a very lovely lady, President Judy McDuffie) Mailed Jan 10, 2012
4 baby afghans
8 baby bibs
5 shirts
10 crocheted children’s soft balls
16 knitted woven children’s soft balls
3 knitted hats
6 crocheted hats
2 pr pants
1 baby sleeper
1 pr baby shoes
1 toddler blue jean jacket
12 preemie hats
1 toy
7 baby onesies
1 baby jacket

Donation to local Church for needy in area.
2 large shelves full of warm adult sweaters – many large garbage size bags full. Thank you to Susan and Phil for delivering those items to where they are needed the most.

Donations to individuals needing items the first two weeks in January 2012:
Baby cocoon for little girl
Baby clothing and accessories for little baby boy
Warm hats to needy family
Sewing supplies for grandmother to make items for grandchildren
Sewing supplies to make items for chemo patients
Toys for needy family

log cabin quilt

How does the title for this blog post hit you?  That tells you how long and hard I have been searching the net to find a very simple quick log cabin quilt block pattern  – one that beginners and experts alike will love.

This is a very fast and easy pattern to do.  The two best websites I found tutorial patterns on are these:
http://www.quiltingassistant.com/logcabinblock.html

http://www.cabins-r-us.com/log-cabin-quilt-block-pattern.html

This quilt can be made very easily with strips of fabric. If you want to do a quilt-as-you-go quilt, sew the block on a backing of muslin with batting on top and use binding to put the squares together. This method is used in the Quilt in a Day quilt books that can be bought on half.com – one of my all time favorite quilting books by Eleanor Burns, a marvelous expert quilter:
http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ972661

Use a jelly roll (strips of fabric you can purchase at Wal Mart or other fabric stores) or use up the left over fabric you have from other projects.  Your serger and rotary cutter can make sewing this quilt even faster and easier.

Relief Share has been blessed with very generous donations of fabric and supplies this past week.  Ray Cox has sent many boxes of bolts of quilting fabric that are already being made up into quilts for the sick and needy.   Books and a rotary rulers were also included in his boxes of love honoring his sweet wife, Debra.  Her legacy of love for the sick and needy goes on through Ray’s continuing efforts to answer God’s call to help the helpless and lift up the hearts and hands that hang down from trial and adversity.  The smiles on the faces of mothers who now have warm quilts and clothing for their precious bundles are the badges of honor shining brightly to mark Debra and Ray’s hard work and dedication to alleviate suffering and bless the lives of the sick and and needy.

Our Relief Share angel, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent a lovely box of orange and red quilters fabric that our volunteers fell in love with.  This sweet angel seems to have a direct pipeline to heaven and manages to time her donations perfectly depending on what the most urgent need is.  A box of yarn arrived from Placentia, California that is just perfect for our baby hats, cocoons, and layettes.  Other donations of lace, ribbon, and sewing, knitting, crochet and serging tools also arrived to help us move forward faster with our charity work.

If you would like to help the sick and needy, please send donations to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr., C208, Boise, Idaho 83714, also 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225.  The greatest need is in Boise at this time so that is the preferred address to ship to.  Most of the need in Houston is for baby items and hygiene goods, in Boise we are helping families and a larger number of people.  All times of any kind – new or gently used is gratefully accepted.  Clean out your closets for a good cause.  All donations are tax deductible as Relief Share is a 501 (c) 3 non profit charity registered with the IRS.

May God bless you as you bless others

Carol C Green
President
info@ReliefShare.org

Mason at just 3 lbs 2 oz.

Ever wonder “how tiny is tiny” when we are talking about the preemie babies we make things for?  A picture speaks a thousand words and this beautiful baby takes our breath away as we see his Daddy’s hand measured up against him.  How tiny is tiny? REALLY tiny.  Really perfect, really sweet and this little one is no different from thousands of other teeny tiny babies in that he has completely captured our hearts.

In less than one second, eyes are riveted to the picture and hearts committed to helping clothe and snuggle Mason in warm clothing and blankets. That is the power of ‘baby love’ that drives the volunteers at Relief Share.

Thank you to the volunteers who quickly responded to the call to action.

A package went out priority post for Mason filled with all kinds of goodies:

1 preemie afghan
2 crocheted incubator/carriage covers
1 blue outfit
3 preemie tops
4 preemie sleepers
1 preemie jacket
1 preemie snuggler cape
8 washcloths/also used for burp cloths and change pads for preemies
1 baby gown
1 baby bracelet
a number of knitted preemie baby hats
2 teddy bears
1 pair preemie booties
2 baby swaddling cocoons
pkg of 20 preemie disposable diapers
2 to a pk of bottle insulators

There was a lot of love put into this package.

Mason's care box.

The crocheted incubator covers were made by a precious little old lady in a old folks home in Missouri.  Her husband travels 2 hours EVERY DAY to go see her and pick up what she has made to donate to us.  She loves the preemies and continues to crochet for them on an ongoing basis.

Mason's care box.

I made the cocoons from a gorgeous baby blue sweater (this president loves to roll up her sleeves and participate) donated by the local Food Pantry to help us with supplies through recycling. The soft cocoons will keep Mason snuggly warm and comforted as it is like being back in the womb again.

Mason's care box.

The gown was sewn by a volunteer and has a matching crocheted hat that another volunteer made, they are from West Virginia. The bracelet was made by a third volunteer and the white blanket and booties by another.

Mason's care box.

The preemie clothing is brand new from Wal Mart and bought by yet another volunteer. Everything was donated and worked on with love. Mason has a lot of Relief Share Grannies and Aunties that love him

It is a miracle how all the hands and hearts come together in love to bless the babies and families we serve. No one is paid, we are just happy to help where we can.  Now that our care package has gone out to help Mason physically,  we will keep him and his family in our prayers   He truly is a gift from God.

President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org

PS.  If you love babies and want to get involved, it’s as easy as 1, 2 3……

Mason's care box.

1. Get a cardboard box
2.  Fill it with anything a baby might want or need – either finished or purchased items or sewing, quilting, knitting or crocheting supplies.  Items can be new or gently used.
3.  Stick a label on it to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225 and mail it.

Ta da! Done! You are now one of us, a Relief Share donor and volunteer and also counted in God’s book of heavenly acts on earth

Some of the items a baby needs:

sleepers, gowns, onesies, socks, booties, soft shoes, hats, tops, bottoms, diapers (cloth and disposable), burp cloths, diaper bags, swaddlers, cocoons, blankets, afghans, quilts, stuffed animals, crib bedding (sheets, bumper pads, blankets), moses baskets, cribs, swings, activity mats, rattles, bottles, soothers (pacifiers or dummies), bottle liners and nipples, breast feeding items, breast pumps, diaper lotion, baby shampoo, baby oil,  baby bath, baby food, formula, shorties, longies, baby slings, baby carriers, car seats (for safely rules they must be new), play pens, baby music CDs, bassinettes, baby brush and comb, baby chair, bath items.  Can you think of more?

Mason's care box

Some of the supplies needed:

fabric – all kinds.  Minky, chenille, micro fleece, flannel, knit, cotton – think baby!
thread, scissors, pins, quilting rulers, rotary cutters, rotary cutting mat pads, cricut machines and cartridges for quilt appliques, sergers, sewing machines, knitting machines, knitting machine weights, Kris Krafter garter bars for Bond knitting machines, yarn, all kinds, colors and types, elastic, velcro, buttons, zippers, appliques, interfacing, wonder under, knitting needles, crochet needles, tatting shuttles and needles, patterns, pincushions, bias binding, trims, laces, etc.

Clean out your closet for a good cause.  Recycle the items you no longer want or need – sweaters and tee shirts become baby cocoons, hats, onesies, gowns and stuffed soft toys.  Cut the buttons off of old shirts – they are fun down the front of a sleeper in all colors.

Recycle sweaters and tee shirts turned into baby cocoons

After some very busy cutting and serging, 72 cocoons were delivered to the hospital today.  It did my heart good to hear the answer to my query from the nurse.  I asked her how were the cocoons working out and she said they loved them.   Some of the little babies tend to have a problem keeping their heat and the cocoons helped keep them warm and snuggled.  She also said it was a lot easier for new Moms to pop their babies in the cocoons to keep them snuggled up instead of trying to keep them swaddled in the blankets.

The cocoons are fun to make – they can be sewn, serged, knitted, crocheted, hand knitted, and machine knitted.  If you are really energetic, you could even tat one   The patterns are free and offered on our blog.  You can also google for free cocoon patterns on the internet and find a ton of them.  A great website for free patterns is www.ravelry.com

The cocoons in the picture are made from recycled sweaters and tee shirts, most of them donated from the local food pantry and crisis center.  They are 16″ long by 10″ wide.

Here is a quick way to make a pattern.  Take a piece of paper that is 16 x 10 (I buy roll ends

Shape of the cocoon

from the newspaper and it gives me lots of pattern paper to work with)  and put a dinner plate on one end and trace with a pen.   Cut it out so that will make one short end of the pattern rounded.   Then cut a wedge on either side of the other end so that the top of the cocoon slopes in towards the baby’s neck.

Extra Long knitted and serged cocoons

Lay the pattern on the sweater so that the top of the cocoon is the bottom of the sweater – this gives you a finished edge at the neck of the cocoon.   Serge around the cocoon on 3 sides with your serger. Ta da! Done.

The general sizes are:

XXS – 14″ long x 50 stitches wide (6″ across) – 12″ diameter
XS – 16″ long x 60 stitches wide (8″ across)
S – 18″ long x 70 stitches wide (10″ across)
M – 20″ long x 80 stitches wide (10″ across)
L – 23″ long x 80 stitches wide (12″ across)
XL – 25″ long x 80 stitches wide (12″ across)

I made the extra long cocoons to test and my grandson is doing really well with them.  You can pull them up around the baby’s face in cold weather to keep them snuggly warm.

Long rib knit serged cocoon to snuggle baby.

If you are doing these cocoons for your local hospital or birthright center, be sure to ask them what size they want.   If you are making them to help us provide the 350 cocoons the hospital has asked for (yes, we love help!), they use the 16″ long by 10″ wide the most.  They also use the smaller ones as well.

Our address to send donations to of finished cocoons, knit and tee shirt material, sweaters and tees to cut up to use, thread -sewing machine and serger thread, and other sewing supplies is:

Relief Share

6078 Lundy Rd

Houston, MO 65483-2225

All donations are tax deductible.  Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to this project. We appreciate the donations of sewing machines, sergers, knitting machines and sewing supplies so much. It takes all of us together to make miracles happen.

Carol Green
President
info@ReliefShare.org

Donation of yarn being made into a baby cocoon

Sometimes folks wonder if donations sit around not being used for a while or if they get quickly used to help the sick and needy.  Here is what we received today in the mail from Pat S.  – a wonderful box of 14 balls of beautiful sport/worsted weight yarn to use for the babies in hospital.

Within a very short time it was being knitted on the knitting machine, donated by a wonderful donor, J W (who wishes to remain anonymous so only initials are used).  She has blessed many people with her ongoing donations to Relief Share.   Because of her recent donation of garter bars and needle stoppers, the work went even faster and very quickly a baby cocoon was completed.

Completed cocoon

A skilled knitter, Judi Meissner, shared with us how to do the decreases even faster so we could get more cocoons to the hospital sooner.

I am on a marvelous yahoo group, who are more than willing to share hints, tips and welcome advice on how to be more effective in knitting with the Bond knitting machines. The patterns shared are fun and the folks on the list genial and helpful. If you own a ISMor a USM knitting machine by Bond, we highly recommend the yahoogroup for a way to be more productive and enjoy with your knitting machine.

Go here to subscribe: incrediblesweatermachineclub-subscribe@yahoogroups.comincrediblesweatermachineclub@yahoogroups.com

Here is the cocoon being modeled by one of my display baby dolls:

Snuggly cocoon for newborn infants

Newborn baby size cocoon

This cocoon is 9″ wide (18″ circumference) and 20″ long.  The size that the hospital needs the most is 8″ wide (16″ circumference) and 18″ long.  I was trying to downsize a larger cocoon and didn’t quite downside the pattern enough.  Today I will make another cocoon the right size!

These cocoons can be knitted, crocheted, sewn and serged.  We make many of them from recycled sweaters and tee shirts.  The arms from the sweaters can be used to make baby pants and matching hats.

Our recycled sweaters are donated from the local food pantry and crisis center, then donated to the local hospital.   The TCMH hospital needs 350 cocoons – so far we have donated 15, and made another 6 for the crisis center.

Would you like to help?  We need yarn donated – worsted weight or sport weight is best but we use all types and weights of yarn as we make baby blankets as well.  We also need knitters, crocheters and seamstresses to help by making and sending the cocoons to us to take to the hospital.

Our address to send donations to is:

Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225

All donations are acknowledged with a thank you letter/tax deductible receipt. We are a 501 ( c) 3 non profit registered with the IRS.  The patterns for the cocoons are free and found on this blog.  We love sharing volunteer and donor patterns as well. If you have a pattern you would like to share with others for the cocoons, or for any baby item, we will be happy to include it on our blog.

Relief Share is staffed by all volunteers, no one is paid and no administration fees are taken out of donations – everything and every penny goes directly to help the sick and needy.

President Carol C Green
info@ReliefShare.org

Supplies Needed for this darling Baby Quilt (make 2 – one for yourself and one to donate

Color One: 1/2 yard of 44-45″ fabric (1 yard for larger size)
Color Two: 1/3 yard of 44-45″ fabric (1/2 yard for larger size)
Color Three: 1/3 yard of 44-45″ fabric (1/2 yard for larger size)

Binding: Cut binding either 1.5″ wide or 2″ wide (your preference), and long enough to go all the way around your quilt – about 120 inches for the smaller size and 180 inches for the larger size (you may piece strips).

Batting: You will need a 28.5″ x 28.5″ piece of batting (or 42.5″ x 42.5″ if you are making the larger size).

Quilt Backing: 28.5″ x 28.5″ piece of fabric for the quilt back (or 42.5″ x 42.5″ if you are making the larger size).

Cutting Instructions

PRE-WASH AND DRY YOUR FABRIC before beginning, if desired.

Small Quilt – Baby Blanket Size (28.5″ x 28.5″) Cut strips of fabric 4.5″ x w.o.f. (width of fabric) For color one, cut three strips, each 4.5″ x 44-45″ (your width of fabric) For colors two and three, cut two strips of fabric 4.5″ x w.o.f. Cut strips into 4.5″ squares. For color one, you will need a total of 25 squares. For colors two and three you will need a total of 12 squares of each color.

Larger Quilt – Lap Size (42.5″ x 42.5″) Cut strips of fabric 6.5″ x w.o.f. (width of fabric)
For color one, cut four strips, each 6.5″ x 44-45″ (your width of fabric), plus one more square that measures 6.5″ x 6.5″ For colors two and three, cut two strips of fabric 6.5″ x w.o.f. Cut strips into 6.5″ squares. For color one, you will need a total of 25 squares. For colors two and three you will need a total of 12 squares of each color.

Sewing Instructions

Using 1/4″ seam allowances, sew the squares together. It is easiest to assemble the squares into one row at a time. You can create horizontal or vertical rows. After your rows are created, sew the rows together. TIP: Iron all squares before sewing them into rows. Iron the rows before sewing them together. It works best to press the seams in opposite directions. In other words, if row one has seams pressed to the left, press the seams of row two to the right. That way, when you sew the rows together, it is easier to match corners more precisely.

Quilting Instructions

You can now stitch the three layers together, either by tying with yarns or embroidery floss, hand quilting or machine quilting.

President Carol Green
ReliefShare.org
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
417-763-3288

All the fabric, batting, thread, yarn and machines needed were dedicated and consecrated for the benefit of the sick and needy. Nothing is wasted, each piece of fabric is sewed into place with love and concern for the little ones who are getting needed treatment at the hospital.

Many of the children are missing limbs, some can’t walk, some have halos, others needs spinal surgery and ALL are very much loved and well cared for at the hospital. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to bless the lives of the children by creating our quilts made by happy volunteers and loving hands.

If you would like to be included in this wonderful project – feel free to contact us at info@ReliefShare.org

Busy righteous hands belong to happy people! Join us!

The fastest way to make a’quilt in a pillow” is to first make a ‘pillowcase’ quilt.  Lay the front and back of the quilt down with the right sides together.  Put the batting on top of the front and back and cut all three layers together the same size.

Sew a 1/2 ” seam around all the edges, leaving a large enough opening in the center of one side to turn the quilt.  Turn and either sew closed by hand, or sew closed by machine.  Topstitch 1/4″ all around the edge to secure.  Tie, hand quilt or machine quilt the quilt.  If tying make sure that ties are at least 4″ apart or less for stability of the quilt. Double tie the knots.  Please do not just take a stitch and then another one in the same spot and keep going.  Quilts that are tied this way without making a knot come undone in hospital laundry. Make sure you tie a square knot using thread or yarn that does not slip.  Embroidery thread is not a good choice because it tends to work it’s way loose through wear.

Make a square mini quilt the same way you just made the quilt (omitting the tying or quilting)  that is approx. just larger than  1/3 the size of the narrowest width of the quilt. For example: if your quilt was 45″ x 72″, then make your mini quilt 18″ square. The mini quilt makes the pocket.

Lay the larger quilt down with one shorter side next to you like you are standing at the end of a bed.   Place the mini quilt on the edge of the short side nearest you and center it on the edge.  Sew down three sides, leaving the side open that faces the center of the quilt, making a pocket.  Reinforce the ends of your stitching so the pocket will not come unsewn from the quilt.

To make the quilt into a pillow, lay the quilt with the pocket side down .  Fold the quilt into thirds longways, overlapping long edge.  Turn the pocket over the end of the quilt.  Fold the remaining quilt into thirds and continue folding into the pocket forming a pillow.

Voila! Done   You can embroider a cute teddy bear face or heart on the front of the pocket if you want to make it fun for a child or adult.

Note – regarding quilt sizes: Baby quilts can be 36″ x 36″, 36″ x 45″ or 45″ x 60″.  Larger quilts can be 45″ x 60″ or larger, depending if it is going to be used for a child or adult, partial coverage such as a wheelchair quilt or full coverage for a bed.  The bottom line is pretty much any size is welcomed to keep the sick and needy comfortable and warm.  Twin size quilts are the most urgent size needed right now – approx 70″ x 90″.  You can make the quilts all the way up to 120 x 120 if you like, be creative and have fun making your donation of love for the sick and/or needy.  Feel free to sign the quilt and ask your church group or quilting group if they would like to get involved.

We love to receive volunteers items lovingly sewn for the sick and needy to distribute where the need is the greatest.  If you would like to donate quilts in a pillow or supplies to make them to Relief Share, please send donations to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd., Houston, MO 65483-2225.  All donations are gratefully accepted and acknowledged with a tax deductible receipt and thank you letter.

Patterns and ideas are happily accepted to share with others on our Relief Share website, blog and at work meetings.  Please send submissions to info@ReliefShare.org   Upon receipt, all submissions will be considered public domain for distribution for charitable purposes and will not be returned so if it’s your favorite pattern, please make sure you have a copy, too.  Thank you

A generous donation of books from Alma Mooney of Licking was received as a fundraiser to raise money needed to purchase flannel for the backing of the Relief Share Quilts for Kids project.

Donations out include helping a family with a young child and another on the way with nursing pillow covers, household goods, food, baby clothing and bedding, essential supplies, toys, and other needed items. Newborns in Need Ozarks Chapter was the recipient of a large donation of cone yarn, baby clothing, bedding, fabric and diaper bags.

Donations of clothing to area residents in need of warmer seasonal clothing and food was also given out.

Wonder what you can help with? Here is a handy urgent needs list that you can print out and take with you when you do your shopping. Just get one or two extra items and send them to:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
All donations are tax deductible.

Urgent Needs List:

Basic food item suggestions – Sugar, flour, salt, pepper, oil, cereal, tinned food such as beans, vegetables, fruit, soup, etc. Baby food, formula, crackers, tuna, etc. Many of the families we serve are very grateful for the food given them. A package of animal crackers, macaroni and cheese or juice boxes can make the world of difference to a hungry child. A Wal Mart gift card is also a great donation item as volunteers in our Relief Share office are happy to take the list of what is needed and purchase food and personal items, like toilet paper and shampoo and deliver it to the needy family – this also saves on shipping cost to us.

Clothing – clean gently used clothing or new. Socks, pants, tops, coats, shoes, undergarments, hats, mittens, etc. Accessories like purses or wallets, belts and backpacks are very gratefully accepted by recipients.

Bedding – home made, clean gently used or new. sheets, blankets, baby blankets, receiving blankets, pillows, pillow cases, crib sets, afghans.

Personal hygiene items – shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, deodorant, moisturizer, lotion, wet wipes, baby oil, baby diaper cream, baby powder, etc.

Books, toys, movies, games, and furniture is also welcome. Christmas is coming and many of the families we care for have little or nothing for the holiday. Full size filled stockings are a huge blessing at the Christmas season. We donate the stockings, when available, to foster homes, hospitals, medical centers, crisis centers, homeless shelters and area churches who care for the sick and needy. A doll or book can make a wonderful difference in a little one’s holiday season. A mother struggling to care for her family with no partner for support is grateful for a soft warm scarf from a donor to show her someone cares for her.

You can make Christmas brighter and more blessed by showing your love to a stranger who has need of your care.

Here are some ideas for you to consider making items to donate:
Sewing – quilts, baby clothing, bedding, blankets, tote bags, diaper bags, toys, dresses, diapers
Quilting – baby quilts, twin size quilts, toys, Christmas ornaments, tree skirts, wall hangings, totes
Knitting – hats, sweaters, mittens, socks, pants, tops, blankets, afghans, toys
Crochet – afghans, blankets, hats, dish cloths, toys, clothing, sweaters, mittens
Tat – handkerchiefs, bonnets, doilies , lace trim for baby gowns
Embroider – blankets, hats, clothing, toys

If you have questions or would like to talk with representatives from Relief Share – please feel free to email info@ReliefShare.org or call 417-967-3340 and ask for Stephanie or Carol. Please note: all Relief Share workers are volunteers – no one is paid – this is a work of the heart in Christ’s name giving relief through sharing to God’s children. We are his hands and feet showing mercy to the less fortunate – join us and make a difference today.

Bev Flowers donates two beautiful quilts to Relief Share

Relief Share, a non profit charity for the sick and needy, received 2 twin size quilts from Bev Flowers (shown in picture attached) representing the UMC Holy Tearers Quilt Group and the Piney River Quilting Guild. The donation was presented to Director Stephanie Little at the local Relief Share office in Houston, Missouri on Oct 19, 2009.

These quilts are a part of a large project being undertaken by Relief Share to fill the need for bedding for the children hospitalized at Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. Many children have been cared for by Shriners Hospital in St Louis at no cost. Since April 30, 2009, Relief Share has donated 99 of the 240 quilts requested by the hospital, 141 twin size quilts are still needed.

Richard and Carol Green, founders of Relief Share, have provided most of the many yards of fabric needed for the quilts, purchased from the Lucky Dollar store in Licking, Missouri at a discount given by business owners to help with the charitable efforts of the community. Two local sisters, who wish to remain anonymous, have purchased and donated most of the batting and spend hundreds of hours sewing and tying many of the quilts. Volunteers combine efforts to create the warm quilts for the sick and needy children being treated at Shriners Childrens Hospital.

All donations are much appreciated and put to immediate use. To donate to the “Relief Share Quilts for Kids” project, visit www.ReliefShare.org or call 417-967-3340 for more information. Fabric, batting and flannel backing are needed as well as those who would like to help sew the quilts together and either tie or quilt them. A total of 141 twin size quilts are still needed.

Materials needed:

- white or cream muslin (you can use whatever material you like, including gross grain or ribbon)
- freezer paper
- heat and bond
- compute
- ink jet printer

First wash your fabric to make sure there is no sizing or other chemicals in it as the sizing interferes with the ink’s permanency.  I purchased white muslin from my local quilt shop that has no sizing or chemical in it.  The store owner carries this muslin specifically for projects where folks are making memory quilts or labels.  Dry and iron your fabric so there are no wrinkles.

Design your label on your computer.  I used Adobe Photoshop as there was a graphic on the label as well as fonts, but if you are making sizing or care labels and just need black text, you can use a word processing program.

Put the logo you have designed into Microsoft Word or another program that does labels – I chose the format that prints out 30 labels on a page.  You can use your graphics program and lay out a sheet of labels but I found that printing smaller text from a graphics program results in lack of sharpness in the text and prefer to use MS Word or Publisher.

Cut your fabric and freezer paper to 8 1/2″ by 11″ and fuse the freezer paper to the back of the fabric.  This makes the fabric stiff enough to go through the printer with no problem.

Print out your labels on the fabric.  Let dry completely – at least 10 to 15 minutes, but I let mine dry overnight.   Peel off the freezer paper from the back of the fabric.

Iron on heat and bond on the back of the labels – being careful not to rub or press too hard and cause the print to smear.  You can skip this step if you are sewing your labels in but I use heat and bond on the back of my labels even if I am sewing them on because it holds them quite nicely as I am sewing and makes sure they are on to stay.

Peel off the paper off the heat and bond backing from the back of the fused fabric.  At this point, I cut my fabric into individual labels with a rotary cutter.   Fill a plastic bowl or your sink with very cold water.  I used the cold water from my fridge dispenser as it was close and easy.  Make sure there is plenty of water as you are pulling the excess ink off the fabric so the particles don’t come off and adhere to other parts of the label you don’t want it to and smear or ruin the label.  Do not twist or rub the labels – just carefully lay them in the water and gently swish them with your hand, separating the labels that want to stick together.  The water should be clear and the font on the labels look darker because of the water.

Gently remove the labels from the plastic bowl and lay out individually on a towel.  Put another towel over the labels and with a rolling pin, press to remove excess water.

Set the ink by using the highest heat on your iron for 8 to 10 seconds, but be sure to drain the water from your iron first because you don’t want any steam.

Since there was fused heat and bond on the back of the labels – I put the slightly damp label on the edge of the xray room hospital shorts and fused the label on at the same time that I set the ink.  I had extra labels left over so I set the ink and used some of the backing for the heat and bond that I had taken off the back of the labels so all I have to do when I want to use those labels is again peel the backing off and they are good to go.

I sewed around the edge of the label with a straight stitch just inside the edge.  Voila! All done.

It really didn’t take all that long, but it was a huge journey of finding the right way to do it and a lot of frustration trying out different methods and things.

This method for making labels can be used for printing out photos for memorial quilts and anything else you might want to print on fabric.

Enjoy.

Time for an update on our charity quilt project. Relief Sharecharity is a 501 (c ) 3 non profit registered with the IRS.

Our current main project is making 240 twin size quilts for Shriners Hospital in St Louis for children who undergo surgery to help them walk and move properly and have other skeletal problems.

So far we have made and donated approx 40 quilts (I will give you the exact number when our volunteers have reported in). I will also be taking a load of quilts next week to Shriners personally for the charity (yes, I will share photos).

I purchased all the fabric needed for the tops of the quilts and we are getting some batting and fabric donated, however, we need approx 250 yards of flannel for the back of the quilts and that’s where YOU come in. I managed to get a wonderful deal of excellent quality flannel at only $1.69 a yard but need donations to be able to purchase it. I can drive to pick it up, so there will be no shipping cost, and because Relief Share is a nonprofit, there will be no tax.

The goal is $422.50 to be able to purchase 250 yards of flannel.

All those who choose to donate will receive a tax deductible receipt. If you can help make a child’s stay at Shriners better by helping to provide a warm snuggly twin size quilt for their bed, please donate through PayPal to info@ReliefShare.org .

Checks can be sent to:

Relief Share,
6078 Lundy Rd.,
Houston, MO
65483-2225
Attn: Charity Quilt Project.

If you request it, a brochure can be mailed along with your tax deductible receipt and thank you letter.

Please share this need with your family and friends. God blesses us with what we need for ourselves, and for those in need. This is a way to help each other and give back to God for all our blessings. If you would like to send yarn, flannel, sewing supplies, fabric and batting, please send it to the address above. We would love it if you want to make a twin size quilt (approx 72 x 90 – doesn’t have to be exact) and send it, that would be wonderful!

Charity quilt for Shriners Hospital patient

This quilt has been a lot of fun to make.  Lots of happy bright colors and a soft fuzzy backing makes for a wonderful snuggly quilt destined for a very special little boy.  I just finished the edging late tonight and am taking it to the work meeting tomorrow to tie it.  The little boy loves the Cardinals and this quilt was truly a labor of love.

If  you would like to make a quilt like this – buy a St Louis Cardinals t-shirt and cut out the logo. Back it with fabric for stability and use it for the center block.  I strip pieced the top by sewing strips together and then cutting so I had long rows of squares sewn together, then I applied them to the center block by doing the log cabin method. After the strips of blocks were used up, I finished the quilt with long strips of the same fabric.  It is really a one of a kind quilt that is very nice. 

I used low loft batting and a heavy brushed nylon in white for the back that I got from my friend, Grandma Ev, years ago and was saving it for a very special charity project.

The baby lock sewing quilting machine the quilt was sewn on made putting it together a dream.  The large plastic area that holds the quilt better around the machine makes a lot of difference.  The machine is truly a blessing for all the sewing and quilting we do for charity.

Quilt for little patient at Shriner's Hospital being worked on

This quilt is certainly being made with a lot of love. We are using a Cardinals t-shirt purchased at Wal Mart as we couldn’t find any St Louis Cardinals fabric to use. Wal Mart also had the perfect red, blue and yellow fabric to go with the red shirting material with logo. We are strip quilting the quilt and need to go purchase stabilizer to iron on the back of the shirt that we have carefully cut open on the seams to use for the quilt. Fortunately, there is a quilt shop having a sale of 40% off in town so we can get the stabilizer there.

When the patchwork quilt is pieced, then we will add the patients name in applique on the top of the quilt. Everyone is so excited to get the quilt done and to this darling little boy. He has had many many operations in his short life time and is always cheery and fun to be around. What a good example to the rest of us, eh?!

Keep checking back, we will post the progress on this quilt of love.

This shiny kind of fabric must not be sewn on directly if you are doing applique unless you are very patient and skilled in handling it. I have a wonderful quilting book with templates for frogs and fish that I will be using. Here is how you do it:

Cut two squares the size you want, making sure you leave a 1/4 seam around all edges. Place fabric right sides together – for these blocks I am using 100% cotton quilting fabric. Pin together so the fabric does not shift and carefully trace the frog or fish applique shape on the block, centering it – or even putting it slightly off center for an interesting block. Sew around the shape with a short stitch, approx 2.0. Cut out the inside of the shape, snipping the curves and turn so right sides are out and iron. Now you have a block with the shape of the fish or frog in the middle that is ready to be laid down over the shiny fabric.

Pin carefully with silk pins so there are no pin holes in the fabric and the fabric doesn’t shift while sewing, layering the shiny fabric right side up on the bottom and the cotton fabric you have just sewn on the top so the shiny fabric fills the outline you have just made. Sew carefully around the outside of the frog or fish shape approx 1/8″.

Viola! You now have a wonderful block to incorporate into your twin size quilt for the hospital.

The book I am using for the shapes is called 150 blocks for baby quilts by Susan Briscoe. I bought it at the local Enchanted Quilt Shop. The frog pattern in that book is my very favorite. It is on page 79.

I would love to see your block pattern ideas for the quilts you are making. Feel free to post ideas and pictures here to our Relief Share blog!

Happy sewing,
Carol Green
President
www.ReliefShare.org