Circle of Friends

There is something in the quilting DNA I think. To love chatting to other quilters, making friends with them in the process and to want to do something if anyone is going through a tough time.

One of my close bloggy and real life friends was experiencing a crap time of it this spring. So we quilting friends did what quilting friends do, and we made her a quilt. Well for her and her man really. So we picked a block, all made some. They were posted to me and I knocked together a quilt. It was my 'secret project' that I spoke about on occasion. You may recognise this -

Well our friend has received the quilt. She likes it. Phew! And she said I could show all of you now that we have surprised her.

So may I introduce you to Circle of Friends. We liked this name for the quilt for the obvious reason, and because it is also the name of a book by Maeve Binchy, an Irish writer which was appropriate seeing as how Cindy lives in Ireland.

And here is the circle of friends who were involved in making this quilt. It was a real collaborative effort as people didn't just make blocks - someone donated the backing and someone else the wadding. Everyone added in some extra fabric for the binding. This was true teamwork and friendship in action from all these beautiful ladies.

I embroidered the siggie strip I on the back.
Sarah O, Sarah F, Rhonda
Nicky, Lucy, Leanne
Kat, Judith, Helen
Hadley, Emily, Annabella

I had this block pinned on Pinterest for a while and it was a good one for everyone to be able to reach into their scrap bag and make some blocks with whatever fabric came to mind, or that they thought reflected themselves. Which is cool because even in the short that Cindy had looked at the quilt when she phoned me she said she could already identify some blocks to certain individuals.

I quilted it in a continuous circle. I didn't think there was a more appropriate way of doing it really. I only swore for the first few rounds and shall skip showing any close ups of that centre, but it is a really easy way to quilt once you get past that initial headache really.

The backing was a colourful sheet of hearts, and I added on a strip of Kona white to the bottom and embroidered everyone's names there, as well as who the quilt was for. How's that for a proper label for a change?!

As a bonus there were four extra blocks that I turned into a cushion to go with the quilt. A nice big one at that. I backed this with some of the green corduroy that I had leftover from a previous project. I must get more of this. I really, really love it.

This was a real group effort that I was thrilled to be a part of, and happy to put a smile on the face of a friend who just needed lifting up a little. Being able to give back in friendship when so much is given to me from so many of you all is a really nice feeling. So here is to our much larger group of friends who have met through this online world. Glad to be one of you.

Susan