Further to the discussion at our meeting this week, here's an explanation of what is planned for the January 28th workday. Our primary purpose is to make slab blocks to be assembled into quilts as per the recent request from CQA/ACC (Canadian Quilters' Association.)The blocks/tops will be sent off to CQA and some will be quilted at Canada's Big Quilt Bee during the annual conference, Quilt Canada, in Toronto in June. Any locally finished quilts will be collected in Moncton. All quilts will be donated to Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada,of which there are 14, with a total of 469 family rooms. These rooms are full all year and there are actually waiting lists for residency while children are treated in hospital. The goal is for 1000 quilts. So that's a brief explanation of the project. Now, back to our work day...
What is a "slab block?" Cheryl Arkison of Calgary designed the slab block a few years back when the call went out across Canada for quilts for Alberta flood victims. Here's a photo of one of the 2013 flood quilts.
Now the slab block is being used again for this special Canada 150 project. It is a "free form" block that measures 12.5", to finish at 12" square. As you can see, it is made from scraps of various sizes - squares, rectangles, strips, all of one colour family- sewn together to make a block large enough to be trimmed to 12.5". Whereas the quilt above has one piece of white in each block, for this project each block must contain at least one piece of Canada 150 fabric. Several fabric manufacturers have put out lines of special fabric for Canada 150: Discover Canada by JN Harper, Stonehenge OH CANADA by Northcott and Sesquicentennial fabric by Northcott, Trend-Tex Fabrics With Glowing Hearts by Moda, and Cantik Batiks. Click on each collection name to see the fabrics. If you have any of these fabrics, please bring them with you to the workday on the 28th. Some will be provided as well. One of our local shops, The Christmas Crab Quiltery at 158 Brunswick St. carries the Oh Canada line by Northcott if you wish to purchase any. Obviously you will need to bring other fabrics for the blocks as well; bring a number of scraps or small pieces in one or several colour families. The blocks can be done as above with all pieces "straight and square" or if a little wonky is more your style, they can be done as these below:
You can read a further explanation, with diagrams, on how the blocks are made here, scroll down to the second and third pages. Or click here to watch a video.
We hope you'll join us on Saturday Jan. 28th. We're going to have a fun day making slab blocks!! As well, Lee will demo EQ7 software, and if you wish to come and work on a project of your own, that's fine too! :)
