The Eastern Long Island Quilters guild has been making quilts for special needs children for many years with a special program called the "ABC" project.  Last year the guild donated 150 quilt and is on a pace to donate that or more in 2001.

The quilts are made from donated fabric, so none of it is wasted.   All the odd ends and bits have been piling up in the 10 years that we've been running the program...  so the Baby quilt challenge was organized.  We were given a brown paper grocery bag filled will all the left over odd and ends.  Our task was to create a 36" x 36" baby quilt to donate to our "ABC" project.

Of course my entry is a sunbonnet quilt.  I used the wonderful patterns in the Leisure Arts' book "The Ultimate Sunbonnet Sue Collection".    Since there were so many brown calicos in my bag, I found lots of different patterns that used them.  I'm happy to say that I used a bit of every fabric that was in the bag.  Here's the "leftover" quilt.  Sunbonnet quilts are wonderful for using up those odds and ends.

Sunbonnet "Leftovers" Quilt

Here are the instructions for making your own quilt.

To make this quilt you'll need:

• a large variety of fabric scraps for the appliqué
• Background fabric for the blocks.  You'll need 9 squares 10 1/2 x 10 1/2".  
• The Book "The Ultimate Sunbonnet Sue Collection" for the patterns.  It is available in our shopping pages.  Click here.  You can also use the free patterns found elsewhere on the website.
• A piece of fabric for the backing 40" x 40"
• A piece of batting 40" x 40"
• Scraps of fabric for the sashing and border.  I had to piece together the blue scraps to get enough for my sashing.  You'll need 12 pieces 2 1/2" x 10 1/2".
• Four squares of fabric for the cornerstones 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".  I matched these to the backing fabric for the squares
• Fusible web.  I like Aleenes' or "Steam a seam 2".  Do not use heavy duty interfacing for this project.
• Embroidery floss in lots of different colors

Probably the hardest part of making this project was picking which patterns to use.     Once you decide, trace the individual parts of each pattern piece onto the paper side of the fusible web.  Using the fusible web will reverse each pattern when you apply it to the fabric.  If Sue is looking left when you trace it, she will be looking right once it is on the fabric.

Cut out the pieces from the fusible web, but not on the traced lines, leave a little extra around each piece.

Place these pieces on the wrong side of the fabric scrap that you've chosen.  If using standard iron-on interfacing, iron it onto the fabric.  If using Steam a seam or other "sticky" webbing, follow the directions on the package.  Once the piece has cooled, cut on the traced lines.  Peel off the paper and place the fabric pieces onto one of the background blocks.  Make sure everything is place properly.   If you aren't comfortable placing the templates on the fabric "by eye", you can trace the design from the book and use the traced lines to help place the fabric pieces down.   Remember, you'll be working with a reversed image.

Once you have the block laid out the way you want it fuse it in place with a hot iron.   Follow the instructions that came with the fusible webbing you purchased.

Now the fun part.  Using two strands of embroidery floss work a tight button-hole stitch around all the raw edges of the appliqué.  I love this project because it is so portable.  I work on it when riding in the car, while waiting for my kids, or at night in front of the TV.  I feel I'm using "leftover" time to work on the project.  The small blocks are very portable!

If you'd like to see how to make a button-hole stitch click here.

I also like to work in floss colors that closely match the fabric.  That way it blends in.  Sometimes I'll use a contrasting thread color if I want something to stand out.  See how the apron bow in the center block of the quilt stands out because of the contrasting thread.

Sewing it together:

Once the 9 blocks are appliquéd and finished, it is time to sew it all together.   For this I use my sewing machine.  Sew sashing strips (10 1/2 x 2 1/2")and blocks together for form three rows:  Block - Sashing - Block - Sashing   - Block

Now sew two sashing rows: sashing  - cornerstone square- sashing - corner stone square - sashing

Alternate the block rows with the cornerstone rows and sew it all together.

For the border of the quilt, I used a light blue strip that was only 1 1/2" wide.   This quilt had to finish at 36" square to be in the contest.  If this quilt were just for me, I probably would have used a wider border strip, perhaps 3 1/2".  If you choose to make a wider border on your quilt, make sure that you increase the backing and batting size.

This cute little baby quilt will be sure to please whoever you make it for.  I was pleased to see how the scraps worked out.  I wouldn't have chosen yellow as my background color, but it was the only fabric that I had enough of.  As it turns out, the yellow makes a very nice background.  Sometimes working with a limited selection of fabrics has it rewards.

ENJOY!

Kim Bunchuck
©Sunbonnetsue.com

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