Big Red Quilt Guild Zoom Meeting
October 19, 2020

Betsy Muir, president, opened the meeting at 7:00 with a big welcome to all 24 Zoom participants plus those who were presenting. She reminded us that our September meeting focused on scrappy designs, and our October program would continue that scrappy theme.

Betsy introduced Kris Kennedy who presented a scrappy pumpkin block made up of 5 x 5 (a total of 25) 2 ½” squares of various orange fabrics. Kris noted it is easier to center the green pumpkin stem if using an odd number of squares. Each of the four corners of the pumpkin uses a half-square triangle piece, and the stem uses two half-square triangles. Easy and cute! Kris also indicated she uses thin cutting mats from Dollar Tree for her templates.

Betsy then showed us two small pieces she made from a pattern she found at Pressing Matters: a Boo piece in black and white, using a white cursive script for “Boo” and a button-eyed white ghost on a black background, and an orange “Eek” in cursive also on black. Instead of using a sleeve for hanging, she had made two corners from a diagonally folded 5 ½” square sewn into the binding, and then had inserted a dowel rod for hanging. The 5 ½” squares gave good support at the top.

Kris demonstrated various styles of napkin rings made from a pattern she found on sewinginnomansland and then modified. She cut two pieces of fabric 11” x 3 ½” and backed them with two pieces of fusible interfacing 10” x 2 ½”, turned in the ends and clipped the corners. She then fused or glued the two pieces together down the middle and top stitched all around, turning it into the size desired. Kris took a 20” ribbon or piece of twill tape, folded it in half and looped it over a button she had sewn on the ring.
These could be as formal or informal as wanted to fit your decor.

Betsy found a coaster pattern in the autumn 2020 issue of Quilters’ World. First, cut a hexagon from fabric and a backing hexagon 1 ½” larger. Place the smaller top fabric on a hexagon of batting the same size and then onto the wrong side of the backing fabric. Fold the backing edges over twice on each hexagon side in sequence to form a binding and stitch it in place. Voila, a new coaster!

Betsy then demonstrated making candy corn treat bags she found on craftyforhome.com. Cut one 4 ½” x 4” piece from yellow felt, two 4 ½” x 2” pieces from orange felt, and two 4 ½” x 2” from white felt.
Overlap the longer 4 ½” edges and stitch them together starting with white, then orange, then yellow, orange, and white. Turn it into a bag by folding the 4 ½” pieces in half, piercing four small holes ¾” apart in the top for the ribbon to make a drawstring to close the bag. Each side will form a small pleat. It is a small bag, just big enough to hold a few pieces of candy. What a great favor to have at each place at the table!

Betsy suggested that participants send pictures of their projects to Janet Haines to post on the BRQG website.

Betsy then interviewed Carole McLean about her work with Quilts of Valor. Carole has been making these red, white, and blue quilts for veterans for more than two years. This year she has made twelve thus far and has probably made more than thirty total by now. Carole showed some 40” x 54” quilts with flannel backs for use by people in wheelchairs. The flannel keeps the quilt from slipping off the lap. Several of her quilts were panels that Carole surrounded with various block and border designs. One

she used the Every Other Block of the Month challenge blocks to create an interesting design around a panel. Carole showed larger Quilts of Valor also. In December she will gift her Quilts of Valor to the veterans’ home in Byron Center. She will willingly take contributions of red, white, and blue fabric to
make more quilts.

Betsy thanked Carole for her beautiful work with this meaningful project for our veterans.

In early November the BRQG board will deliver kits to the homes of BRQG members who want to participate in this Make-and-Keep project. Please let Carole McLean know if you are interested in having a kit delivered to your home. Bridget Morel will be sending an email message with Carole’s
email address.

Betsy ended the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Lorelle Eberly