Quilt of Valor

 I think I have mentioned here before - a program called Quilts of Valor.  It's an organization that collects quilts donated by quilters and presents them to retired and currently active military service men and women...as a token of appreciation for their service to our country.

Our quilt group, Crazy Quilters, has a member who has served in the military.  We wanted to surprise Wanda with this special quilt, to show our appreciation for her service.

It wasn't easy keeping the whole thing secret and COVID made things even more difficult.

Way back over a year ago, we started making our plans when Wanda left the meeting early one night.

Isolde had the pattern and the background fabric, but she couldn't be at the next meeting because she had an extended trip planned out of the country. 

So she handed off the supplies to another group member who works at the library.

At our next meeting, after Wanda left, we divided up the background fabric and all members got a copy of the pattern to make two squares, adding their own fabric. One star square in blue and one 9patch square in reds.  Lots of variety to make it interesting!

At the February meeting, the member's completed blocks were turned over to Isolde, who assembled them into this beautiful quilt.   She also provided and attached the striped border fabric.  I think that really makes the quilt sing.  And the corners are mitered too!  Perfect!

Then COVID struck and there were no Crazy Quilter meetings.  Like everyone else, we had no idea how long the restrictions would last...but we knew we wanted to get this quilt finished for Wanda.

So in June, Isolde and I arranged for me to pick up the quilt top at her home so I could do the quilting. 

(I also have to mention that I had a tour of Isolde's flower beds and vegetable garden.  Wowzer, beautiful flowers, trees, shrubs, vines and plants in an idyllic setting,. She has such a green thumb!  Bonus...she sent me home with several plant starts and a type of lily I had never seen before).

But, back to the quilt....

The blocks are 10" square so the quilt is roughly 60" x 70".

Here is a view of the back.  Since there was a lot of white on the front, I didn't want to take a chance on any sort or color or pattern showing through from the back, so I chose to use solid white muslin for a backing.

I did a swirl design. My swirls are all a bit different in size but okay if you just look at the overall design (I think?).

And the lines you see here are just creases in the fabric...not accidental pleats!

Originally we planned to have a little party with refreshments and so forth when we presented the quilt to Wanda.  But when we found out we could start back with our meetings we wanted to get the quilt in Wanda's hands in case things go under strict lockdown again.

 Wanda with her quilt...mask off just for photos.

We really did surprise her...by pretending it was just a show and tell quilt made by our group for a service person.

She kept asking why she hadn't heard of this group project or been asked to participate in making blocks.

It was fun seeing the look on her face when she found out it was her name on the label as the recipient!

Thank you for your service, Wanda!