Family Fun Night---Quilting Style

[SuzyQue]

Last night our family gave up a movie or a game to try a new experience. I am happy to report it went over well, was fun, cheap, quilting related, and helpful for me. I am starting my king sized Dresden plate quilt/bedspread, so after cutting numerous blades from a complete jelly roll, we started the new "activity". I am using 2 jelly rolls, a layer cake, and a charm pack purchased from MSQC a couple of years ago (really, I have had them that long????) There are 40 different prints included and needing 20 blades per Dresden plate, I thought this would be perfect. I passed out one each of the 40 prints to each family member (youngest is a teen) with the instructions to make 2 plates using each fabric only once. I had one grumbler, but everyone else was excited so we proceeded. About an hour later, we had 6 sets of 2 each plates to chose from. The grumbler was now excited and the teen was now grumbling....but we persevered. It was fun to see all the different ways the blades were changed into plates and how each person attacked the challenge of the fabric puzzle. We left them to think about it for the night, of course, I thought about it and didn't sleep well all night. After church this am, we voted and picked the one set that we all liked the best. It was practically unanimous and agreed upon from a friend later in the day, too. So now I have 2 blocks to copy....an A and a B and will be able to use all the fabric choices in my packs. I can't say they will want to give up many nights engaging in this activity, but they will have ownership and interest as I progress on this monumental quilt top. Perhaps without the sweltering heat, this might never have happened....but I am glad it did!

[auntiemern]

That is great. Families don't spend enough quality time together any more.

[nurrsey]

Very nice...I am so glad that both my daughters like to sew and have started quilting.

[Genny]

Oh I just love that you and your family did this together, what a great memory this will be. (Even the grumblers will look back on this and smile)...

[carolv]

Happy family time, great idea getting everyone involved.

[Monique]

That's cool! Sounds like fun.

[Sandy Navas]

What a great way to get a quilt designed and pull the family together. I'm afraid some of our close family members would want to chew on some of the blades, others would want to sew them together, and others would scatter them all over the place.

Thanks for sharing such a great family night.