Colorful Strings

The last time the Renegades went on retreat, I urged participants to bring along any orphan blocks they might have to give away. My friend Susan collects them and finds ways to put them to use in mercy quilts. In particular, she likes to make quilts for wounded soldiers and for children of soldiers. The Renegades, of course, did not disappoint; several of them brought offerings. Turbo, in particular, brought a huge pile of scrappy blocks -- there must have been two or three dozen house blocks; it will be fun to see what Susan does with them.

Turbo also brought a dozen string blocks, each of the twelve made up of four smaller blocks. I told her I wasn't going to send them to Susan, but use them for a mercy quilt of my own. In the past couple of weeks when I've been immersed in black and gray, they provided a welcome relief. I sewed them together in rows, found a scrap of batt just the right size, discovered a suitable piece for a back and some already made binding. I even found a couple of unopened skeins of floss, both the same color, even, and got this quilt together over several evenings.

My Circle at church has decided that in the months of the semi-annual rummage sale we will gather things for the Baby Bureau to use in their parcels for needy moms and their children. I like to contribute a quilt or two each time, and I think this one -- thanks to Turbo -- will bring cheer to a mom and warmth to her little one.