As part of the Sew-Op I went to a meeting recently about a project for Quechee Library’s participation in Vermont Reads, a statewide community reading project. This time around the theme is the Civil War, because of its 150th anniversary, and since one of the librarians is a quilter, she thought of making a quilt in the style of those made for medic cots during the war. Since there was great need, they were simple so they could be made quickly.
She (perhaps with assistance) made a whole bunch of four-patch quilt square kits, as shown above. The fabric varies from kit to kit. The ones I chose are a reproduction of a period calico, and a homespun-style fabric. The finished quilt will have squares divided by strips of plain fabric, plus a border, 4 squares by 7 squares for a finished size of 48″ by 84″ – they needed to be long to tuck under the foot of the cot. She cut enough kits for two full quilts.
Even with pressing and photographing it took me less than 10 minutes to sew the square. If you are interested in participating, quilt square kits are available at the front desk of the library and due back by May 29. We’ll have a little bee at the Sew-Op on June second to assemble the quilt faces, which will then go back to the librarian to be batted and backed. Later in the summer there will be a community event to tie the quilts, and then they may be displayed, raffled, or donated.