2013 Jelly Roll Race Against

Domestic Violence - OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP !

We're offering you SO many ways to help us sew a difference for women and children who are escaping a domestic violence situation. Let's count them down!

1. If you're a longarm or machine quilter, we need you to volunteer to finish quilt tops. Tops will measure approximately 48" X 64". No need for fancy custom quilting. An all-over design or pantograph will do the trick. Tops, batting, and backing kits will be available in early October. If you sign up, you promise to have it finished and on to the next step within 30 days. Sign up for as many tops as you'd like to do.

2.Binders! Quilted tops will come to you for binding. Your job will be to trim the top and finish the binding. It is not necessary that you finish the binding by hand; it may be done completely by machine. If you really enjoy getting quilts into the "done" column, volunteer for this step! Quilts will come to you, with binding materials, in early November. You commit to have the finished quilts back to the Hall of Fame for December distribution.

If you're willing to commit to either of these activities, e-mail Barbara Polston at barbarapolston@cox.net. Please provide the following information:

• If you're quilting, binding, or both.
• Your name
• Your complete contact information, including mailing address, phone, and e-mail
• If you're quilting, let us know if you're willing to donate batting to the cause.

3. There's lots of preparation work to be done to be ready to race. Sewing days are being hosted. The first will be held at Zoe's Trunk in Chandler on Thursday, July 18. Three sessions are being booked, from 10 AM - 2 PM; 2PM - 5:30 PM; and 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM. The task will be to sew jelly roll packs into continuous strips and create quilt backs from donated yardage. You'll need to bring your sewing machine and neutral thread. Eight participants can be accommodated in each session. Register by calling Zoe's Trunk at 480-857-4833.

4. You can still help build jelly rolls! Cut strips of fabric, 2�" wide by the width of the fabric. Drop these off at any participating Maricopa County Independent Quilt Shop. Whether you're donating one strip or many, each one will help in our efforts. Strips are being accepted through June 30 at the following participating shops:

• In Stitches! Goodyear;
• Quilter's Bee, Peoria;
• Sun Valley Quilts, Sun City;
• Arizona Quilts, Peoria;
• The Olde World Quilt Shoppe, Cave Creek;
• Quiltz, Phoenix;
• The Quilter's Ranch, Tempe;
• Bernina Connection, Phoenix;
• etc., Mesa;
• A Quilter's Oasis, Mesa;
• Cutting Edge Quilts, Chandler;
• 3 Dudes Quilting, Phoenix; and
• Zoe's Trunk, Chandler.

5. Finally, many of you have asked how you can get signed up to participate in the Jelly Roll Race on September 28 at the Fiesta Inn, Tempe. Watch for sign-up information in June! You'll sign up for a two hour block of time. Help us complete 120 quilt tops in our race against domestic violence! Finished quilts will be presented to domestic violence shelters around the state and distribution will depend on the number of participants from the various areas of our state. Shelter partners include Butterfly House/Swan, Phoenix; Emerge! Center Against Domestic Violence, Tucson; Justa Center, Phoenix, and Time Out, Payson.

Questions about anything related to the Jelly Roll Race Against Domestic Violence? Call or e-mail Event Chair, Barbara Polston at barbarapolston@cox.net or 480-961-5177.

Mike Shinkle 

Dear Miss Stitcher: A couple of my quilter friends and I have been having a problem with wavy borders. My quilter had to take a tuck in the last quilt that she quilted for me. I try my best not to stretch the border when sewing it on, but the wave has happened, again. Can you give me a suggestion on how I can solve this problem and then I can pass it on to friends. Sincerely. Miss Wavy

Dear Miss Wave: I, too, have had a wave or two in my borders and have been frustrated when my quilter had to take a tuck and then told me I needed to measure better. Measure!!!!!?   I have been sewing my borders end to end for years. Some are straight with no wave and others blow in the wind. Recently, I was at quilt camp with some wonderful quilter friends. I made a baby quilt that when I laid it down waved to me from across the room. The word MEASURE came up so I asked "What do you mean?" I was given several suggestions that I will pass on to you. The first way was to measure the top of your quilt, the middle and the bottom. Take all three measurements and determine an average. In other words you have 62 inches at the top. 62.25 inches in the middle and bottom. Your average is 62.25 inches. You should have a perfect fit at the bottom and you may have to stretch a little at the top. Turn the piece and do it again for the other two sides. The second way is to measure across the center and use that measurement for each side. So if your center is 62 inches, then cut your border pieces 62 inches and make them fit. After my lesson I proceeded to do it both ways. Both ways work and I can say that my quilts have not been waving back to me. The second way is easier, of course as it is only one measurement. You can still sew those border pieces end to end, but now you will be cutting them to fit the sides of your quilt. I do suggest pinning the pieces so you know where you have to ease or stretch. Remember when using the average on the three measurements, you need to do this each time you add a border. If you have three borders then you need to take that measurement three times. Do the same when using just the center measurement. I promise it is well worth the time. You will not only eliminate the wave you will end up pretty square and that is a wonderful thing. No more waves or tsunamis.

Sincerely, Miss Stitcher