Each year, the guild organizes various challenges, special projects and Sew-Alongs to make quilts for charities, provide learning opportunities and to promote involvement by members. Here are some of the fun activities we have underway this year.
Row Robin
Our 2024 challenge is a Row Robin. Participating members make a single row using a focus fabric. The size of the row is between 20″ – 40″ wide and 6″ – 12″ in height. In a blind exchange, various members make four additional rows, one each month. The fifth month another members puts the five rows together to make the quilt center. The final two months are the addition of borders. Each participant will have seven other members making part of the quilt they will eventually get back in the end.
Thanksgiving Benefit Auction
The public is cordially invited to attend our annual Faithful Circle Quilters Thanksgiving Benefit Auction on Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 10:30-noon. This event is a silent auction, and all proceeds are used to fund Thanksgiving baskets which are given to people in need in our community. Items for auction include: handmade gifts, puzzles, books, quilting materials, crafts and notions, several raffle baskets and gift certificates. Bidding will begin at 10:30.
Please join us at the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, Columbia, MD 21045. For questions or further information, contact president@faithfulcirclequilters.com
, Kathy Sprague and Nancy Meier.
Bidding forms can be downloaded at this link.
Block of the Month
The Block of the Month is a fun activity that members can participate in to try a new block pattern, learn a new technique, and try new fabric combinations. Each member can make one, or more blocks, to enter into a drawing each quarter. Attach your name to the front of each block you make to enter the drawing. The winner gets to keep all the entered blocks to create a quilt for themselves, for a gift or to donate to charity. Members can also participate in the program but opt out of the drawing, by not attaching their name to the donated block. Each quarter, instructions for a new block pattern are posted in the FCQ Newsletter.
Project Linus Challenge
We are challenging our members to create Project Linus quilts for children of all ages. Quilters are encouraged to select their backing fabric from our donations (2 to 6-yard pieces) and design a coordinating quilt front. Finished quilts can be machine quilted, hand quilted or tied; quilt sizes
can be 36” x 36” for babies up to 60” x 80” twin size for teenagers.
The challenge kicked off during the June parties and there is still fabric available. You have plenty of time to complete your Linus quilts for quilt show registration in mid-January 2024. Attend an in-person meeting to pick out your backing fabric.
Temperature Quilt Sew Along
Our 2023 challenge: Faithful Circle members are challenged to create a colorful memory of the weather using any pattern, any colors, any location, even any year, for their quilt. It’s a fun way to record a year through color and pattern, while sharing encouragement with each other during meetings and via posts on social media.
Patriotic Quilt Challenge
A second challenge in 2023 was the Patriotic Quilt Challenge. Using a large collection of red, white, blue and military fabric donated by one of our members, Faithful Circle is challenging members to make quilts that will be donated to veterans organizations and hospitals.