I am needing so me help, with ideas & suggestions as to what to do while at the hospital.

I spend ALOT of time in the hospital with our 21 yo dd and don't like hauling my quilts up to the hospital. But I am at a loss as to what to do. I like piecing but I do it by maching. I have looked for small 'kits' to buy and have in my 'hospital bag' for when we have to 'grab & run' but I have not found anything.

Do any one you have any 'kits' that I might could even purchase to have for 'next time'? Or if you have any simple easy things for me to do, idea wise, PLEASE let me know what they are.

You all are great! Thanks ahead of time for the help.
Also, if you'd like to add our dd to your prayers list please feel free to do so. She has a CB page that you can log into and read more about her if you'd like to. We'd appreciate the prayers!
www.caringbridge.org/visit/shea
Blessings to you all for a great evening!
LaQuita

You could start on a grandmothers flower garden its english paper peicing and all hand done. Prayers for your Dd..

yo yo's??? I did a square yo yo quilt... can do them any size u want.. mine were about 4 inch sq.

Yes...I agree, EPP is very portable and easy. There are plenty of tutorials online and the templates can be made at home out of computer paper or scrap card. Best wishes for your daughter.

I would recommend a grandmother's flower garden too, for hand piecing. It's not an easy pattern to machine piece.

I don't use paper foundations and whip stitching for this pattern (English paper piecing method). I just cut lots of hexagons and then "eyeball" the 1/4" seam allowance when hand piecing. Works great. (If just starting out, you can pencil mark the corners; no need to trace each side.) This is the method I saw Jinny Beyer demonstrate on a video.

My absolute favorite way to cut the hexagons is with an Ardco metal template (the one with the center cut out). I cut strips the correct width, then use the metal template as a guide to make the other cuts. I like these templates because they are very accurate, don't slip, and are pretty much indestructible. Here is a link to them:
http://www.ardcotemplates.com/

Arrrgh...this reply got me researching and downloading ideas an patterns for square yoyos....Honestly, the quilters on this board are just a bunch of "enablers" :-D :-D

I'll add my vote for English Paper Piecing too. I recently had back surgery so started learning how to do this so I'd have something to while I recuperate. Loving it!

I'll add my vote for English Paper Piecing too. I recently had back surgery so started learning how to do this so I'd have something to while I recuperate. Loving it!

Sending up prayers for your daughter and family.

I like to make crazy quilts in blocks and work on the hand embroidery and embellishing is small and portable.

I am doing the same thing. Hospital sitting. MIL was released today and starting the 16 we will be a Shriners with my DD. I am doing the Grandmother's Flower Garden out of scraps and my stash. I cut the hexagons out of freezer paper at the local grade school using their die cut machine. They dont charge and just ask that you clean up. The die cut blocks are usually 5 " wide and 6 hexagons to a block cut. I can stack 8 layers at a time to cut. I pre cut the freezer paper to 5" wide and it makes it easier to slide under the blocks. I cut my scraps and stash that I am using to 3" squares and iron on the freezerpaper at home in the evenings. I can then trim the squares to hexagons ( alittle wider than a 1/4 inch seam allowance) while sitting and then start sewing them at the hospital. The hexagons are 2" across the middle. I also use a hole punch in the middle of the freezerpaper hexagons to make removing them from the finished quilt top easier. I keep the hexagons in quart sized zip top bags. That way its small, fits in my purse and easy to grab and store.

I will add you and your family my prayers.

HUGS! Elizabeth