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

Have you ever tried wool applique? It is very portable, you could prepare some "kits" to take with you. You might go to Sue Spargo's web site to look at some very pretty, colorful patterns and there are more traditional folk or primitive styles. I love working with wool and it is so easy to applique because you don't have to turn edges under.

http://suespargo.com/
http://suespargo.blogspot.com/

If you go to her website and scroll to the bottom, you can link to her gallery for pictures.
On her blog you need to scroll most of the way down to see some of her student's work. You can also go to old blogs for more..

I love surfing and I will surf and find links for all of us considered small hand work quilt projects and will post them on my blog,
okay I am off surfing and this is the link where I will be storing the links for all of us

http://quiltingforbeginners.blogspot...ake-along.html

I usually work on applique blocks when I am on vacation. It does take some time to get everything ready to applique. But the supplies are easy to pack. Last year I made 25 applique heart blocks (different small prints on muslin), and then added blanket stitch trim. Was easy and with sashing added after I got home...the quilt was really cute.

Definitely check out English Paper Piecing--diamonds, hexagons, triangles, etc. Have the papers/plastic/cardboard and fabric cut out and put in little ziplocs ready to run. Grandmother's Flower Garden is just one of the many that you can do on the run. Check out these sites:

http://www.paperpieces.com/
http://www.instantpiecing.com/
http://www.cddesigns.com/PaperPiecing/index.html

you could try hand quilting - something like a table runner, which is small. or yo yos. the circle kind. you don't need anything but circles of fabric and thread and needle. then you could just use them for a pillow or a small wall hanging using them as flowers.

I don't crochet much but I do keep a tote bag packed with a crochet project for waiting rooms. An easy pattern, jumbo yarn, hook and your ready to go. It keeps my hands busy and my mind occupied. I have a hard time concentrating on anything too difficult when in a crisis.

You ladies are AWESOME! Thanks so much for the ideas! I'll look into the web sites you all have sent.

Thanks to those of you that have added Shea to your prayer list too!

Blessings.

You could hand piece together potholders, just simple squares or pinwheels. Or you could do some hand applique, maybe flowers with embroidered leaves or tendrils on pillowcases for self or gifts. Prayers to you and your daughter.

wow, thanks for those links, lots of cool items to make from the links you posted, thanks a million

Years ago my Mom made round yo yo's and assembled them for a Summer Bedspread for a friend...Oh how I wish I had that spread now!

How about red work--- lots of stuff on line--just google-
All it takes is DMC in red, and muslin or white on white, needle and a back stitch!!
Also rug hooking- 1.25" strips of ally your left overs and here comes a rug!
Prayers are with you !!!!!

i usually take embroidery work to do...baby things, pillow cases, quilt blocks, table runners, tablecloths, etc. I espescially like the quilt blocks as I can then put together with other materials and make lap quilts. I too keep a bag for a "run and go". My Mother is 84, in poor health and making many,many trips to hospital. Hope this helps. Prayers going out to you and yours.

I am going to be dr sitting today, and am taking some applique and also redwork is perfect for just what you are talking about. At this time I am doing carousal horses that I hope to make into a quilt by the time my youngest son gets married. And I have some hearts that I am appliquing onto squares to make D9P. Takes up scraps and also can be taken anywhere. A little plastic bag with needle thread and scissors with the squares and hearts fits in any purse.

Has anyone trie Inklingo?? It's amazing.....you buy shapes on line, lots of free ones, print right on the fabric on computer, includes sewing lines.... I'm making a Sue daley Pies and tarts quilt right now, love it!!!!

I am making 20" square - piecing by hand then cutting backing and stuffing and pinning it together and quilting. This small and easy to carry around. I can quilt without a frame. After I get so many 20 squares made I will sew them together on the machine. I have two different ones going right now. One is a strip quilt out of scraps and the other is like a whole cloth quilt on muslin. I draw a design on the 20" square then quilt it and someday I will sew them together to make a lap quilt. The muslin is cheap and it is easy to carry around. I am not sure exactly how this will look sewed together but I think it will be fine and it is fun to work this way.

This is what I do. Have a small travel kit with everything I need so that I can grab and go. I use the plastic templates from "Brandy's Quilt Patterns". Here is the site: http://www.brandysquiltpatterns.com/

I love them. She has a video on her site that thoroughly explains how to use them.

Good luck!

Small crochet projects are portable and fill time well - pot holders, chemo hats, afghan strips or blocks to put together later, etc.

Two weeks ago, I had a procedure done to hopeully correct my acid reflux. Had an overnight stay. Took my crochet with me to make chemo hats. All the staff was curious - including my surgeon. Even made one of the nurses a hat as she is facing chemo herself.

Another non-quilting suggestion - counted cross stitch? Small kits available with everything provided. I find it very theraputic as I requires constant attention but I can mark off my stitches with a pencil so I don't have to keep my mind cluttered. But it does keep both mind and hands busy.

I like to embroidery and its very portable.

How do you feel about doing a Mini Wholecloth quilt? If you go to BeeHappyQuilting.com you can purchase a 14 x 14 mini wholecloth that is pre-stamped with a design. I've bought different ones and after I finished doing the hand quilting, I used the method of joining where you matched the front together, sew it and then overlap the backing and tack it down. When I got done, I'd make a lap quilt. Easy to do, folds up and take anywhere. Just need ziploc bag, cloth, batting, backing, thread and needle.

How do you feel about doing a Mini Wholecloth quilt? If you go to BeeHappyQuilting.com you can purchase a 14 x 14 mini wholecloth that is pre-stamped with a design. I've bought different ones and after I finished doing the hand quilting, I used the method of joining where you matched the front together, sew it and then overlap the backing and tack it down. When I got done, I'd make a lap quilt. Easy to do, folds up and take anywhere. Just need ziploc bag, cloth, batting, backing, thread and needle.

I went to Shea's website and sent her an email. God bless you!

I vote for yo-yo's. Several blocks in my avatar quilt were made while my mother was in the hospital. I carried a small tote w/fabric circles already cut out, needle, thread, scissors and yo-yo maker. No brainpower needed! I will pray for your daughter.

I enjoy sewing greeting cards. All you need are card stock cards from Joanns and pretty thread, needle. Look under www.stitchingcards.com and there are free patterns. There is a punching tool but you can do this with a heavy needle. I am sure this makes no sense until you look it up on line. Good luck to both you and your daughter.
Louise

yo yos using the clover yo yo maker - easy to take and easy to drop at short notice and a good way to use left over fabric or ugly fabric

Baltimore Album blocks are a good small hand project. Use the freezer paper method so they are really portable and you can do a lot witht he finsihed blocks - a quilt, tablerunners, fronts for pocket books, pillows, etc. Elly Sienkiewicz published a series of books on Baltimore Beauties with a bunch of different techniques.

Bluteddi, your yo yo quilt is beautiful, gorgeous colors. Is a yo you quilt hard to make? It looks toasty warm.

I would start the squares for a cathederal window quilt. In fact, the next time our daughter goes in, that is exactly what I plan to do. I am so sorry about your dd. I do hope she is better soon. If you would like to PM me please do.

Sent Shea a post - hope she is coming along.

Do you knit? I have a "grab 'n go" bag with knitting in it. I make quick dish cloths....don't even really have to think about the pattern after a while and they make up fast...I have given lots away. They are a great size since they fit in your hand when you are wiping down the counters, table, etc...
I am definitely willing to share the patterns if you are interested...