Quilts for Guys: My Turn on the "It's a Guy Thing" Blog Hop

Welcome, visitors from the "It's a Guy Thing" blog hop hosted by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt, and thank you for visiting. If you've never visited before, I'm Jan and I make a lot of donation quilts. Some are for adults and many are for kids; you can check them out in the Rocking Chair Quilts tab above. 

Agencies that work with families and children in traumatic circumstances report that there is, sadly, always a need for quilts for older boys. They get enough girly quilts and juvenile/baby quilts for toddler boys, but what about the older kid or young teen guy? 

The quilt club I belong to had a charity sew day in May for Quilts for Kids, and they asked me to teach a project. It didn't have to be for boys, but since I was making a teaching sample for the sew day I figured I'd use feature prints suitable for an older boy.

I call the pattern I taught Strippy HSTs, tutorial here. I made a teaching sample using boy-friendly prints and recycled shirts, plus scrappy low volume strips. Cars, several sports, helicopters and space ships, boomerangs, pirates, and plaids all found their way into this quilt. 

The Strippy HST pattern is beginner friendly and very forgiving. I accidentally made some blocks with the strips going in the other direction, and it came out fine, so I ended up with two quilts for guys. Lots of layout possibilities with this block!

If you would like to make a Strippy HST quilt, you can get the tutorial here. If you would like a PDF of the tutorial, please leave a comment and include your email address. I ask only that if you post your project on social media, you credit me,  https://thecolorfulfabriholic.blogspot.com/

I've been making donation quilts for years, many for kids, but it seems I should focus my efforts on quilts for older boys and teen guys in order to help fill the need. Will you join me in making donation quilts for Guys? 

The "It's a Guy Thing" blog hop continues from July 26-30. Check out all the posts: 

July 26

 

Creatin' in the Sticks

Storied Quilts

Quilted Delights

Samelia's Mum

Vroomans Quilts

Karen's Korner

 

July 27

 

MooseStashQuilting

Inflorescence

Becky’s Adventures in Quilting and Travel

Websterquilt

Words & Stitches

Days Filled With Joy

 

July 28

 

Ms P Designs USA

Beaquilter

Lianne Makes Stuff

For The Love Of Geese

Domestic Felicity

 

July 29

 

Scrapdash

That Fabric Feeling

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Quilt Schmilt

The Colorful Fabriholic

Songbird Designs

 

July 30

 

Just Let Me Quilt

Quilt Fabrication

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Patchouli Moon Studio

Food for Thought

Thank you, Carol, for hosting this blog hop! 

It's a Guy Thing Blog Hop

I'm participating in the "It's a Guy Thing" blog hop hosted by Carol at Just Let me Quilt. The blog hop takes place July 26-30 so go over to Just Let Me Quilt and check out all the posts. 

My guy's most favorite quilt, made from repurposed flannel shirts:

My turn on the blog hop comes on July 29, but check out all the posts all week featuring quilts and projects for big guys, little guys, and guys of all ages. 

July 26

 

Creatin' in the Sticks

Storied Quilts

Quilted Delights

Samelia's Mum

Vroomans Quilts

Karen's Korner

 

July 27

 

MooseStashQuilting

Inflorescence

Becky’s Adventures in Quilting and Travel

Websterquilt

Words & Stitches

Days Filled With Joy

 

July 28

 

Ms P Designs USA

Beaquilter

Lianne Makes Stuff

For The Love Of Geese

Domestic Felicity

 

July 29

 

Scrapdash

That Fabric Feeling

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Quilt Schmilt

The Colorful Fabriholic

Songbird Designs

 

July 30

 

Just Let Me Quilt

Quilt Fabrication

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Patchouli Moon Studio

Food for Thought

Donna's Scrappy Nine Patch Stars QOV

 After a busy long weekend at retreat, I had lesson's on the PCQ club's long arm this week, so I'm worn out! More about the long arm lessons later. Today I'm celebrating a make by one of my blog readers, Donna. 

After I posted about Red, White and Blue quilts on July 4, Donna sent me a photo of the quilt top she made from my Scrappy Nine Patch Stars QOV pattern. 

I love it! The crisp white makes it look so fresh and modern; it just sparkles. 

Here is the tutorial for Scrappy Nine Patch Stars. I offer it as a free pattern for donation quilts for QOV and other charitable uses. The size is 60 x 80". 

If you'd like a PDF of the pattern, please leave a comment and be sure to include your email. 

If you make a Scrappy Nine Patch Stars quilt, I'd love to see a photo of your version.

Link ups: 
Alycia Quilts,

Design Walls at Retreat

OMG, retreat is turning out to be so much fun! I'm with a great bunch of girls and I'm enjoying getting to know them better. We have all levels of experience; everyone is super helpful.  They're working on some amazing projects. 

The retreat ranch where we're at is a lovely Southwest style house in southeastern Arizona. We're at 5000 feet elevation, so the weather here is much cooler and more pleasant than in Phoenix. There are nine of us and we have a large sewing room, comfortable accommodations, fantastic meals, and happy hour out on the patio. 

Sewing room

Fine Dining

Gourmet Lunch

Cocktail hour on the patio

It's fun to see the projects everyone is working on. Here are some of the design walls. These photos were taken over three days and some projects progressed farther than this. Photos of people and projects are posted here with their permission. 

Linda L and her cactus

Linda's Loopy project

Linda S building a spiral

Donna's Christmas wall hanging

Donna's flannel donation quilt

Karen with Jean

Jean's Blocks

Karen's blocks

Nancy's trees

Robin's stained glass blocks

Me with my Snake Quilt blocks

My Star Spangled Spiral blocks

My quilted pillow cover

We had four days of sewing, friendship, and fun. I've really enjoyed getting to know these girls and I feel really welcomed by them. I hope I get to come back next year! 

Linking up with Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts