HELP!! Girl Scout Project/No-Sew Blanket

[Nicsmom]

I've been asked to help my DD's GS troop with a project to complete their In the Pink badge (breast cancer awareness). We are going to create a blanket/quilt and donate it to a woman that is going through chemo treatment. There are nine girls helping. It has to be somewhat easy. I thought that we could cut 9 28" squares of light and dark pink fleece, cut 4" slits every inch around the squares and tie them together making a 50" x60" blanket/throw. This is where I am having trouble. I would like to add a breast cancer awareness ribbon on each square making it look more like a quilt. Should I use quilting material for the ribbons or fleece? Will the quilting material frey? How would we attach them to the blanket-glue, hand stitch? If we hand stitch, whould we use regular thread or embroidery thread? Any suggestions would be much appreciated by this not-so-crafty mom. Thanks

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'm not much of a seamstress but I do know you would use quilting thread, it is heavier duty than regular sewing thread but not as thick as embroidery thread. You can get quilting thread with the other sewing thread at the fabric store. It will tell you what it is either on the spool or on the display.
You could use ribbon, I personally would not use fleece, I pictured it in my head as being silky.

What about embroidering the ribbons on instead of using fabric? It would basically be making lines close together on the fabric and then it would look similar on both sides of the squares.

here's a link to a cross stitch pattern, it might help for which ever pattern you would use.
http://www.crosstitch.com/dlpatt/bceasy2.gif

here is where the above link came from
http://www.crosstitch.com/obcribbon.html

HTH!! And we would love to see pics when you are finished.

 

[logan&tylersmama]

sounds wonderful!!
What about using fabric paint? or do hearts out of fabric and attach with fusiable web and then draw a ribbon on each heart (with marker or fabric paint) then the girls could hand stich around each heart. make sure the girls sign the blanket - as a quilter I know how special it is to make sure your work is signed.
would love to see pictures when it is done
Jennifer

 

[MyLittlePiglet]

If you aren't a seamtress I would also recommend fusable web. Makes it easier. Fleece on fleece might look to "thick". Sounds like you have this undercontrol though not sure why you are calling yourself not crafty

 

[pezheadmeg]

That or check in the notions section of the craft stores. They might even have the pink ribbon iron ons.

Now are you just cutting the polar fleece and knotting corners? I love that idea for a blanket.

 

[Nicsmom]

sounds wonderful!!
What about using fabric paint? or do hearts out of fabric and attach with fusiable web and then draw a ribbon on each heart (with marker or fabric paint) then the girls could hand stich around each heart. make sure the girls sign the blanket - as a quilter I know how special it is to make sure your work is signed.
would love to see pictures when it is done
Jennifer

Love the heart idea. Would the material frey or is that what the fusiable web is for? What kind of thread should they use? Would regular thread be too thin?

 

[Nicsmom]

That or check in the notions section of the craft stores. They might even have the pink ribbon iron ons.

Now are you just cutting the polar fleece and knotting corners? I love that idea for a blanket.

Yes, the girls will cut and knot each square to each others, 3 across and 3 down.

 

[Nicsmom]

I'm not much of a seamstress but I do know you would use quilting thread, it is heavier duty than regular sewing thread but not as thick as embroidery thread. You can get quilting thread with the other sewing thread at the fabric store. It will tell you what it is either on the spool or on the display.
You could use ribbon, I personally would not use fleece, I pictured it in my head as being silky.

What about embroidering the ribbons on instead of using fabric? It would basically be making lines close together on the fabric and then it would look similar on both sides of the squares.

here's a link to a cross stitch pattern, it might help for which ever pattern you would use.
http://www.crosstitch.com/dlpatt/bceasy2.gif

here is where the above link came from
http://www.crosstitch.com/obcribbon.html

HTH!! And we would love to see pics when you are finished.

Thanks for the idea of using the quilting thread. I like the idea of embroidering the ribbons on. I didn't think about what it might look like on the other side. Could be a mess.

 

[logan&tylersmama]

Love the heart idea. Would the material frey or is that what the fusiable web is for? What kind of thread should they use? Would regular thread be too thin?

you could fold the edges under but the fusable web should help it from fraying. Then you could go around the heart with embroidery floss - it comes in so many colors and is in expensive.
Jennifer

 

[Nicsmom]

I've just got back from Joanne's fabrics. We found 3 different breast cancer awareness/survivor fabrics and two floral patterns all matching the two shades of pink fleece. We are going to make hearts, ribbons and sew them on with embroidery floss. I bought this special fabric glue to hold the hearts in place while the girls embroider around them. I think it will look great. The girls at Joanne's thought that it was not a good idea mixing fabric types because the fleece is stretchy and the other material is not. I hope they are wrong and it will work out ok. It's the thought and love that counts, right!

 

[logan&tylersmama]

I've just got back from Joanne's fabrics. We found 3 different breast cancer awareness/survivor fabrics and two floral patterns all matching the two shades of pink fleece. We are going to make hearts, ribbons and sew them on with embroidery floss. I bought this special fabric glue to hold the hearts in place while the girls embroider around them. I think it will look great. The girls at Joanne's thought that it was not a good idea mixing fabric types because the fleece is stretchy and the other material is not. I hope they are wrong and it will work out ok. It's the thought and love that counts, right!

It will work out fine! just try not to pull and strech the fabric as you are sewing it. I wish you were closer - I would to help out. I have lost several dear friends to breast cancer and they were also quilters - this type of project they would have loved to work on!
Let me know if you have any other problems
Jennifer

 

[Mom2Ashli]

It sounds like it will be beautiful.
I hope you take a picture when you are done to share.