My neighbor and I were looking for projects that we could do that would occupy the long winter months as well as provide a service to the community. We both enjoy sewing and beading so we were hoping that we could find projects that would incorporate one or both of these activities. We contacted the local nursing home and asked if they were in need of anything that we could make.
We were told that many of the residents have poor circulation so they are often cold. This is especially true for the residents that are confined to wheelchairs. Many of them are covered with lap blankets throughout the day. The staff suggested that we could make lap quilts for the residents. The staff gave us the size for the lap quilts so that they would not get caught in the wheels of the chairs.
The lap quilts were a perfect project. They were small enough that they could be completed rather quickly and were also portable so we could get together at each other homes and bring our lap quilts along. I had several pieces of fabric from past quilting projects, so I decided to make a crazy quilt pattern for the tops of the first two lap quilts.
I pieced together the fabric pieces in random patterns. I then bought a complementary fabric for the back of the quilt and a soft batting to place in the middle. After I had the top completed I pieced the top, batting and bottom together and traced a simple quilting design on the top of the quilt. I then used an embroidery hoop to keep the fabrics together and began hand quilting along the traced design. The lap quilts are a great size to work with because they are compact to have on your lap as you are sewing.
When I had my lap quilts together I called my neighbor to see how she was doing with her project. She said that she did not have supplies at home and that she would be going to the fabric store the next day to make her purchases. When we woke up the next morning there was a foot of snow on the ground and the wind was causing whiteout conditions.
There was a no travel advisory out for the area. During a lull in the storm our door bell rang. The neighbors had walked over to get some fresh air. I had been hand sewing one of the lap quilts and had the other basted and ready to go. My neighbor asked if she could start working on this quilt to have something to do on the long winter afternoon.
It was a great way to spend a snowy day. My husband built a fire in the fireplace and the guys played cribbage as we worked on the lap quilts. Once the hand sewing is completed I will place a solid color binding along the edge to complete the projects for the nursing home.
