Yes, thank you! We live in a county with 15 % unemployment. Yesterday I watched a young boy (7th or 8th grade) walking by his school with flapping shoes. He was having a hard time walking because of the poor shape his shoes were were in yet, he was trying to 'be cool' as he walked up the stairs of the library. So many families are hurting and I hope we all find it in our hearts to give where we feel compelled to give and give to the level we are able.

In my area, there are quite a few charity quilt organizations, and their requirements vary. I've noticed, however, that for quilts that will be used in a hospital setting, the requirements are all cotton, so the quilts can be washed and sanitized. I don't think fleece holds up well to the high heat needed for hospital laundry, but cotton can "take the heat" as it were. On the other hand, our local Linus organization gives quilts and blankets to a number of different organizations, not just hospitals, and fleece blankets are OK in non-hospital situations. I tend to agree that you can't go wrong with all cotton, no matter what. Laura, I've done a couple of pieced "throws" (it doesn't seem quite right to call them quilts) with fleece. I take my pieced top, lay it over the fleece (taking care not to stretch it) and pin, pin, pin with safety pins (just like pinning a quilt sandwich), then I machine "quilt" it. This makes a nice quick and thrifty project, especially when I'm interested in testing out a block design or technique. I end up with what I call a "TV throw". Fleece has some stretch on the cross grain, selvedge to selvedge, but no stretch on the long grain, parallel to the selvedge. I've done a couple of all fleece blankets, sewing 2 layers of fleece together to make a heavier blanket (and added a Quillow type pocket); it's not super stretchy and actually is very easy to sew. CMC

I love BDs that never end. I posted early as I go to the PO when I can and decided it is better early then late. I have all my blocks made for the year just incase I get bogged down. Lite a candle each day and celebrate. Jayne

No kids here and my dog doesn't have thumbs! Fifteen years ago I took a break from the car business and decided to work in a fabric store. The store manager didn't sew and talked me into running beginner classes. It was alot of fun and alot of work. I personally think it's a shame that they don't teach sewing in school any longer. I had the best Home Ec teacher for three years in Jr High, Sandy Henderson. She taught me so much about sewing,cooking and life in general. My high school teacher was a former home econimist for Swift Meat Packers. She wasn't the greatest at cooking or sewing.