A little background story:  My guild has a charity group called “Na Lima Aloha” – translated as “The Hands of Love”.  Na Lima Aloha handles community quilts and the like.  Under the main group heading we have several sub-committees. Operation Kid Comfort – where we work with the Armed Forces YMCA to make quilts for children of deployed service members – regardless of branch of service.  I try to go monthly to help out – it doesn’t always work out, but I try to go.  Women’s Prison – where some of the guild members work with the local women’s prison and go and teach quilting to these ladies.  They have to have an exceptional record and it is a privilege to be able to do this.  During the course of the class, they make a small quilt that is then sent to a family member of choice; the prisoner does not get to keep it. Home of the Brave – where a quilt is made for each deceased service member’s family who was killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  And finally, Wounded Warrior – where twin-sized quilts are made for the wounded at Kaneohe Marine Corps. base.  We also have several others that we contribute to as the need arises, currently tsunami quilts for Japan – twelve inch wall-hangings to give to those displaced in Japan by the tsunami so they have a little something in their new home.  We also are starting pillowcases for another local group.  I have made a few of the tsunami quilts and plan on making some pillowcases.

In September, there was a call out that the Wounded Warrior group needed 32 tops to be completed as soon as possible.  They didn’t need to be quilted or bound (there was funds for this) but they needed help to make a top in patriotic colors.  I figured I could do this… especially since tops are my specialty!  Only one problem, I don’t have any patriotic fabrics.

Enter Thousands of Bolts – I ended up ordering 14 yards of patriotic prints.  I get it home and need to decide on a pattern that is stunning, but is quick; since I really wanted to get it done before the next meeting.  I didn’t get them done until after the October meeting, so it would have to wait until the November meeting.

Here is the qu

Though I didn’t have a pattern, I based it on “Split Decision” pattern.  If I were to do it over I would rotate every-other block to make less seams to match up.

But after I finished the quilt, I still had fabric left, so I made this quilt:

Based on a pattern from a guild member who taught it at the retreat class, it was a great use for the fabrics!

But I still had patriotic fabrics left over! So I finished with this top:

Three Wounded Warrior tops and I feel awesome!  I hope they will provide comfort for those who need it!