One Block and Other Things I Do

I haven't done much sewing for the past week or so, but I finally got to make one of my qal blocks, the easy one:)  This is Quilt Doodle Doodle's May block, the Fir Tree.

So that's done, but the I have a challenging paper piecing block to make for the Sew Kitschy qal and I plan to tackle that tomorrow.

What I spent today making is not a quilting project but does fall into the craft category.  The Sodality I belong to at my parish gives Miraculous Medals to the children making their First Communion.  This is how I make them.

The medals come from the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal.  We get them like the one on the left.  The first thing I do is add a split jump ring.  For me, that's the hardest part.  I use a pinch nose plier to make it easier.  

I cut 3" strips of satin ribbon using pinking shears and thread it through the split ring.

Today I needed 24 medals.

I take these to the sewing machine and sew the ends together, right sides facing.

All of my medals sewn up.

Then I turn the ribbon right side out.

Now I glue the ribbons to pin backs, using a good glue.  The only tricky part is keeping the front ribbon free of glue.

Once all of the pin backs are glued and dried, the next step is to attach them to a card, insert them into a plastic envelope and that's it.  

I print on cardstock, cut them up and then punch holes in the card to hold the pin.

It's a nice gift for the students.

Definitely worth the work.

More parish work tomorrow morning but hopefully sewing in the afternoon. 

God Bless!