NATIONAL CERVICAL CANCER COALITION SIGNATURE QUILT INSTRUCTIONS

I would like to introduce you to Mrs. Hannah Almstead, who first helped begin the NCCC/HPV cervical cancer/HPV Quilts in the year 2001.

Hannah, an eleven year cancer survivor, had been a blessing from God for the NCCC/HPV Quilts Project and all the NCCC women/family members/caregivers that continue to be active with our national/international Quilts Project. Hannah's desire and commitment to help with the NCCC Signature Quilts Project was a true blessing.

Like Hannah, most of the women at the San Fernando Quilts Associaiton and the Valley Quiltmakers Guild, had been touched by cancer, directly or indirectly, in one way or another when this project first began in the year 2001. One of their members is a 32 year survivor of cervical cancer!

Below you will find information originally provided by Hannah on how you can make a our NCCC Cervical Cancer/HPV Quilt. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the NCCC.

The Quilts Project has been touring the United States since 2001. Watch for the growing Cervical Cancer/HPV Signature Quilts Project to come to a community in your area. If you are interested in exhibiting the Cervical Cancer/HPV Quilts, please let us know so we may make arrangements to have them sent to you. If you do not make quilts, but would like one to personalize your message of HOPE and add to the NCCC Signature Quilts Project, contact the NCCC.

Again,thank you Hanna and ALL the women at the San Fernando Quilt Association and the Valley Quiltmakers Guild for all their caring and hard work to help make the Cervical Cancer/HPV Signature Quilts Project a reality. We have never met a more enthusiastic, warm and caring group of women.

Warm Regards,
(Randi and Alan Kaye/2001)

Revised: Alan Kaye 2007

Materials needed:

Preferably 100% cotton fabrics

Finished size approximately 36x36, (can be bigger but adjust yardage)

½ yard plain light color (for signature/or embellishment blocks)

½ yard print in darker colors for alternating squares (scrap squares can be used.)

½ yard either plain or print for borders, ¾ yd if you plan to bind quilt

1 ½ yds for backing, plain or print

1 ½ yds batting

Basic sewing tools including needles and thread for sewing, perle cotton for tying or it can be machine quilted in the ditch, masking tape, chenille or large eye tapestry needles, 1 or 1 ¼” safety pins (if you plan to machine quilt this). A sewing machine is very helpful.

Cut 18, 6” squares from light fabric (cut borders later)

Cut 18, 6” squares from print fabrics

Sew squares together, alternating a plain square with a print square. 6 squares across, 6 squares down. Press lightly, measure, using that measurement, plus a few inches for good measure, cut border strips 3 inches wide, sew to top and bottom, then to sides of assembled squares.

Press lightly again. Measure. Lay backing right side facing table, wrong side looking at you, tape down carefully, lay batting over this fabric, smooth down, and then lay assembled top on to this, creating a sandwich.

If you plan to machine quilt this, pin in the center of each square, stitch in-the-ditch (on the seam lines) across and down. When tying or machine quilting is done, trim batting only to size of quilt top; if necessary, trim back evenly all the way around quilt, bring back over front, pin down neatly, machine or hand stitch in place.

Or bind the quilt. Trim all 3 layers of quilt evenly. Measure total inches needed for 4 sides of quilt plus a few inches that can be lopped off later, cut strips of fabric cross grain 2 ½” wide, press in half, sew to front of quilt, raw edges together, turn to back, hand stitch in place.

For tying, thread large eye needles with perle cotton, tie, using double square knot, at the intersection of each block.