Creating a Commemorative Felt Quilt

Often at the end of a special group gathering people wish there was something special to commemorate the occasion- something special that can be left behind to show that they were there.

Perhaps that is how the idea of the felt quilt came into being. This project is not difficult, but it leaves a lasting legacy of a special occasion such as Vacation Bible School, a Sunday school class, a pre-school graduation, a family reunion, or a women's retreat.

To complete this project you will need a 36"x36" piece of felt, 16- 8"x8" felt squares of different colors, glitter glue pens, gems, sequins, and other embellishments, and felt fabric adhesive or tacky glue. Other materials that may be used are paint, paint pens, fabric scraps, or ribbons.

Give everyone a felt square and tell them to let their imaginations run wild. They should decorate the felt squares in their own personal style, using whatever materials are at hand. Once the squares are decorated simply glue them in place on the large felt sheet to create your quilt.

If the occasion you are commemorating is one involving children, you may want to have them dip their hands in fabric paint and leave their handprint on the felt square. Once the handprint has dried, they can decorate it however they would like and their names and the date can be added to the square.

Women's groups who make this project might like to create squares that reflect what their meeting was about. This can be achieved by painting a scene on a square, embroidering something, or writing a poem or a piece of prose on a piece of white fabric and then attaching it to the felt square. They can then decorate around the plain piece of fabric.

If space allows, a square for the center can be created which tells what the quilt commemorates, the dates when it happened, and where it took place.

Once the felt squares have all been glued in place, ribbon or rickrack can be glued along the edges of all the squares to give the quilt a finished look and to show definition between each of the squares. This look can also be achieved by creating a pattern around the edges of the squares with a glitter glue pen, or a paint pen.

No matter what occasion it is that you want to have a special memento of, this felt quilt will be a wonderful and lasting reminder of that special time.