EngelBee

Dear EBs,
As you know, our Engel Betty has been diagnosed with what appears to be a particularly nasty form of breast cancer. Many people have written to Rita asking whether we can do something for her to give her courage and support in the next few months. Yesterday at the mini EB meeting in Austria, we talked about what we could do. We decided against a quilt because she can snuggle up under Joe’s quilt and we decided against sending blocks to her because she has enough UFOs already so what we thought about was a book of finished (quilted) blocks with personal messages from each of us which we send to her individually so that she gets lots of post as well. She can then tie the pages of the book together, add new blocks as they arrive and take it with her easily if she wants to.
This is how it could work.
Everybody sews an 8 inch x 10 inch block (finished size) using whatever pattern, technique and colours they like.
Cut out a piece of thin polyester batting (the thinnest you have) and a piece of backing fabric 8 1/2 inch x 10 1/2 inch in size, place the right sides of the block and backing together and the batting on the wrong side of the backing.

Sew completely around 3 sides of the block (that’s easiest from the wrong side of the block as you can draw the sewing line on it) and leave about a 3” gap in the middle of the fourth side on the left hand side of the block (the one that will be the “spine” of the book.)
Trim the batting right down to the sewing line and cut off the corners of the seam allowance to reduce the bulk once it has been turned the right way out. Then turn the whole thing the right way out.

Close the hole using ladder stitch or small oversewing stitches.
Quilt round the edge of the block as closely to the edge as possible and then quilt the rest of the block.
Sew two small brass rings (around ½” in diameter) on the back of the block 2” above and below the centre of the left hand edge of the block so that just part of the ring is visible from the front. Betty can tie the pages together through these rings.
Sign it and add your message of hope on the front or the back
Send it to Betty as soon as you have finished it:
If you don't have the address, contact Rita and she'll give it to you.

I hope I have managed to explain everything clearly enough. The added drawing should help you too.
Hugs
Helen (on behalf of Rita, Marion, Barbara and Marlis)