Get Out and Vote! (Free VOTE Letter Tutorial)

If you live in the United States like me, you are likely more than aware that Election Day is now less than a week away. I am both very ready to have it in the rearview mirror and very anxious about what the outcome will be. No doubt many of you feel the same way, and no doubt many of you also turn to sewing when you’re anxious. Working with fabric and our hands is always a good way to find some calm — and with this piece, I hope it may help you find your voice as well.

I have loved seeing some of the other VOTE quilt projects appearing in my social-media feeds (my favorites include these by Carolyn Friedlander, Denyse Schmidt, and Broadcloth Studio), and it occurred to me that I already had three of the four letters needed in my own alphabet patterns, so I set about putting together a quick “T” block to finish it off! Of course, I wanted to share it with all of you, my dear readers and encouragers, both to remind you to VOTE now or on Election Day and so you could make your own letters to spread the word as well.

Below you will find the instructions for making the “T” block. You can find the V, O, and E block instructions in my free Lotta Love pattern, which you can download here. All of the blocks finish at 6” square and are designed to be scrappy.

Need information about voting in your state? Check out www.vote.org! Let’s do this!

Supplies

• Assorted blue fabrics:

  • (7) 1.5” squares

• Assorted or single background fabric:

  • (2) 1.5” x 4.5”

  • (2) 1” x 3.5”

  • (2) 2” x 6.5”

• Coordinating thread

• Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies

Instructions

Use a 1/4” seam allowance throughout.

Let’s start with the blue squares! First, sew the top set of three squares, right sides together, into a row. Press the seams toward the middle square. Set this one aside for a bit.

Second, sew the bottom set of four squares, right sides together, into a column. Press the seams open.

Next, sew (1) 1.5” x 4.5” background piece to the left and right sides of the four-square blue column. Press toward the background.

Now, arrange the two blue units and (2) 1” x 3.5” background pieces in a column as shown on the left below. Sew the pieces in order, right sides together. Press the top and bottom seams toward the background. Press the middle seam open.

Finally, sew (1) 2” x 6.5” background piece to the left and right sides of the T unit. Press toward the background, and you’re done!

For the simplest way to share your finished blocks with others, just post them on social media. You could also easily sew them together in a line or square and quilt it to create a banner for your front door or window. If you’re really speedy, you could even sew them into a square block and then turn the block into a tote bag. I’d love seeing that in the voting line on Tuesday.

But whatever you do, make sure you get out there and VOTE. We must make our voices heard for the sake of our democracy!

I stand with Harris and Walz, and I hope you’ll join me in standing for democracy, respect for all people, a desire to let people be who they want to be and live how they want to live, a future where we and our children are safe from gun violence and in control of own bodies, the truth, consequences for lies and falsehoods, and so much more. When you step into that ballot box, please truly think about the ramifications of the choice you make. Your vote is your own and no one else’s. Use that voice.