Friday Finish: #SafetyPinUSA

This week was a doozy. Many of us are reeling from the election results regardless of which candidate we voted for, and many of our fellow citizens from across the political spectrum are acting out in both violent and nonviolent ways. On Wednesday, I felt paralyzed from shock by the reality of our country's choices and behavior, and I wasn't sure of the right outlet for my feelings. I'm generally calm and principled in expressing my views, relishing civil debate and respect for others' differences in opinion, and my blog has never crossed over into political territory - but this week I want to say more.

On Thursday, I woke up and knew I had to show my support for those who now have the most to lose, and that's when I came across Samarra Khaja's drawing of a safety pin. With more investigation, I learned that the safety pin was a UK symbol of solidarity with those minorities endangered by the Brexit vote, and that there is a movement here to adopt it as a symbol of safety for the many groups of Americans whose safety has been affected by the presidential vote - religious and ethnic minorities, women, the LGBTQ community among them. ​

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So I sewed one! If you'd like to create one, too, download my sketch of a safety pin here. I used heat fusible interfacing to adhere my pin to some colorful background fabric, sketched the outline with thread, added a layer of fusible fleece behind it along with backing fabric and finished it to hang on my studio wall. Right above my VOTE mini. ​

On a completely different note, you still have time to enter my giveaway for The Quilter's Planner 2017! See my previous post to enter online, and pop over to BBD on Instagram for another opportunity to win. Winners will be chosen tomorrow! 

~ Sarah

Mini Quilt Stats: Finished size 12.5" x 7"
Fabric: (#safetypin) Timeless Treasures Sketch Basic Grey,
(background) Alexander Henry Growing Green Stripe
Interfacing: HeatnBond Lite, Pellon Fusible Fleece
Thread: Aurifil 5004