03/14/26 – Seeking Sunflowers! Schoolhouse – Becky Kinzer

Seeking Sunflowers! From 1:00-5:00 on the afternoon of March 14th, please join our 2026 Programs Chair, Becky Kinzer, in stitching one of two 12 ½” sunflower block designs.

Blue and yellow are the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and the sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower. The blocks that Becky has selected for this class are suitable for donating to “Wrap The World In Quilts,” a non-profit organization providing quilt blocks to Ukraine. It is Becky’s hope that after learning these patterns and methods, you will choose to donate one or more of the blocks created in class to Wrap the World with Quilts’ Ukrainian Project. The patterns will be yours to keep, and you can create as many blocks as you wish after class has ended.

For one of the blocks, Becky will teach a method to create multiple half-square-triangles that results in a beautiful flower. The other block does not use HST but makes a fast Bear Paw block that depicts a sunflower.

Becky plans to donate any teaching fees that she receives to Wrap the World with Quilts. Guild members may also choose to participate in this class for free if they plan to donate the blocks they create in class. If you are choosing this option, please send an email to schoolhouse@boisebasinquilters.org so that we will know how many participants to prepare for!

Any blocks that participants choose to donate will be used to build a 1,100 meter-long quilt to stretch the length of Kyiv’s main street. Blocks provided by over 36 countries will create a demonstration to symbolize unity, resilience, and peace. The blocks will then be made into quilts for distribution to civilians and soldiers there.

If you choose, you may also talk to Becky about how to donate blocks on your own if you are not participating in the Schoolhouse class.

Supplies Needed:

Fabric* (See note below.)
Straight stitch sewing machine
Neutral Thread, a few pins
Rotary Cutter and mat
Rulers helpful are 6 ½” square and 12” or longer ruler
Pencil or chalk marker
Iron, pad and extension cord (or you can use the iron provided)

*Please bring yellow, blue and any other supporting colored fabric that you choose (green, brown and white were used in these examples). Some blue and yellow fabric will be provided so feel free to come even if you do not have that fabric. If you plan to bring your own fabric, cutting it to size as per the block instructions before coming to class will help to ensure that you have time to finish the block in class!