New Year's Party.

We usually end our year with a Christmas party, but we had booked a speaker for our November meeting, and didn't think it fair to limit their talk so we could munch and talk to each other!  So the party was moved to our January meeting.  We generally have an activity at the November meeting, but this time the committee asked me to give a short talk.  I have recently designed a quilt composed of blocks named after famous women, and I spoke about these inspirational women. 

The quilt is called 'Remember the Ladies', a quote from a letter from Abigail Adams to her husband when he was away from home helping to write the American Constitution.  Abigail's husband subsequently became the second president of the USA.  The blocks are named after Martha Washington, Grace Darling, Marie Curie and Eleanor Roosevelt among other luminaries. People were kind enough to say they enjoyed the talk, and since I donated my fee to Leicester Women's Aid, it was a good result all round! 

June was unable to attend the meeting as she had a cold, but she had sent the raffle prizes for us. 

Show and tell was very good.  People have obviously been using the winter weather as an excuse to stay inside and sew.  This is a Linus quilt made by Ruth. 

This quilt is so colourful and the batiks almost shimmer! 

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Chris made this Linus quilt with some little animal pictures. 

This is my 'Good Fortune' quilt, Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery quilt.  I made it smaller than she suggested, as I will donate it to Linus.  

Paula has been making courthouse steps blocks and put them together in this arrangement.  It looks a bit like Chinese lanterns. 

These are Paula's log cabin blocks.  They look great in this arrangement.  Both these quilts are for Linus. 

This fishy quilt looks lots of fun!  The blocks should have had strips inserted, but Madeline cleverly used up add pieces of ribbon and tape in her bits box.  Good result. 

Maria is part of a group which has been making a Pat Sloan quilt.  This is the first time Maria has machine quilted a project, and it looks fabulous! 

Here is a jolly child's quilt with animals on it. 

Vicki made this quilt to a request.  She didn't have the pattern but found it easy to construct, until she came to the side triangles!  She's made a great job of it! 

Sue had made this Linus top from lots of pink strips. 

This wall hanging incorporates fabrics bought on several foreign trips.  It's full of memories. 

Here is a bag made from a Monkey Buttons pattern. 

Ruth has made some small art quilts. The work is stunning .

Here is a lizard, made by Ruth. 

                                   And last, but not least, two more of Ruth's intricate quilts.

This quilt is a masterclass on how to big up a small panel.  Perfect! 

 

This quilt is a masterclass on how to big up a small panel.  Perfect!

Over thirty people signed up to our Sew-a-Row quilt challenge and the instructions for the first row, a braid will be sent out shortly by email.  If you decide to join in, just contact a committee member and I'm sure they'll add you to the list. Happy sewing! 

November meeting

Traditionally, our November meeting is on a Christmas theme, with a tasting supper.  This year we had booked a speaker, although unfortunately Janet Bolton had hurt her foot, couldn't drive and had to cancel.  Luckily Amanda Hall, from Monkey Buttons, was able to come and wow us with her gorgeous quilts and bags.  

Here she is with one of her clever patterns.  Those fish look so realistic! 

She brought some of her distinctive fabrics, both printed and woven.  

She also brought samples of her patterns and the patterns themselves.  It's always good to see a finished example of a pattern, and lots of people took advantage of this opportunity to buy. 

June was on form with her raffle prizes.  This time it was a free raffle, and I think the prizes were too good to open! 

There was some show and tell from the Sarah Fielke workshops.  Here are the bits and pieces bags. 

And here are three of the garden pouches.  Delightful. 

June made these cute Amish people some time ago, and didn't quite know what to do with them.  She cleverly made this pieced landscape to put them on.  I love the hanger! 

Paula made this quilt at a class and called it Remember the Ladies, as it's made up of blocks named after famous women.  She made it in the Sufferagist colours of green, cream and purple. 

Here is a small quilt for Linus made by Ruth. 

She made a larger one too.  Thank you Ruth.  They're lovely. 

Here is a Linus quilt which was made by Piecemakers members at this year's sewing evening.  Looks great! 

Here is a reversible disappearing nine patch.  

This Leicester Tigers motif was made by Vicki for her grabdson.  She just brought it to show Maria, but it got into show and tell as well! 

Julie was learning to use quilting rulers and making this quilt as quilt as you go.  It's now finished and absolutely fabulous!  Well done. 

Chris has made these snuggle quilts for all her grandchildren, and here are the next two.  They are made from fleece garments are are very tactile. 

Here is the back of the quilt. 

This is the next quilt. 

And the back.  They both look so lovely. 

We look forward to seeing everyone in January.  

Have a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! 

Sewing with young people

It's a while since we did any sewing with young people, so I was delighted when Sian asked if we could come and do some sewing with a group of Year 8s ( that's 12 and 13 year olds in old money! ).  The answer was, Of course!  The year group were having an arts and crafts day, and the theme was China.  Since Sian assured me that she had 20 sewing machines and that all the pupils knew how to use them, I decided we would make a Chinese fan (Dresden Plate to you and me) appliquéd on the front of a bag.  Paula, Gwyneth and Rose came along and off we went to New College.  

Here is Gwyneth helping a young man. 

Paula was her usual patient self. 

Rose was happy to help out wherever needed.  

While there were plenty of sewing machines, not all of them were in working order, and even those which worked seemed to have minds of their own!  Poor Sian was kept busy replacing bobbins, broken needles and solving all kinds of other issues, such as skipped stitches, tension issues and minor adjustments.  It didn't help that the machines were various different makes, Bernina, Janome, Brother and Singer.  She said she often feels more like a sewing machine mechanic than a Textiles Teacher!  

Both boys and girls were in this group, which was lovely to see.  

And here is one of the finished bags!  Fabulous!  All the children worked really hard and were delightful.  Unfortunately, I had overestimated their skill level, and not everyone was able to make a bag in the time.  Those who worked a little slower made their appliqué into a cushion.  

This was a good way of using this design. 

Here you can see a cushion being stuffed. 

And here you can see a cushion being finished off. 

Some of the youngsters were quite innovative with their fans - I particularly like the butterfly!  

We had a very good day, and it was lovely to help youngsters achieve something different.  We would definitely go again, so watch this space! 

Sarah Fielke

We were delighted to be able to welcome well known Australian quilter, Sarah Fielke, in November. She was on a European tour, with just three destinations on her British leg, those of Shaftesbury, Halifax and Lutterworth!  It's thanks to Ann that we had this treat, as she organised dates, venues and everything else!  

Here is Sarah with her favourite quilt.  Her designs are original and innovative and her use of colour is masterful.  She has written several books, the first two, 'Material Obsession 1' and 'Material Obsession 2' with Kathy Doughty.  Since then she has written more books on her own and then designed BOMs which were released digitally.  Several Piecemakers' members have completed these BOMs and have thoroughly enjoyed them.  

Sarah gave a trunk show on Friday evening, and was generous at letting people examine her quilts.  You can see the bright colours she loves to use. 

She prefers to hand quilt her quilts, and we all enjoyed examining her tiny stitches. 

Sarah held two classes while she was in Lutterworth.  She particularly enjoys needle turned appliqué and has her own simple method of doing this. 

This is what the class participants were making, a lovely Garden Pouch.  I don't think everyone completed it on the day, but all had a good time. 

There was another workshop the next day, working with these improvised letters.  Unfortunately I couldn't get any photos of this, but I'm sure it was great fun. 

We wish Sarah (and her husband and quilt holder) a good journey and safe return home.