Robot fun!

 Once a year, Piecemakers ask me to run a Project Linus evening.  I provide the fabric and instructions, and they sew.  I’m strict that we sew for exactly one hour, so it doesn’t become tiring.  In July, we made robots from a pattern by Don’t Look Now, which we bought ages ago.  I brought fabrics in orange, blue and green, and let them loose!  

This is my Blue Peter, to give them an idea of what kind of result I was hoping for.  There were several different robots to make, and everyone had great fun.  It took a bit longer than I had expected, so only one robot was completed in the hour.  Most people took theirs home to finish.  I’ll look forward to seeing them at the next meeting. Thank you to all.

We also had a members’ sales table, which was very successful.  Everyone likes a bargain! On the right of the photo is our new Quilters Guild representative.  It was lovely to meet her. 

This Linus quilt was made from a book kit.  It’s much better than a book, in my opinion. 

Ruth Wallet hasn’t been attending meetings recently, as her husband isn’t well, but she sent these three tops to be finished for Project Linus.  So thoughtful. 

The quilting on this piece is amazing. 

This picture was made at Roxanna’s Quilters Guild workshop.  Stunning. 

A quilt for someone who loves blues. 

These two quilts are jelly roll quilts made by the members of Vicki and Ann’s class. They wanted to donate them to Linus, but Vicki was worried that they were too big.  I was able to reassure her that as far as Linus quilts are concerned, big was better than small, and happily accepted them.  Coincidentally, a couple of weeks later I was contacted by Rosie from the Diana Service for Children with Life-limiting Conditions, and asked specifically for larger quilts!  I was happy to oblige, and if you pop over to www.linusleics.blogspot.com you can see Rosie with one of them.  Thank you very much, sewers. 

Finally, an apology.  I informed members of a forthcoming display of sewing machines (including a 1937 knee control Singer) at Lutterworth Museum.  Unfortunately this has been postponed until the middle of September, so check with me before you go. It will be worth the wait! 

Our own bag lady

 This month we were delighted that Jacquie was able to show us some of the bags she has made.  She thoroughly enjoys making different projects and has Curver boxes full of her creations.  

Here you can see how many bags she had!  She was honest in praising some pattern writers’ skills, and pointing out those who weren’t so clear!  She also told us which bags were useful, and which not so much. 

She was also generous at sharing the tips and methods she used to make the bags. She certainly gave us all plenty to think about, and I expect we will have some bags coming to show and tell next month! 

The raffle had some scrumptious prizes.  Sadly, I didn’t win one. 

Show and tell this time was a bonanza for Project Linus.  This one was made by Chris using up 2.5” squares.  I love the green binding. 

Ruth can’t come to meetings at the moment, as her husband is poorly, but she sent a pile of Linus quilts instead.  This is simple but stylish. 

This one is a stunning colourway. 

Blocks on point always look interesting. 

 This quilt has leopards in all the squares - ideal for an animal lover. 

And finally Pam’s efforts at the Vendulka Battais workshop.   Beautiful colours and impressive hand embroidery. 

Linda Chevell

 In April, we were delighted to welcome Linda Chevell as our speaker.  She is relatively local, and some of us met her at Market Bosworth, last year.  She’s a committed Modern Quilter, and it was lovely to see her work. 

This quilt is stunning! (Can you see the duck in the centre?). The quilting on it is amazing. 

Linda will be holding a workshop to teach how to make this portholes quilt.  It’s a great technique, which can be developed into different designs.  The workshop is fully booked and eagerly anticipated. 

Vicki and I had participated in a Mystery Improv Challenge which Linda led.  It was a steep learning curve for both of us, but a very different way of working. 

 As you can see, Vicki climbed further up the curve than me, but I learned a lot.  

Caroline made this clever design for a relative who wanted something art deco.  I’m sure they will be thrilled.

Lesley thoroughly enjoyed the recent workshop with Vendulka Battais, and made her work into this pair of cushions. 

Janet made this lovely Patchwork of the Crosses quilt.  She said she would have liked to have made it bigger, but tired of all the EPP! 

Di made this colourful scrappy quilt for an old lady suffering from dementia.  I’m sure it will be a ray of sunshine for her. 

Vicki used up some orphan drunkard’s path blocks to make this great bag. 

The bag is beautifully quilted.  

This beautiful Lone Star quilt was made by a new quilter.  She was very brave to choose the plain yellow for the centre, as plain colours can be unforgiving if the centre matches aren’t exact.  Great result though. 

Vendulka Battais

Our speaker for March was Vendulka Battais, a talented quilter from Romania.  She started her sewing journey by making clothes with her mum, but once she discovered patchwork, she was hooked! She talked about how she picked her quilts, and how her husband drew on the back, and that was where she quilted from. After the quilting was finished, she painted them.  Absolutely fascinating and so inspiring. She brought plenty of quilts to inspire us, including her best of show from the Festival of Quilts. 

Here is her beautiful mandala style quilt. 

The next day she held a workshop, showing how to create curves in patchwork.  People could make a cushion or book cover with their piece. 

There was a lovely atmosphere at the meeting, and several people who had braved the dark and winter weather were delighted they had come! 

Starting 2024 in style!

 Our first meeting of 2024 was excellent!  It was lovely to see old and new members on a wet and miserable night to see Mark Francis.  He was a contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee in 2019, and the experience altered his career plan - for the better!  He brought along his husband Clive, who is also a sewer, and several of the items he made on the programme.  He kindly said that we could try them on, and I was hoping someone would try the outfit made from hi-vis garments, sequins and all, but no takers!  Mark kept us enthralled by his talk, and we look forward to seeing him at the FOQ and other events in the future. 

Here he is on his promotional stand, with the garments he brought with him ready to display.

And here he is with Clive (in the Boys Sew Too t-shirt, with his arm round Julie’s sister Lynne, who came along as a visitor. 

Despite the fact that we haven’t met since November the show and tell was modest -at least in quantity. 

Chris made this stunning quilt, which is a Philippa Naylor design.  She said it has been 3 years in the making, having spent most of that period in time-out in a cupboard!  We’re so glad she persevered with it. 

 

This beautiful Hawaiian applique cushion was made at our recent workshop evening.  The maker wasn’t very keen on hand sewing, but thought she’d give this technique a try.  She was delighted to find she loved it, and now has a new skill. 

This is another completed workshop design.  It’s Flower Garden, and brings hope of blooms to come. 

This beauty was made by EPP from Liberty fabrics.  Delightful. 

Paula made this quilt at a local class.  Her fabric choices are fabulous, and reflect the quilt’s name, which is Dazzle! 

Di made this charming scrap quilt for Project Linus.  The colours are great, and I love the zigzag quilting. 

Don’t forget your show and tell next month, as we welcome Vendulka Battais as our speaker and workshop leader.  

November meeting

 We had a very interesting meeting in November.  Teresinha Roberts talked to us about sustainability in fabrics.  Sounds a bit dry, but Teresinha is a great speaker and made it all come alive for us. 

Here she is, showing her rag rug, made from strips cut from worn out clothes, and some trousers where she has successfully replaced the zip to give them more life.  Her talk covered all fabrics, cotton, wool, silk, linen and poly, and we learned that being a responsible fabric user is darn near impossible!  I was surprised to hear that lots of the cotton grown in China and the Far East is produced using slave labour!  Then there is the durability factor.  Some polyester items are very hard wearing, and while their ultimate disposal is a problem, the fact that we can wear them for years is a huge plus point.  Anything which has only been worn a couple of times or (heaven forbid!) bought in a sale and never worn are much more problematic. 

Madeline and Di are very creative with the raffle, which is always popular. 

Show and tell started with a seasonal theme - tree skirts. 

Then other beauties. 

This floral one is completely pieced - amazing. 

This one is for Linus.  Beautiful quilting. 

A couple of Christmas cushions. 

Is this Jacob’s ladder? 

This is a beautiful panel. 

And last of all, Jacquie’s mushroom quilt.  Lots of fun! 

I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a healthy and quilty New Year! 

We don’t have a meeting in January, but don’t forget the Sit and Sew session at North Kilworth on 10th February 10-4.  Members and non- members welcome for a nominal fee.  See you there!