News

At the recent committee meeting, various matters were discussed, and here is an update. there are still places on the coach going to 'Quilts in the Garden' and the despite the fact that the exhibition is not now at Trentham Gardens, the coach will be available to take anyone who wants to visit there for the afternoon.
There are also spaces on the Angela Madden workshop. Leave a comment below if you would like to book on either of these events.
Due to poor take-up, the Flower Pounding workshop has been moved to the 4th June 2011. (We think people will be going to Malvern that weekend - well, I will!)
The Quilts in Miniature workshop has also been moved, to Saturday 26th March to make sure as many people as possible can take advantage of it.
What a busy group we are!

March meeting

This month's meeting was a relaxed one, making a beautiful, yet simple wall-hanging by Jenny Almond. Jenny is a very experienced teacher, who gives clear and precise instructions in a friendly manner.

Here are her samples of what the finished article will look like.

She was generous in her advice, and even experienced quilters benefited from her tips on mitring corners, and joining binding.

Many people brought machines and fabric to make these designs.

Some just brought cutting equipment,

and others took the opportunity to brouse and chat!

Some people really worked hard, and Jill was one of several who managed to assemble the pieces. What wonderful colour choices!

Moast of the stars for the group quilt had been brought in, and they are looking fabulous! We also had volunteers to help Ruth and Lynda assemble it (thank goodness!)

Andrea had discovered these Mile a Minute blocks in her UFO box, and joined them together for Project Linus. She was surprised how good they looked when they were finished!

Stephanie and Bunty had made these gorgeous scenes in a workshop with Jenny. They are both so different! Nik had made this quilt for Project Linus. I t's actually a masterclass in using scraps. The dark sections are all made from scraps, and the quilt is unified by the lime green and the lighter sections. You can't see it here, but it's also beautifully quilted. Nik, you're a star! Gaynor made this quilt at a retreat. Well, she made most of the blocks, but ran out of the cream fabric before she had got the quilt to the required size. She cleverly added two piano keys borders to add a bit of extra width.

Ruth and Gaynor brought the quilts they had made in Anja Townrow's workshop - Gaynor's suitably pastel and Ruth's suitably bright.Ruth has been fascinated by Manx quilting. On the Isle of man they traditionally made log cabin blocks, but using folded strips. She decided to make a piece for exhibition, called Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. On the left is a piece of traditionally made Manx quilting, in the centre a contemporary piece, and on the right, a piece of art quilting. They are cleverly linked together with the three-legged symbol of the island. Good luck, Ruth - we think it's a winner!Ruth has been extra busy recently and completed this quilt for a challenge. The challenge fabric has butterflies on it, hence the wings!Here are two scrap qilts made from left overs in the same colour. A great way to reduce your scrap box!

But of course, you don't need to restrict your scrap quilts to one hue, as the more colours you have, the better! Here's a quilt made a strippy/crazy style, and looking good!This quilt is mine, and was made using the star blocks which I won in a raffle. I was so pleased with them that I designed the Irish Chain block to eke them out and make a double bed quilt. It's on its way to my sister-in-law for her birthday. Hope she likes it. Liz's husband keeps Koi carp, and so she has made this gorgeous quilt for him. The centre is a panel, and she has added borders to make it the right size. The flowers on the black are actually beautifully executed broderie perse. And finally, a chirpy chicken to wish everyone Happy Easter!

Requirements list

Next week's meeting is a workshop lead by the very popular Jenny Almond. It will be to make a Heart Tree or Wreath. In case you couldn't come to the last meeting (or have lost your piece of paper) here is what you need.

Half yard background fabric
Quarter yard fabric for hearts
Quarter yard for borders (Jenny used the same fabric for hearts and borders)
11" x 20" piece of wadding
11" x 20" piece of backing (at least this amount)
Thread for quilting round the hearts (this could be gold or the colour of your background).

You can bring your usual kit including a pair of small sharp scissors, and your machine if you wish to complete the wall hanging on the night.
See you there!

Quilts for Heroes

This month we had a very inspiring and uplifting evening lead by Brenda Lincoln. She is the driving force behind a local group which calls itself 'Quilts for Injured Servicemen' and makes quilts for those servicemen (and women) who are recuperating at Headley Court Hospital. Her husband, Dave, was a serviceman himself, and benefited from the healing powers of the staff at Headley Court, so this is one way for her to show her appreciation, as well as supporting our forces. She had a fund of funny and heart-rending stories which show the power of the human spirit over adversity, and serve to put our everyday problems into perspective.

Here is Brenda with several quilts she brought to show us. These are utilitarian quilts, made often from shirtings (complete with pockets - for their fags and lighters!), masculine fabrics, including camouflage fabrics, and the obligatory Union Jack!

This one is one which was brought along on the night for Brenda to take.

Here is another one with a very patriotic colourway!

Once she had inspired us, everyone got to work. Here are some members chosing fabrics from the selection Brenda had brought.

Some people had brought sewing machines, while others cut, ironed, advised or supervised!

Every little helped, and Brenda was pleased to take home several completed strips ready to be made up by her group of volunteers.

Some people spent time perusing the goods on the sales table - which grew from one table to three as more and more items arrived. Most of us were tempted to buy a goodie or two, and some of the sellers must have a lot of room in their cupboards now!

The show and tell was varied, as usual. Elaine showed this whimsical wall-hanging which she had made in a workshop. What a clever use of log cabin blocks.

Here is the first completed item from the Anja Townrow workshop we held last month. What a fabulous choice of colours.This is another, different, piece from the workshop - the lime green definitely adds a certain something!

Andrea had made this lovely 'Through the Window' wall hanging at a Jenny Almond workshop. I wish it was the view through my window!

Ann had made this piece as the centre medallion of a quilt, but when her daughter saw it, she thought it would make the perfect wall-hanging for the stairs of their cottage. Guess who won?

Ruth had taken some novelty fabric with boats on it out of the Linus box, and had managed to make two appealing quilts out of it. This one has appliqued boats and quilted waves.

Di had also been inspired by the novelty fabric, and had made two prem quilts, this one with nursery rhyme figures on it.

She had also made this lovely quilt for her great nephew, with tractors and farm animals on it. It's a pity I didn't take a picture of the back, as it was a bright rural scene, which would make the quilt reversable. Last month we challenged the group to make blocks for our group quilt, which will be domnated to the Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance. The blocks were to be 12" stars of any design, in autumnal colours. Here are the first few blocks. I can't wait to see them all!

We have a full programme of workshops and trips. Look at the meetings side bar to find out when they are and make sure you don't miss out!

February meeting

This month's meeting will be a charity sewing evening. We will endeavour to make some quilts for the local charity, Help for Heroes. There will be a short introduction by Brenda Lincoln followed by a workshop making quilt tops. Could you try to bring a used man's shirt or sheet or duvet cover or fabric from your stash in masculine colours? Plains, stripes or checked look good.If you can bring along your machine, cutting board, large scissors or rotary cutter as there will be jobs for all. If you have time beforehand ready cut 6 inch squares will mean we can start to sew straight away.

See you there!

Starting the new year with a bang!

If anyone was feeling a bit low after Christmas and all the cold weather we've been having recently, this month's speaker was guaranteed to restore your enthusiasm. Anja Townrow has been to Lutterworth before, and is always an inspiring yet remarkably down-to-earth speaker. Her quilts are outstanding, but she's happy to point out the places where she had to add some applique to cover a bodge! It's hard to believe, but very heart warming!

When I asked her permission to take her photo, she said, 'What, with this hair?' I was able to assure her that the hair she had brought with her was indeed what I wanted for the photo, so here she (and it) is.

People were thrilled to be able to see her work at close quarters. It certainly repays careful study.

Anja had done us proud and displayed lots of beautiful quilts for us to admire.

Here is Ann having a rootle in the Project Linus rummage box. Thank you to all who have bought items from the box. This time, I collected £8.30 in donations!

I started off show and tell with my mystery quilt from a pattern by Bonnie Hunter. I started it in August to have it on my son's bed for Christmas.

I also showed another Bonnie Hunter pattern, I spy a 4 patch, which I have made up for Linus. It's a very versatile pattern, and if you want to see Bonnie's free patterns, click here.

Several people seemed to have taken advantage of the awful weather recently to do some sewing for Linus. Di made up two quilts from orphan blocks. Thisa one was sashed in bright pink to give it a very cheerful look.

Paula completed this one which was made up of squares and half square triangles.

Ruth made several quilts, mainly from scraps - my favourite kind! This one was particularly bright and child-friendly. If you would like to see these quilts in close up, click here to go to the Leicestershire Project Linus site.

Andrea had made up two quilts using jelly rolls. They are both the same pattern, although the colours give them quite different feels. This one is sophisticated and masculine.

This one is earthy and warm.

Ann brought her completed 'Sizzling Strips' quilt. It certainly sizzles with her fabulous choice of colours!



The final quilt was one completed after a workshop with Sandie Lush. The workmanship is outstanding, although it doesn't photograph well! The designs were completed individually and then joined to give the impression of a wholecloth quilt.

You can see this clearly from the back!

Piecemakers continues to have a lively programme of workshops and outings. Anja kindly gave us a workshop on the day after her talk. I'll look forward to seeing the fruits of that. Linda Rudkin will be showing us all about Flower Pounding on Saturday 15th May. 'Patchwork Schoolhouse' will take place at Threads and Patches on Saturday 29th May. The cost for this will be £50, which includes 10 mini demonstrations/workshops, instruction sheets/kits, refreshments and a full lunch. This is exclusively for our group, so be sure to book your place quickly. Quilts in the Garden at Trentham will take place on Saturday 10th April. The long awaited "Hidden Histories, Untold Stories" exhibition at the V&A is starting in March, and there will be a trip to visit on Saturday 26th June. A booking sheet for this will be at the February meeting. This is a chance to see quilts which have been stored in the V&A for hundreds of years, and will be a once in a lifetime experience. make sure you don't miss it!