December 2023

 December sees us show our annual challenge. This year the theme was to make a small quilt, approximately A4, using a favourite greeting card as inspiration. Here are the results;

Entries from JN, MW and IM

Entries from LE, CH and CD

Entries from HM

We also had a small Christmas project to have a go at from IM using folded circles to make hexagons. See the pattern here.

VW, JN, LE, DG and IM

And here are two finished trees;

LE and CD

These are two finished decorations from last months make;

CH and CD

We had MM working on a UFO of folded triangles to make a triple star hanging. See the pattern here.

HM is working on commission for a large double bed quilt, hand pieced in hexagons. It's looking lovely.

LE showed a V shaped pillow cover and matching cushion she has made for her grandson. He already has the quilt. He must have the smartest of bedrooms.

MW was knitting squares for making up into blankets and CD showed two more Linus quilts ready for delivery.

Trying hard to use up scraps

November 2023 - Country Hearts

 This month we tried our hand at Country Hearts. The original pattern was by Julia Gahagan. It has been slightly modified to make three different sized hearts.

Here are some works in progress;

CH

MM

AB

LW

HM

We also had two pretty needle cases made from the results of last months origami project from IM.

October 2023 - Origami flowers

October sees us making some origami flowers, the instructions come from this book, it is widely available to purchase online. You may even be able to find it at your library.

We chose one that looked like a flower and was fairly easy to make, the Gloriosa daisy. Here are some examples being worked on,

and here are some finished.

We also had some lovely Show and Tell items to look at. MW has been busy making items for the St Helier baby unit.

Incubator covers

Baby cuddles

MW has also been working on this nice design.

Hexi-kaleidoscope quilt MW

HM has been trying out some blocks for next years BOM quilt on the theme of Nature, some more promising than others, all nice blocks.

HM nature blocks

September 2023 - AGM

 This month is our AGM. We had a small turnout due to several regular attendees taking holidays, only 6 of us.  We had 12 paid up members last year, so we discussed recruiting new members, yet again, but it is proving difficult despite our advertising attempts since last September. We had enquiries but barely half of them added new members to our group. We have seen our numbers decrease since Covid from 20+. We are not the only group to experience this, people generally seem less likely to participate in group activities, whether inside or outside.

Last years programme seemed to be well received with most attendees having a go at the techniques demonstrated.

Our Show and Tell sessions last year brought forth 19 quilts, one of which was the result of the Christmas challenge, a lovely sampler quilt in red, white and blue to celebrate the 75 year reign of Elizabeth II, along with cushions, wall hangings, works in progress - for example a log cabin variation quilt and Japanese style table runner, various knitting projects as well as some examples of the topics we had covered. Pictures of these can be seen in the posts since last September.

We have set a programme for the coming year, hopefully it will be as well received as last years.

We had some Show and Tell at the AGM as well;

This one by MW is being pieced by hand, the individual hexagons being a portable project. The pattern was picked up a stash sale.

Hexiekalidescope quilt WIP MW

These Linus quilts were made from a bag of scraps a friend gave CD and some background fabric from her stash. The Modern Crosses quilt was made as a result of our last demonstration and passed the time over a wet weekend. The T-shirts are 12 inch blocks rater than the original 16 inches. They still give a reasonable size quilt and they made more economical use of the scraps available.

Linus quilts CD

August 2023 - Modern Crosses

Marion gave us a demonstration of the Modern (Eccentric) Crosses pattern from the Modern Quilt group. Click here for link to pattern. Although we hand sewed the class examples, this technique would be a lot quicker by machine. It was a fun block to do and would make an interesting quilt as you can alter the size of the block easily, see here. It is also a useful pattern for using up some scraps. This link is similar, but uses straight cuts.

Samples from MW

Samples made in class

As well as this activity we had some Show and Tell to look at.

These two projects  are for prem babies, a comforter and breast pads by JN

Two Linus quilts by CD.

July 2023 - Attic Windows and Hollow Boxes

This month we were trying out 3D effects in fabric. Attic Window blocks are often thought to be complicated, due to the inset seam. This demonstration showed how easy they are to stitch. There were only seven participants this month, six of them having a go in class and the seventh trying it out at home.

Examples from MW, LE, IM, DG, CH, AB

We tried a small window 3 inch finished size. The idea was to make four blocks and join them together into a 6 inch finished square. Not everyone managed more than one, but they all made good Attic Windows. 

These three examples MW, LE, CD (demonstrator)

Although we stitched them by hand, they can also be stitched by machine just as easily. Click here for instructions.

The other demo was for Hollow Boxes (tutor box 17) from Heather Hasthorpe and Helen Howes both members of the Modern Quilt Group of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles (QGBI) These also give a 3D effect but without using inset seams. Below is an example, the instructions can be found here www.mqgb.org.uk/tutorboxes.html

Hollow boxes (tutor box 17)

One participant was making cat blankets from gifted yarn, for cats that need rehoming. They can take something familiar with them to their new home to help them settle in.

Cat blankets HM

Finally another Linus quilt was on it's way to Liz our local coordinator.

Linus quilt LE

June 2023 update

 Following on from last month's Crazy patchwork demo, this is a finished block from IM. 

June 2023 Show and Tell

 A smaller meeting than usual only 6 of us this month, possibly due to it being a half term holiday. That aside there were lots of items for Show and Tell.

Several Linus quilts had been made. This one from JN was made at a workshop to try out new techniques. The centre block on the bottom row was made to her own design from left over triangles .

One from MW and a small group of friends, a nice scrappy quilt using a very simple block. MW demonstrated this block last year. Click here for the instructions.

These 2 are from CD using a very simple strip arrangement, a good pattern for making simple colourful Linus quilts. Click here or the instructions.

These 2 quilts are made by HM, using scraps and leftover triangles.

 

This set of Corner Log cabin blocks made by AB will become a quilt. Once again using up scraps which seem to be never ending.

A set of cushion pads for use on wooden chairs by VW. They are to be quilted with straight lines.

Some crazy patchwork blocks by CD from last months demonstration.

A Japanese inspired table runner by MW, matching table mats may follow.

Its never too early to plan for Christmas. HM has started knitting mini stockings for the sales table at the next Pilgrim Quilters Quilt show later this year.

May 2023 Crazy Patchwork

 This month we had an enjoyable evening with crazy patchwork demonstrated by MW. We used a stitch and flip method starting with an oddly shaped piece of fabric, straight sided but not square, in the middle of a piece of wadding or interfacing. We then added a strip to each side of the shape with the last strip covering two seams rather than the one of the first few sides. Subsequent seams also covered two seams. Strips were added until the background fabric was completely covered. The next step is to add some embroidery and other embellishment - beads, sequins lace motifs etc. The instructions were kindly supplied by Juanita Dodd.

MW example of crazy patchwork

2 fine examples of Crazy patchwork by HM.
The second example uses raw edge applique with embroidery stitches.

The above examples were started by LE, MW, DG, JN, HM and CD. Hopefully more work and some embellishment will be ready for our Show and Tell next month.