May 2026

 This month sees us tackling curved piecing. These can be stitched by hand or machine. The two designs on offer were a swirling design and a tulip. Click here for instructions.

Participants were enthusiastic as usual, to have a go. Some will stitch by machine at home, while others are happier hand stitching.

We also had a finished project from last months Mosaic patchwork demo.

Mosaic patchwork cushion KP

AP was assembling on some hexagons cut out 'a while ago' !

AP hexagon quilt

We also had some Linus quilt donations.

Linus quilt JN

Linus quilts CD

April 2026

 Mosaic patchwork is this months project, it is stitched over papers and is often referred to as English Paper Piecing (EPP). Most block designs can be pieced over papers, but quilters nowadays often prefer to use the sewing machine for speed. There were 2 designs to choose from, one a bit more complicated than the other. Instructions.  When making up these designs they can be pieced as blocks with background pieces or leave out the background and applique your design to a background square.

There is also a technique based on using small pieces of fabric as tiles with stitching as the 'grout', a small project is included in the link, see picture at the end of this post. For anyone wanting to try the fabric tile technique, I would recommend checking out the many tutorials available on YouTube. 

2 designs based on crosses

The majority of participants chose the more complicated design, with green being a popular colour.

Several participants had decided to finish a WIP.

MM UFO from Carolyn Forster workshop

AP background hexagons

LB Kawandi

The results from last months appliqué project were on display. We plan to make these up into a Linus quilt. We are grateful to our participants for donating their work to group projects, as is Liz Powderham (our local Project Linus coordinator) when we present her with one of these quilts.

CE making up a cot quilt with some orphan blocks she was given.

We had some quilts for 'Show and Tell'.

Linus quilts from HM

Front and back of quilt by AP

Pretty lilac Linus quilt using the framed square block JN

Bunny quilt for Linus CD

Lastly, our Christmas Challenge blocks on a seaside theme have been made up into a very colourful quilt for Linus.

Group quilt on a Seaside theme, made up by CD

Mosaic card

March 2026

 Sun Bonnet Sue and Overall Sam appliqué were this months offering. We had a very good attendance at this meeting with some new participants. We have made these patterns in the past, June 2016, due to popular demand they are making a second appearance. We gave out a background fabric so that members could donate their blocks for a Linus quilt, should they wish. Most participants had a go at them, some deciding to use bonding web and take them home for machine stitching, others began hand stitching at class. I did not take pictures of all the blocks being made unfortunately. You can find the patterns and instructions here.

Sun bonnet Sue blocks

Overall Sam blocks

We had some finished Kawandi projects from February's meeting.

Kawandi Boro style bag KP

Two Kawandi Boro style bags HM

Kawandi mat

Kawandi mat made to fit a tray IM

There were also some lovely quilts presented.

Double bed quilt AB

Heart quilt HM

Scrappy strip quilt AP

Quilts for Linus CD. The first 5 were made from leftover fabric from previous Linus quilts.

Two knitting projects were on the go. 

A cot blanket made using self stripping yarn LB.

A little dog with a smart coat SO

LB brought along her Acuquilt machine and some members had a go at using it to cut out Sun Bonnet Sue blocks.

Last but not least CE brought in some Sun Bonnet Sue orphan blocks she had been given. As they are a similar size to the blocks being made at the moment, we may be able to include them in the final quilt. 

In April and May we will be meeting on the second Monday of the month to avoid Easter and May bank holidays.

December 2025

 This is our last meeting for 2025, as we have done for many years we have some Christmas nibbles and show our challenge blocks along with anything else we may have been, or are still, working on. The challenge was very well supported with some excellent seaside themed blocks. There are a few more to come from members who were not available to attend today.

Seaside challenge blocks

This was a fun challenge and demonstrates our members creativity in choosing fabrics and designs for a theme. They are destined to become a Linus quilt or two.

Next are some WIP and some finished projects.

'Cabin in the Corner' blocks SO

 

Woodland blocks making up by quilt as you go method MW

Foundation pieced Christmas tree nearly complete MD

Angel decorations TD

Foundation pieced trees and a hooped picture IM

Knitting is also popular with our members.

Prem baby cardigan JN

Two tiny prem baby cardigans AP

Dressing gown for a well dressed mouse AD 

A couple of members were working on embroidery projects.

An interesting sashiko style panel, the pattern is tiny holes rather than drawn. It makes for very neat stitching. A

A French hen from the 12 days of Christmas MM

We had some very nice Table runners, quilts and tree skirts to look at too.

Table runners, made as presents for friends AP

Memory quilt from grand child's clothes HM

Flying geese quilt being hand quilted HM

A lantern and two woodland quilts for Linus CD

A couple of festive tree skirts, one a gift and for personal use AP

An finally two personal projects,

 

A tree decoration for a grandchild 

One of a series of pinwheel blocks DG

 Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.