April and our AGM

April is when we hold our AGM. We don't have to, but we like to; we feel it's good practice to formally review the group, how it's set up and run, it's finances, it's programme etc, and it doesn't take too long if your circulate the paperwork ahead of the meeting for everyone to digest and come prepared with their comments and feedback.

We've already seen changes to the programme for 2015, the main ones being the introduction of mini-tutorials during our monthly meetings and the additional one-day workshops that we're holding bi-monthly.

The good news is that we feel the maximum membership can be increased to 30. The parking is much better now that the car park has been resurfaced so neater parking is now achievable as the giant pot-holes are no longer. So, there should befive happy ladies today who have received an email offering them a place in the group.

The mini-tutorial "crochet - getting started' took place yesterday very ably led by Jenny, Tina and Pam.


One cot quilt also got basted - very useful being able to use the village hall tables to make a surface large enough to do this.

Next month is a show-and-tell month so we should see some of these pieces finished.

Quilting Workshop

Yesterday we held the second of our Saturday workshops, this time on quilting. We looked at hand quilting, straight/curved lines using the walking foot and free machine quilting, the latter being what most of those attending wanted to try their hand at. Some of us have machines that do a few embroidery stitches so we had a quick look at using these too.

The day went well, with 13 attending the workshop. Tea, coffee and biccies were provided; attendees brought their sewing kit, a packed lunch and lots of pre-prepared quilt sandwiches to use for their practice and samples.

Here are a few photos from the day. Hopefully, the confidence is now there to practice at home as, with practice, the stitches do become more even and the curves smoother. 

February 2015 - Crazy Patchwork

The first of the mini tutorials took place this month as part of the new-format programme for this year.  

Two tutorials were offered, crazy patchwork by hand and crazy patchwork by machine with Wendy and Maria respectively leading the teaching. The photos, right, show some of the pieces in progress.

Next month we're going to look at decorating the crazy patchwork pieces.

January 2015

Keeping our membership at  25 members, we welcomed a new member to the group, Miriam. There are 8 names on the waiting list.

Yesterday we had a shown and tell, some nibbles/drinks to celebrate our second birthday and block 7 in the mystery block challenge, a Dresden plate block.

Show and tell, top to bottom, left to right then:
Nappy bag by Michele
Baby quilt in progress by Miriam
Raggy bag by Shirley
(Centre, left, top) Japanese style bag, a gift to Gillian
(Centre, left, bottom) modern block quilt by Tina
(Centre) baby quilt in progress by Lesley
(Centre, right) crochet blanket by Katie
Cushion by Rosemary
Crochet hook roll by Heather

Our Christmas/2nd birthday meal is coming up later this month and will be attended by a much larger group than last year; we're all looking forward to it.

The new style programme has kicked in and next month we'll start the mini-tutorials, crazy patchwork by hand and by machine. And we're already starting to think about Christmas 2016; what to have was out Secret Santa project and to include in the programme the Christmas wreaths Shirley showed us at show-and-tell last year. It's all go!

"Putting it all together" Workshop

Yesterday we held our first workshop of 2015, 'Putting it all together', in response to several requests about how to put blocks together and make a double fold mitred binding. Thirteen people came attended; one or two came along for the ride and spent their 'me time' cracking on with their own project in the company of like-minded folk.

To save a bit of time, attendees were asked to bring some pre-made blocks, or orphan blocks, to use to make their samples. We looked at squaring up blocks, the importance of measuring accurately, using sashing and borders, quilt-as-you-go sashing and, lastly, mitred minding. With time pushing on, we decided to move basting techniques to Wednesday and quilting is already planned as the subject of our second workshop in March.

December's Secret Santa Mug Rug Swap

The group has not done anything like this before. Everyone took part, it was a lot of fun and the results eagerly awaited. 

We were not disappointed. These photos were taken on the night, so there are a few mug rug photos missing as a handful of ladies were unable to come along due to work 'dos' or travelling.

Now, what to do for next year's Secret Santa?

















As well as the mug rugs, there was lots for show and tell too, some of which are Christmas pressies so this post will have to wait until after Christmas. Top to bottom, left to right then:

Elaine's table runner, Jenny's Christmas throw, Heather's lap quilt.
Denise's crocheted stocking, Pam's log cabin quilt, Tina's snap-top purse, Pam's Rudolph cushion, Shirley's 'raggy wreath.
Wendy's gold work, Jenny's wallhanging and Denise's angel.

November's Meeting

Following on from Sunday's workshop, there was lots to see on Wednesday. In addition to the bags (see previous blog post):-

Tina, Jenny & Maria spent a day sewing earlier in the month and made a start on the group's quilts for Project Linus. They made one quilt for a boy and another for a girl.

       

And the next photos show the talent and variety of sewing and crafting skills within the group:

Elaine's fabric bowl

Pam's 3D Christmas Tree

Jenny's quilt

Chris' mug bag  

Chris' walking bag

Gemma's Ipad cover 

Lesley's embroidery

Shirley's fabric wreath

Denise's Japanese bag

Pam's stump work

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Wendy's stump work

Katie's mug bag

Chris' trapunto panel