New community quilts

A collection of fabrics from a single range generously
donated to the community stash spoke to Susan Mack
who sewed them into this beautifully whimsical 
quilt for a child.

The backing fabric.

Pieced backing.

Also made by Susan Mack - another quilt that will
 appeal to a child.

Miriam’s ‘Unallocated’ quilt (designed by Michelle McKillop)
includes fabrics from many of Miriam’s previous quilts
and some recent generous donations.

Backing fabric also from the community stash.

Elaine G’s crisp blue and white palette, is further enhanced
by the addition of a green highlights. The almost triangular
pieces are added to the centre squares by sewing another
square over the top, and making four cuts from the centre
to each corner along the diagonals - no triangles to cut,
 less fabric waste.

A busy weekend …

We held a ‘Double Trouble’ workshop day for members at the weekend, with two bag making workshops led by members Susan and Susan. Others of us sat, sewed and cheered from the sidelines - a very enjoyable day. Thanks to Carol and Jim for finding us such a good venue, and for your help in setting up and packing up at the end of the day - very much appreciated.

Susan K taught the making of her 2009 design for the ‘Double Zip No-bind Box Pouch’

- most were finished finished on the day

Close attention being paid to Susan’s explanation
of the magic to be wrought on the zip.

A zipper magic close-up …

There was quilting of the outer layers

Hilary cleverly used pre-made blocks to
produce a two colour pouch.

Grace’s narive flower pouch

Angelique’s pouch really is box shaped

Alison was nervous about putting in the zip,
 but was first finished!

Susan made an error with her first attempt,
so started again, then corrected the first one so
she ended up with two by Monday morning.

Alison’s pouch, and Susan M’s second pouch.

Susan Mack’s parallel class was on making her version of a practical project bag with a clear plastic front panel that will give a good view of the contents. All of the makings were available from Spotlight:

Pat quilted her cat print back panel along
the lines in the print.

Some very fancy zippers were added.

Long continuous zips were cut, trimmed to size and secured.

Elaine chose pinks, purples and blues, and a very jazzy zipper.
Binding clips came in handy.

Marilyn chose two beautiful blue and white prints.

There was some careful cutting of foam stabilizer …

Front and back panels of the four finished bags we saw
on Monday - there are several more not quite done yet,
These belong to Elaine, Pat, Jeni and Sharron

New finishes

Louise made this beautiful cool quilt for a friend
undergoing chemotherapy.

She sent it off with a matching bag so her friend can easily
take it with her for the hospital appointments.

Louise also made this one, for a baby boy. She pointed out
that it was easy to put together (squares alternating with
coordinated nine patches, set on point), but careful layout of
the nine patch pieces is required to achieve the
effect - a design wall is really useful!

Hilary offered to put some donated clamshell pieces to use, and
came up with a pair of appliqued cushions for the craft stall stock.

 

First community quilts shared in 2025

The 2025 community quilts collection is building up - we know there are at least a dozen more in progress, and about the same held over from late last year. Thank you all for your contributions.

Lynette has made many blue and white quilts, but has
not reached the end of her blue fabrics yet.  The mix of
blues and repeated regular strips has great appeal.

Complimentary serpentine stitch quilting.

Lynette also put these blocks together. They were made
in a workshop, by several members, using strips cut
from the community stash. 

Another appealing mix of colour, this time placed irregularly.

How do you use a fabric printed with clocks?  Elaine G used
them as the background to pieced and appliqued clock faces.

Each of the clocks shows a different time …

… but by the time she reached the backing, Elaine said
she was ready for it to be 12 o’clock!

 

A huswif, a zip pouch, a needlework tool roll and a tote bag …

It hasn’t all quilts been shared at our January meetings …

Helen rounded up some French General scraps and stitched
them into a ‘huswif’ to hold some of her needlework
tools. It closes with a robust snap fastener.

The term “hussif” (abbreviation for housewife) first appeared 

in print in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1749 suggesting 

that it had already been in common use. “Hussif” was not the 

only term used. Its other known names were: “huswif” 

(or “huswife”), “hussive” and “housewife”. 

The Hyland House Museum

Chris made a beautiful flat-bottomed zip pouch
 in pastel tones …

… and included pickets and lining in apricot.

 

Pat’s needlework tool roll is a modern evolution of the huswif -
a fabric roll to keep needlework tools together and protect them.

Cat lover Pat used some of her feline stash
in the clam shells and pockets.

During the holidays, Carol W decided to make a blouse
she had been thinking about for some time.
 As she searched her fabric cupboard, a panel printed
with vintage sewing machines caught her attention.
She really did want to make that blouse, but somehow
she stitched up a tote bag instead … and the blouse
still hasn’t been made, but the fabric for it
is still in that cupboard somewhere.

 

Show and tell

Show and tell after the summer break is always fun - you never know what people have have been up to…

Susan K made the delightful linen ‘Lolli’ mouse in her
sparkly pink tutu, from JodieRicRac’s design and kit … 

… but substituted pink and green striped tights for the black
and white ones in the kit! Susan says she’s easy to make, but tiny.

Susan K made this trio too - the giraffe from another Jodie
RicRac pattern, the elephants from a Heather Bailey design.
Excellent fabric choices and combinations!
They will live with Theo little boys and their new baby brother.

`Susan Mack meanwhile was making the very grown
up ‘Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0’ designed by  By Annie. 

The outer panels are quilted.

There are many useful pockets inside and out.