Workshop/sewing day

Our recent sewing day included a workshop with Daphne, who refreshed our foundation paper skills, in which she is highly skilled, some sit and sew, and a sort through a donation to our community fabric stash.

One of Daphne’s class samples 

Pat has done foundation piecing before, but finds it a challenge
 each time she starts a new project. It looks like
she’s mastered it for now.

While Noelle is already an accomplished foundation piecer,
she used the  day as an opportunity to make corner blocks to
compliment the large centre block she made many years ago
as part of a Tuesday evening group challenge.

She had saved her fabrics and made all four blocks over the
weekend, helped by a cold wet Sunday keeping her indoors.

Elaine B made good progress with her block.

Sharron was a novice foundation piecer, and was 
astonished to see her perfect points emerge!

Susan Mack has done this before, and does it well …
… and she’s quick!

It was not mandatory, but it was good of Janice
and Miriam to dress to match their sewing.

Recent finishes

Julie used a collection of cool blue/green/grey fabrics left over

 from a number of quilts to make this beautifully

 calm gift for a Cousin Germany.

The fabrics have enough tonal contrast to create interest while 
they are very complimentary in colour. The cream sashing fabric 
was also left over from a previous quilt.
Julie quilted it herself, with a serpentine machine stitch.

Zen Chic designed ‘Spotted Geese’, made by Jo-Ann in a
smart modern palette, a gift for a modern young relative.

Quilted by Laura in Jo’s favourite modern quilting
design, suggestive of  gently swirling air currents.

Some of Stephanie’s goals for 2023 are to use up her
fabric scraps and to finish projects. This colourful
quilt is helping her out with both.

Elaine W made a quilt for her nephew using Japanese
fabrics that was much admired by one of her brothers.
He asked her to make one for him as well.

That second quilt is finished, and will be handed over
this week. There are two more brothers - two more quilts?

Sashiko jacket

Jenny K stitched a series of Sashiko panels, with no particular final use in mind … until she hit upon the idea of a Sashiko jacket, that she kindly modelled for us.

 

Quilt shows online

If you can’t make it to the Canberra Quilters 2023 Exhibition this week, you can still see all the quilts in the virtual exhibition on their website.

It’s also Quilt Week 2023 in Paducah, Kentucky for the American Quilters Society. Photos of the major award winners and a list of all the other winners are on the AQS website, photos of all category winners are also being posted to the AQS Facebook page.

Viewing, reading, listening …

QuiltCon 2023 award winners

QuiltCon is the largest convention of modern quilting in the world. The 10th event was held in Atlanta in February 2023, under the auspices of The Modern Quilt Guild. 

OzQuilt Network: Memories of Childhood

View the new online themed exhibition Memories of Childhood that features artwork by 28 OZQN members.

Modern Mystery Quilt 2023 Virtual Exhibition

The quilts in this exhibition were made by hundreds of quilters who participated in the Modern Mystery Quiltalong 2023. Modern Quilt Studio

A History of British Frame Quilts - video, You Tube.

Frame quilts are one of the typical styles of patchwork quilts in the UK. In this comprehensive study video, Carolyn Gibbs explains their key features, illustrated with many examples from her own Collection, and from the Quilters Guild Museum Collection, to whom grateful thanks are due. Carolyn Gibbs Quilts, 22 January 2023

How to Organize a Quilting Room with Timna Tarr

I spent a lot of time thinking about how to make the most of the spaces, taking into consideration the ways that I work.

While I won’t commit to this being my last studio, I do think this one will stick around. I am sure it will evolve over time. One thing I have learned is that as my work and life changes, so do my studio needs. Timna Tarr, Quilting Arts Magazine, Winter 2023

Low Volume Fabrics

Many of my quilts use ‘low volume’ fabric but I believe this is a relatively modern term in patchwork quilting. Generally low volume fabric in patchwork quilting refers to any light coloured fabric. In this post, I outline the different types of low volume fabric that I often use in my quilts and show some examples of how I have used them. Thimbles and Needles, 5 February 2023

‘Unallocated’

‘Unallocated’ is designed by Michelle McKillop - one that looks more complicated than it is. Michelle has provided the block size she made and a description of how she arranged the light, medium and dark values to create the pattern, on her Instagram account (@mckillopmichelle), in a post from June 2022. You will also find it along with several other quilters’ versions under the hashtag #unallocatedquilt.

This is Nerida’s big beautiful quilt that she has very generously donated to our community collection.

Nerida’s is a large quilt, using a wide variety of scraps - you can
probably zoom in and find some fabrics you have or have had  
in your stash. The appearance of horizontal sashing strips is
achieved by clever `placement of the light and darker pieces.

Nerida has added some machine stitched ‘in the ditch’ quilting,
 and hand quilted along the horizontal ‘lines’ with 12 wt thread.

The square blocks (that are all the same piecing construction,
with just four pieces each) are set on point, with the blocks
 turned in alternating directions - that’s it!

 

New community quilts

Our community quilts collection is continually  replenished …

Those of us sitting furthest away from Elaine G’s quilt thought
it might be ships - those closer  realised those shapes are Lego
bricks. Elaine even used the original Lego colours!

Julie’s favourite scrap pattern …

… quilted by Laura.

Another of Julie’s quilt, made for a particular aged
care resident, using 2 1/2” strips …

… also quilted by Laura.

Another Julie/Laura collaboration

 

Show and tell

Many of our members are multi talented, using many different needlework and textile techniques

Janice has been been busy making these beautiful items.
First up, a Sashiko stitched drawstring bag

This one is a back-pack style bag for Janice budding
ballerina granddaughter -  just right for her first ballet shoes.

Janice is also a knitter - a warm hat for a daughter who
lives in a cold winter climate.

Miriam started her embroidered bag at summer school with
Susan Smith (@notjuzahousewife), who designed it.

Every side is different …

 (yes we did miss photographing one side!)

… and Miriam added her own design to the bottom.

And a complementary needle case. 

 

New event notices

Conditions of entry and further information are now available:

• http://quiltersguildnsw.blogspot.com

 

Finished!

It’s so satisfying to share our finished work, while we also love seeing each project during its development.

Janet’s ‘Exploding Heart’ quilt is an explosion of colour!
Designed by Slice of Pi Quilts

Marilyn O chose a lively combination of fabrics for her
Lakeside bag, designed by Jenelle Kent of Pieces to Treasure.
 Jenelle designed the  striped toweling for Moda, and
sells it through Pieces to Treasure..

Julie’s whimsical baby quilt …

… with the cutest backing feature fabric.

Jill found just enough Quiltlite batting in her stash for three
small Kawandi style pieces that will be used as placemats.

N