Retail Therapy

Jules Craft Shoppe at Loftus has a 20% off everything sale twice a year! The fixed dates are

• 2nd last Saturday in June
• 1st Saturday in December

So guess where Leonie and I went for a little retail therapy. We went in the afternoon and it wasn't even crowded. The ladies had plenty of time to help us search for just what we wanted.

Scrappy Block

Here is the result of my experiment combining 'typing paper quilt' and 'quilt as you go' techniques. Instead of sewing the strips together onto 6.5" typing paper I sewed them straight onto a slighlty smaller block (6") of polar fleece (or wadding). This means that as you sew it on you are also quilting it and you don't need to tear off the paper later (which was tedious).

You could even iron the wadding onto freezer paper to stop it stretching although it does so only slightly. I really love the randomness and the fact that I am using up my scrap fabrics and scrap polar fleece.

Here is a finished one I found on Etsy that inspired me to try it.
Click the Etsy home button where you'll find lots of hand craft and art for sale.

Lots of fun!

Using up Scraps

Now here's an idea! Remember the tubular postagestamp blocks Leonie and I did?




Here are instructions for a Scrappy Bargello. This website also has lots of other quilting hints.

This picture comes from the Quiltville website.

Typing Paper Quilt Block

I have just finished a typing paper quilt block from some of my scraps. It is fantastically easy and a great opportunity to use up some of those ittybitty scraps of fabric. The pattern can be found here.

I used greasproof paper instead of typing paper. I just can't get over how easy it was. I'm going to make lots more because I have lots of scraps.

Tracey and Marc's wedding

I recently made this picnic rug as a wedding present for Tracey and Marc.

What to bring to a quilting bee

Here is a list of things to remember to bring to our next Rainbow Connection Quilters weekend if you can:

• patchwork tools
• sewing machine and threads
• orphan blocks
• orphan fabric and scraps
• block patterns to try
• quilting magazines and books
• quilting videos or a 'chick flick' to watch on Saturday night
• patchwork and quilting successes, failures or demonstrations for our 'show and tell' time
• your current project
• a plate of food to share
  

Mystery Metre Quilt

This Mystery Metre Quilt is a communal project suitable for any quilting group. It is great to make one together to donate to a charity of your choice.

It doesn’t matter how frequently your group meets, how big your group is or how far apart they live.

The quilt dimensions preferred by many charities are 40 x 70 inches (102 x 178 cm). A quilt made with fifteen 12” blocks, sashing, borders and binding will end up close to these dimensions.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Each member selects a fabric they would like to use in a quilt. The fabric will later be divided into 15 pieces to form the dominant fabric of each block in the Mystery Quilt. Large prints or widely spaced patterns may be unsuitable so care must be taken in choosing the fabric.
2. Each member of the group brings a parcel (wrapped for secrecy) containing

• about a yard (or a metre) of their selected cotton fabric
• a simple block pattern on grid paper for a 12” x 12” block

3. When the group meets each parcel is added to the Mystery Bag.
4. One member then draws a Mystery Parcel from the Mystery Bag and opens it to reveal the fabric and block pattern to be used in the quilt.
5. This block pattern is then analysed by the group, resulting in cutting instructions and templates being produced for everyone.
6. Each member then takes home one fifteenth of the Mystery Fabric with a set of cutting instructions and templates. This piece of fabric (and its colours) must be the dominant feature in the block. Decisions can be made about whether the fabric should appear in a common position in each block or in any position.
7. Members make their blocks and either bring them to the next meeting, or send them if unable to attend. Members can also bring any excess additional fabrics used in their block. These fabrics can be shared to help create more blocks for the quilt.
8. When the group has created 15 blocks decisions can be made about placement, sashing, borders, binding and backing. This may require a group shopping trip!
9. The members of the group then assist the donor of the Mystery Fabric to construct and finish the quilt.

© Leonie and Betty August 2007

Rainbow Connection Quilters

We really enjoyed our October 2007 quilting weekend.

Our Mystery parcel was Robyn's donation - Indian Trail patch and our the green fabric shown in one of the finished patches being held up by Evelyn and Patricia. Another finished version is on the table in front of Leonie.

People who came to the weekend were:
Betty
Robyn
Leonie
Michelle
Evelyn
Mary
Patricia

For dinner on Saturday we were joined by:
Geoff J
Geoff and Sylvia H
Nola and Garry Z

A great time was had by all and everyone has taken home patches to finish for our first Mystery Quilt.

If you would like to make a patch for our Mystery Quilt just leave a comment here and one will be delivered or posted.

Our dates for 2008 are:
16-17 February
19-20 April
14-15 June
16-17 August
18-19 October

Put them in your diary now.

Luke's Quillo

Here is Luke's quillo made by Ma.

Folded Star Pattern

When we visited England I took these photos of a folded star design. I have now found instructions for how to do it.

The instructions for making these can be found at Patchwork Stars

These stars end up quite thick so are great for cushion covers and pot mits too.

Waterlily Quilt

It took me a few years to design the waterlily blocks then make this quilt for Surrey. Unfortunately we can't leave it on the bed or the cat will leave fur and dust in the patch where he sleeps at my feet each night.

Alex loves quilts. We watch the quilting show 'Simply Quilts' on TV every week when I babysit. His interest lasts about 1 minute.

Changing mat

This random block mat makes a great changing mat for our grandchildren.

Alex's Quillo

Ma's 'Yellow Brick Road' Quilts

Ma's Pink Patchwork Projects

Oscar

Oscar, our cat, is very beautiful and cuddly except when he attacks me. He loves to help with patchwork, so much so that I usually put him outside when I am working.

Activities for Quilting Groups

We are trying to find activities and challenges for our members to work on between our meetings and then work on together at our meetings. We are not even sure of the search words to use to find any such challenges on the web. If you have any ideas please add them to the comments area in this post.

Rainbow Connection Quilters

If you'd like to join our virtual patchwork and quilting group please add your comments here.

Rainbow Connection Quilt

In June we had a great time together creating our Rainbow Connection Quilt to donate to Quilts for Keeps. Here are some pictures. The label for our quilt read:
'Made one very wet rainy weekend by ladies from across the city and across the world connected by quilting:

Marion - Massachusetts USA
Betty - Carlton NSW
Robyn - Carss Park NSW
Leonie - Merrylands NSW
Anne - Loftus NSW
Evelyn - Sans Souci NSW