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.