Once I had my machine back in working order I was able to quilt the Daisy quilt and then pass it on to Elaine for binding. It is now complete and ready to donate. If you'd like it please let me know.
We started in 2007 with a quilt made one very rainy weekend with friends from across Sydney and across the world connected by patchwork and quilting. Our members have included quilters and novices from far and wide - NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland (Australia), New Zealand, Massachusetts and Connecticut (USA), N.Ireland, Cornwall, Shropshire and Wales (UK). All our quilts are for charity, either raffled to earn money or donated directly to a nearby charity.
Pages
- Mystery Metre Quilts
- RCQ Membership
- Quilts 2007-10
- Quilts 2011-12
- Quilts 2013-14
- Quilts 2015-16
- Quilts 2017
- Quilts 2018
- Quilts 2019
- Quilts 2020 - 21
- Quilts 2022
- Quilts 2023
- RCQ Block Instructions
- Patches and Quilts
- Creative Zoomers
- Chookshed Stitchers 2024 challenge
- Quilts 2024
- Chookshed Challenge 2025
- Quilts 2025
Friday, April 4, 2025
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Machines that purr
I recently had two of my machines serviced by a man who does mobile servicing only - Ludwig Castillo - 1300 124 122 - Castillo Machine Repairs . Stephanie came to mine and we watched the magic happen asking lots of questions and getting lots of tips.
Here are the component scraps from the donated machine that started smoking.
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Tread carefully and clean your machines now!
Last week Kerrie donated her mother's old sewing machine to us. It is a really good Bernina. But as it had not been used in some years I decided to give it a clean before I tried it.
Following the instruction booklet I set to and found...
I did not get a picture of the smoke billowing forth because I was in too much of a hurry to unplug it all and open the window so I did not have smoke alarm hassles.
I think it will be a really good machine but I think I'll leave the electrics to a machine man.
More news to come on our new Bernina.
So on your next free day clean your machine and change the needle.
Last week's quilt gatherings
I began with one of my practice star blocks from some years ago and then worked out from that, aiming to use as many L-&-Es as possible in various patterns, front and back. And using some other fabrics that went with those colours and for which I had no other purpose.
Then, this week Kerrie came to visit and brought her mother's sewing machine for us to use. We spent time creating extensions for her quilt that used to be a wall hanging. She wants it to be a single bed topper.
Monday, March 3, 2025
When Quilters Tour
On Friday, after 2 hours of rehab, I returned home to await the arrival of Chooky (Coonamble) and Janice (Bathurst) who were coming to stay at mine. Stephanie joined us for afternoon tea as well.
On Saturday Stephanie came back to mine and we all travelled by train to the city to meet up with Janet (Utah) and use a wander around Sydney as the background to meeting in real life (rather than on Zoom).
Before meeting Janet we met up with Jules (Coonamble), another quilting friend, and took a little detour via Customs House at Circular Quay for the surprise in the floor.
After meeting up with Janet, her husband and two friends she was travelling with, our next stop was to City Extra for lunch.
By then we were quite a crowd as Leah (another friend of Chooky's) had joined us. Janet's 3 travel companions then left us to tour on the Red Bus while we others took the ferry to Manly.
The day was very hot but we were able to stay in the shade most of the time.
When we arrived at Manly Stephanie and I stayed at the ferry terminal enjoying an ice cream which melted as quickly as we could eat it while the others walked to the beach so Janet could put her feet in the Pacific Ocean (or is it the Tasman at that point?). Of course she came back with her jeans wet to the knees!
Once we returned to Circular Quay we returned to Customs House to show Janet where she was in Sydney and enjoyed a coffee nearby. We then caught the Light Rail to the QVB.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
A new quilter in the making
Artie is a young lady interested in patchwork and quilting. She came to mine with her first bundle of fat quarters last weekend and we played. After some discussion about the sorts of designs she liked and a lot of browsing through books and online she decided on a block.
This was followed by lessons on grid paper and some colour play. We searched my stash for some plains to add to her patterned fabrics.
Then we started... ta da!
Artie's first block! She is coming back this weekend to choose another block for a sampler in her chosen colours.
This was just what I needed as I am in house arrest while my hip heals and my movement strengthens.
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Jeanette's quilts
Monday, January 6, 2025
A Citrus quilt for the author
Karen made a small quilt (for table or wall-hanging) for a friend who published a book on Citrus in November.
The book: Citrus by David Mabberley (a friend and colleague)
This is an amazing book with lots of illustrations from the ancient and modern art world as well as information that ties the history of the world to citrus.
Sunday, January 5, 2025
Karen's latest Show and Tell
Karen made cushions for three friends as Xmas presents. The colours and themes reflect the interests and tastes of the recipients: cockatoos for an animal-lover; banksias for a keen gardener; and pink/red eucalypt flowers and leaves for another gardener. They are 18 inches square and are made pillow-case style.
Stephanie's latest show and tell
Here is Stephanie's progress on her Oh My Gosh quilt. The smallest pieces are 1.5" cut squares so the half square triangles are 3.5" squares untrimmed I think.
I'm inspired to make one as well to use up some of my scraps too. I just have to find enough whites and tone on tone whites.
Our first get-together for 2025
Yesterday a small group (Karen, Elaine, Stephanie and I) worked hard upstairs, and Linda and Jess came for lunch.
We were able to put all the tulips together and really love the final design. If your blocks have not been included we can still use them as orphan blocks when and if they arrive.
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Macquarie Home Stay Appeal
Hi all, here is a great cause to donate to:
https://chookyblue.blogspot.com/2025/01/macquarie-home-stay-fundraiser.html