News from Marion in Mass, USA

The charity quilt I was working on is finished. It is the first quilt I have tied, using embroidery thread (all six strands), and tied with a square knot. I was browsing in one of my quilt books, and realized that the name of this pattern is "Rail Fence", which takes on a completely different look with so many fabrics used. (I have made a rail fence quilt with only three colors, and wider strips, than the 2 and a half inches in these blocks.) We don't know how many quilts will be made by our group yet, because we have until September to complete them. This one is a small one. I had extra blocks, so this has 6 blocks across and 8 down. Each block was 6 and a half inches.

April Quilting Weekend

Our April patchwork weekend saw the completion of two projects and the near completion of our next charity quilt. First up there were the Chook Scraps. These little chooks were inspired by one Betty purchased in Murrurundi, NSW. We worked out the pattern and used up lots of tiny scraps (hence the name) to make a whole brood.
Then we completed the remaining blocks for our next charity quilt. This photo was Saturday but on Sunday we went shopping for border fabric and then completed the sewing together of the blocks and the addition of borders. We'll finish this one in June. It is amazing how well the blocks fit together when the rule of using only the colours in the focus fabric is followed.
Last but not least here is a photo of our now completed Indian Trail charity quilt. Just the label to print and attach and then we can send it off. This one will go to the ABC Wrapped with Love program. Evelyn did a lot of the hand sewing of the binding but a few of us helped by taking turns around the table as we chatted and followed the activities of others as they made new blocks or chooks.

Our next gathering is in June so start your blocks now and note it in your diary.
Special thanks to Surrey for keeping us all well fed during the weekend. We really did miss our kitchen hand Mary though.

Our first quilt has an owner

Our first Rainbow Connection Quilt (hence the name of our group) has been chosen by a 4 year old boy whose six year old sister has cancer. This was through the 'Quilts for Keeps' program in NSW.

February Patchwork Weekend

Again a wonderful weekend. This time we almost completed our first Mystery Metre Quilt thanks to all those who completed a block or more and helped put it together. Our travellers this time were Mary (Utah) and her sister Helen (Queensland).


We even had a great chef and assistant together with lots of food supplied by others. Much fun was had around the table eating.

Mary's Grass Quilt

My latest patchwork project has been a quilt (hanging) and cushion
for Mary B from Utah. These are grasses she works on.

Our Youngest Quilter

Alex spent the day helping Leonie and Ma do patchwork.

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.