Month: September 2025

Looking forward to a day of sewing members and guest participants began arriving early ready to set up their workstations. When all members were ready and Crafty UK had their sales table organised Andy and Jo were able to start their workshop.

Andy gave us a detailed explanation of the Hexagon ruler we would be using and showed us the different patterns that could be made.  We were then shown how to use the ruler to cut our fabric in order to make a block.  Amidst much chatter and discussion members moved to their individual spaces to begin their project and helped each other, some of us taking a little longer to get our heads around what we had been shown.  By lunch time most members had been able to finish their first block, whilst others had made several and were well on their way to a finished project.  As members enjoyed their lunch Andy explained how he had developed his acrylic templates to help make traditional blocks more easily.  With the help of Jo they then showed us a wide array of quilts that had been made with the aid of his various templates.  Everyone agreed they had thoroughly enjoyed the day and many said they would like Andy to return and run another workshop.

As lights to the main room were turned off and the only light came from the projector screen, a hush of anticipation descended on the room.

As Maggie presented each slide she told us how Hawaiian quilting had originated and gave us the name and significance of each quilt.  Members watched in awe as each new slide appeared.  It was noted that the Hawaiians did not include images of people or animals on their quilts but took inspiration from the local plants and flowers.  As the slide show finished and the lights came back on in the room Maggie showed us and talked about her beautiful quilts that she had brought along to show us.  As they were passed around the room we were able to examine the superb workmanship at close quarters, which caused much murmuring and discussion amongst members

As refreshments were served, Maggie kindly showed a few members how she prepared her templates, marked her quilts and the fool proof method she used to produce such superb appliqué patterns and points.

Thanks go to Maggie and her husband for visiting us and showing us her wonderful quilts.  Everyone agreed that the quilts were beautiful and the slide show had been fascinating so much so that it might encourage some of us to try Hawaiian quilting.