March 2026 – Leominster Quilters

Jo Henshaw had come along to our Sit and Sew evening to invite our interest in participating in the ‘The Herefordshire Calico Dress’ project. She explained this was a new creative community project by Herefordshire Women’s Equality Group, where local women and anyone who supported women’s equality could work together to create a life-sized gown. Jo explained that The Calico Dress was a simplified ‘sister’ version of the Red Dress by Kirstie Macleod. Whilst answering our questions she showed us photographs of how groups had worked together and produced some very attractive gowns. The idea was for groups to embroider or possibly add patchwork to calico panels that could subsequently be formed into a full size gown. She ended by saying she hoped Leominster Quilters would be interested in participating in the project.

Members then took the opportunity to look at the mountain of fabric that had belonged to our late member Maggie, which Kate had once again brought along. Kate explained that the donations for the fabric members purchased would go to charity.

Thanks once again went to Sally and Jane for serving tea and coffee.

Silver Darlings by Lizzie Wall – Workshop

“Silver Darlings” is the traditional nickname for Atlantic herring, which are small oily fish that get their name from their silvery shimmering scales and streamlined bodies.

We were lucky to have Lizzie Wall return and share her Silver Darlings workshop with fourteen members. Lizzie showed us some of her Silver Darlings projects then with the aid of examples she talked us through each stage of the workshop. Lizzie had kindly provided all the supplies and materials required and we were able to look through her vast array of fabric in order to make our project. During the day as everyone worked at their own pace the silence in the room indicated the amount of concentration that was being taken. After lunch Lizzie demonstrated how we could use free motion quilting to enhance and finish our projects at home.

At the end of the day when we displayed our work it was fascinating to see a very colourful shoal of Silver Darlings, with each individual project looking so different although we had all started with the same pattern.

Finally before we all packed up members expressed their thanks to Lizzie for a very enjoyable and successful workshop and everyone agreed they had thoroughly enjoyed the day.