Category: News

The evening attracted 26 members who worked quietly on their individual projects whilst Adele gave a brief feedback from the Exhibition. She said set up day had run smoothly thanks to everybody’s help. Special thank went to Alyson and Simon Wells who had stored, repaired and arranged delivery of the stands; to Edie for her meticulous planning and overseeing the display of quilts and to Marion and Chris B for preparing a much needed lunch. Thanks also went to members who had made or gifted items as prizes.

The Exhibition had gone well thanks to members who had manned the stalls and entrance during the two days. Sally and Jane had a fantastic Tombola display thanks to those who had made and donated prizes. Susie had co-ordinated a very high standard of prizes for the Raffle and kindly circulated prizes to the winners; Janet for setting up and managing the Book stall and reimbursing members; Debbie guided and helped by Mary for managing the Sales table and reimbursing members. Traders had included Sadie Yeomans who was sad this would be her last exhibition as she was retiring shortly. Lisa had successfully run a stall selling Creative Grids and assisted by her friend Jane had sold items for Worcester Remade Recycling Project which had raised £400. Thanks went to the Refreshment team of Penny, Maureen, Jo, Ali, Ava, Chris R, Sally and Kate for their work in the kitchen and to those who had donated the superb cakes and savoury items. The visitors’ prize of a £50 voucher, sponsored by Doughty’s, was won by Maureen Bilbao; the prize of £15, sponsored by Bettie Freckles, was won by Val Hicks for the A4 challenge. It was noted that 14 visitors had expressed an interest in joining the group.

Deborah Jarman was thanked for kindly agreeing to store the Leominster Quilters’ equipment at her home until the next exhibition. Thanks went to Susie for giving up her time and energy to deliver and unload the equipment, thanks also went to Simon Wells who helped with this.

Adele said a wide range of members had joined between 1989 and 2024 and everyone’s views mattered therefore members were asked to complete the Evaluation form attached to her email and return it prior to the next meeting, a report could then be circulated at the beginning of October. It was hoped to have the 2025 programme completed shortly but in order to provide a programme to accommodate the wide variety of interests and quilting ability within the group members were asked to make suggestions as to what they would like to do, a guest speaker that they knew of, a workshop they would like to be held or a member led mini workshop they were willing to run.

Regarding the funds raised Kate said she was awaiting all the receipts before a final total could be made. It was noted there had been a similar number of visitors to those in 2022 but they could not be compared with 2019 when it had been the 30th anniversary of the group.

3 July – Folded Hexagon Scissor Keeper or Key Fob Workshop

Around 22 members enjoyed a Mini Workshop led by Mary Cook.

With the aid of her samples Mary showed us how to make the folded hexagon fob.

With much chatting and laughter most members managed to go home with a completed fob thanks to Mary’s guidance and patience. Others said they would finish theirs at home, so looks like I shall be busy! Many members agreed they would like to make another fob at home so perhaps we could bring them to display at the next meeting.

Thank you Mary for a very enjoyable evening.

During the evening tea and coffee was served together with some mouth watering cakes thanks to Sally and Jane. Thank you ladies the cakes were scrumptious, an enjoyable change from the usual tea and biscuits.

Whilst enjoying their refreshments Adele and Kate set out the hexagon flowers ready to to make a quilt for Leominster Dementia Group.

Thanks must go to the generosity of Deborah Jarman, who had again kindly invited us to celebrate our Summer Social at her home at Great Wacton. Thank you very much Deborah.

The weather Gods were kind enabling a group of twelve members to sit in the garden where we could listen to the pheasants calling and watch the corvids (members of the crow family) flying around overhead.

A bring and share supper had been provided by members with a wonderful selection of mouth watering food to suit every palate.

As we sat around talking and laughing a vision popped into my head of a campfire and the strains of Ging Gang Gooley wafting around in the ether.

I think everyone would agree, what better way to spend a summer evening than laughing and chatting with friends. It was certainly good for the soul.

Leominster Quilters had agreed to take part in the Threads Through Creation exhibition at Leominster Priory.

The Saturday of the Big Stitch up Day was rather cold and dull but inside the Priory brightness and cheerfulness was all around with beautiful coloured quilts and wall hangings everywhere.

Several members had embraced the challenge of making an A4 quilt entitled “Creation” and these were on view thanks to the hard work of Debbie Cottam who had set up the display.

During the day several members spent one or two hours at the Priory sewing EPP (English Paper Piecing) hexagons which could eventually be turned into a lap quilt to be donated to Leominster Dementia Group.

Members’ efforts attracted considerable interest by passing visitors who stopped to chat and we were able to explain the process of making and joining the hexagons and invite them to ‘have a go’. Some visitors eagerly accepted the offer whilst others needed a little gentle persuasion and encouragement but they agreed it was very relaxing and something that could be done whilst watching television. It was rewarding to hear some say they would try and sew some at home.

All in all it was a very successful and rewarding day and we may even have made a few converts to EPP.

We are thrilled to say that many of our members make little baby quilts for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Hereford Hospital. This is a project that started in 2017, with almost 3000 quilts being donated to the hospital to date, and new ones being made all the time.
The quilts are just 20″ x 16″ / 508mm x 406mm, made of quilting cotton fabric with pure cotton batting.
One member said she loves making these little quilts; choosing beautiful materials, often to complement ones already in the never ending stash, and then putting them together as a little splash of joy. They are also a super way of practising different techniques, maybe setting off on free motion quilting (fmq) for the first time, adding bindings and perfecting all those little magic tricks that become so much more achievable in a nice, manageable sized piece.
And then just imagine where they are going and how they will be used. One member gathers them all up and takes them to the hospital, and then Mums and Dads in the special care baby unit can choose from the quilts – they get to pick exactly what they like, and that little quilt stays with their baby whilst in hospital and goes home with them too. What a lovely story and what a fun project to be a part of! Hopefully there will be many more photos here soon to inspire you.