As members worked on their individual projects the opportunity was taken to discuss and plan the forthcoming Exhibition. Leominster Quilters hold an exhibition of their work every two years. This year it will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August, from 10 am – 4 pm daily, at Kingsland Village Hall HR6 9SQ. As well as a very interesting collection of quilts and objects made by members to look at there will be a Raffle and Tombola where a visitor may be lucky enough to win an item made by one of our members. Additionally visitors will be able to take advantage of purchasing items from the Book Stall and Sales Table; together with making purchases from Bettie Freckles’ stall where there will be a lovely display of fabrics and haberdashery suitable for your next project. Refreshments and a selection of delicious cakes, which always prove popular, will be readily available during the two days. Flyers advertising the event will be circulated shortly to members together with Exhibition Entry Forms that will need to accompany any item submitted for display at the Exhibition.
News
1 April – Tips, Tricks & Tools Talk by Lis Binns
Members were treated to a very interesting talk and slide show by Lis Binns who gave us all an insight into how best to use many of the everyday items we had in our sewing arsenal. Although many of us had been using these for several years, it was interesting to know there was sometimes a better way to use some of them to prevent injury and stress. There was much amusement when Lis told us how to make use of a toilet brush (a new one of course) to collect stray threads from the carpet so they didn’t get tangled around the carpet cleaner. Also making a mixture of Vodka to use instead of starch was quite a revelation to some of us (I’m not sure if this wasn’t a waste of good alcohol!)
To finish her talk we were treated to a show of several quilts Lis had brought along for us to look at. Lis was then thanked for a very amusing and enlightening talk, and there was no doubt we had all learned something useful during the evening.
Our thanks go to Chris and her helpers in the kitchen for ending the evening by serving tea and coffee.
18 March – Sit and Sew
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.
Saturday 7 March
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.
18February – Quilt as you Go
Sheena Roberts from Greenman Quilts arrived promptly ready to start the workshop and was swiftly followed by thirteen members eager to learn all about ‘Quilt as You Go’.
Sheena explained that ‘Quilt as You Go’ was a method used to finish a quilt without having to struggle with a large item on a domestic sewing machine. To help members understand the processes she had brought along and displayed several different examples of the methods she used. During the day whilst she explained each process and went around the room helping members, she displayed several quilts that she had completed and explained which joining methods had been used each time
The day ended with everyone agreeing that it had been a very informative, fun filled day. It was easy to see that the ‘Quilt as you Go’ method for finishing a quilt would be a much easier process than struggling with a large quilt on a domestic sewing machine. Members were eager to try one of the methods demonstrated in the future.
Leominster Quilters 