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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.

20 August – Sit and Sew

Whilst members sat and worked on their individual projects Beth from Worcester Remade described some of the items she had brought along and gave a brief outline of the work their Charity did to save unwanted items being sent to landfill.

Members then took the opportunity to look at the items on the sales table, and many members were seen walking away with smiles on their faces and armfuls of goodies.

Thanks go to Beth for visiting us with some of the items they have on offer in their shop in Worcester.

Thanks also go to Debbie for the Birthday Cake and to the ladies who once again helped in the kitchen.

Fabrics of the Foundling Hospital

Despite scheduled road closures 22 members managed to meet at Monkland Hall.

Notifications of forthcoming Cheltenham exhibitions were made available.  A repeated request for help in finding a new home for the storage of the exhibition quilt stands was made.  Andy from Crafty UK was running a workshop on 17 September, anyone interested was asked to add their name to the list provided. Additional details would be circulated shortly.

With the aid of a slide show members were treated to a very interesting and informative talk by Mags from The Patchwork Basket at Newent.

Mags explained how the Foundling Hospital had been established by the sea captain Thomas Coram who was appalled at the number of abandoned babies and children left starving and dying on the streets of London.  Not a hospital as we know it today but an establishment offering “hospitality” for the less fortunate.  The charity was set up in 1739 to care for the high number of abandoned babies in London. Infants were accepted by ballot and when they first arrived were baptised and given a new name.  The mothers had the opportunity to reclaim their child in the future, when they were in a better position to take care of them, so they often left a small token with the child to enable future identification.  On arrival at the hospital the babies were sent to the country to a wet nurse until the age of 4 or 5, and then returned to the hospital where the boys and girls were kept segregated in separate wings.  They received a basic education in reading, writing and arithmetic and were often sent into service or to serve an apprenticeship.

The Foundling Hospital closed as a children’s home in the 1950s and was renamed the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children in 1954.

Mags was thanked for an absolutely fascinating talk and slide show and everyone agreed that it made us all realise how lucky we are today.