Those Stitchin’ Mission quilts are taking shape

Homework for today was to have the quilt top completed, ready for a class on creating the quilt sandwich - and as everyone arrived it was obvious that most of our newbies had clearly been very industrious at home this week. 

Robyn stitched her blocks together entirely by hand!  In a week! Here’s Margaret’s bright Quarry Stones quilt, with fussy-cut motor bikes. And here’s Di’s ‘happy feet’ penguin party quilt.  This penguin fabric, in either red or yellow, proved extremely popular, so watch to see these little guys popping up in several quilts.

In no particular hurry

Whilst I do enjoy running up machine-pieced quilts for faster results my very favourite way to create quilts is by hand.  Slowly. With no particular time frame.  And the more fabrics I can include, the better!

This quilt ticks all those boxes.

The Fabric of Society (Dr Annette Gero and Kim McLean) features a photo of the original, by Frederica Josephson, and gives Kim McLean’s instructions for her version.  Kim’s quilt uses traditional fabrics deliciously fussy-cut to achieve a look that is full of vibrant colour and movement.

A couple of years ago quilter Kerry Dear created her version -inspired by Kim’s! 

Kerry’s quilt, Candied Hexagons, appeared as a cover quilt in Quilter’s Companion magazine and was so popular that the particular issue completely sold out.  It used Marti Michell templates and was machine pieced.

Most of the fabrics in this version were glorious brights by Kaffe Fassett, red polka dots, golden yellows and voluptuous flower prints, producing a thoroughly modern take on Frederica Josephson’s original.

Lurline and Janet have made their versions too.

Mine is reasonably traditional, something of a stash-buster, using many of my large-print florals.  I’m trying to keep it light and bright, and stitching the hexagons by hand over English papers.

Who would have thought there’d be so many ways to piece together a hexagon?

It’s such a deliciously relaxing way to create a quilt….eventually.

What’s your favourite way to create a quilt?

Armed and dangerous!

Not really.  But today’s Stitchin’ Mission class was all about rotary cutting, as we turned yardage into quilt blocks.

Concentration levels were so high that the freshly baked chocolate coconut slice was hardly touched* with our eager newbies favouring slices of a different kind.  Gail, one of a team of dear friends of mine who kindly helped out as Rebekahs, helped Moo press her fabric before beginning the process. Eleanor lined up her fabric so it fell nice and straight. I had to teach Debbie backwards! (She is left-handed) Julia and Louise worked together to cut “quarry stones” in no time. And Carol enjoyed working with her rainbow cats.

Linda demonstrated an easy way to stitch together all these blocks, and everyone’s gone home to stitch up a storm this week. 

We’re expecting to see some mighty colourful quilt tops - or works in progress - next Sunday.

Are we having fun yet, ladies?  I know I am!

Di

*OK, so I had a piece!

Isn’t he growing into a handsome fellow?

Chester is a real darling and brings us so much joy.

Last week we were shocked by the news that Chester’s breeder, Matthew Venables, had passed away.  Matt and his wife Danielle were so kind to us, even welcoming us into their home for an overnight stay, when we travelled to collect Chester (Alpyne Air Secret Agent). 

Our hearts go out to Danielle at this very sad time.

Di

Just for the colours

These are some of the little pincushions we gave to each Stitchin' Mission newbie and Rebekah.

I just liked the way they looked in the basket - so cheerful!

Stitchin’ Mission has begun!

Not even Sydney’s torrential spring showers could dampen the enthusiasm of our Stitchin’ Mission quiltmakers who  came along on Sunday afternoon to the first of 5 classes Linda Hungerford is giving at St Mark’s.

After months of Skyping, promoting, advertising, shopping for fabric, liaising with our chosen mission, KU Children’s Services, printing notes, sewing sample quilts, and gathering together an enthusiastic band of supporters, Di B and I could hardly believe the big day had finally arrived!

The stage was set, with a folder of notes and patterns and a handmade pincushion laid out ready for each of our arrivals. We had a display of artist impressions of the new KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning & Care Centre, where our quilts are destined to become treasured ‘security blankets’ for the little ones enrolled there when it opens in June 2010.

   

There were tables groaning with donations of child-friendly focus fabrics and bright supporting fabrics, ready for our newbies to ‘shop’ from at the end of the lesson.Of course the famous Stitchin’ Mission banner, which Linda had brought all the way from Des Moines, had pride of place with the 4 sample quilts at the front of the room. 

Then they arrived – 33 eager newbies and Rebekahs – and after listening with rapt concentration to Linda’s clear and entertaining presentation the rush was on to choose fabrics.   I heard afterwards that several had been eyeing them off and mentally choosing their favourites even as Linda was still talking – such was their enthusiasm! 

This week’s homework is simple: washing and pressing the fabric ready for rotary cutting the quilt block pieces on Sunday.

That’s when the real fun begins!

More birthday silliness

Would you trust these two to organise a Stitchin’ Mission?Linda has!  Just 8 days to go!

(If you have permission to view my private blog www.disdarlings.blogspot.com pop across shortly for photos of my wonderful family)