Festive Makes by Group Members

Our members have been extra busy stitching for Christmas and brought in an impressive range of special makes for our "Show & Tell" at the last meeting.

A Japanese folded patchwork tree hanging by Pat Mc 

Margaret M finished her panel from our recent workshop and the golden beads added a super touch to the effect.

 Margaret also made her padded wreath but chose Autumnal colours instead of Christmas fabrics so it could be on display for longer than the Festive Season. Great idea and it looks very home spun.

Pat Mc also brought this cute Christmas Owl panel
"Owl be at home this Christmas Hoo Hoo", well that's what it says on the fabric!

and finished her tree panel. Pat was the only person in the group to stitch the windswept trees which proved more difficult to everyone else. Well done Pat!

Maria has been stitching hexagons and showed us how to make these lovely little basket shapes.

She has started a cushion panel in fussy cut hexies 

and finished this beautiful shopping bag in stunning Japanese fabrics.

Val has completed these two quilts for her twin grand babies and she hand quilted all the animal motifs. Great job and such a modern colour scheme.

Kathy showed a group of members how to make the elements of this fabulous fireplace hanging and whilst it could be used all year round, the colours and fabrics are also perfect for Christmas.

Below, detail of a triangle point

A second one in progress

Kathy showed us how to stitch a piped, bound, edge and here are a few photos to help remind everyone how to do it...

The piping fabric is accurately cut a quarter of an inch wider then stitched down the length

When pressed with the two raw edges together it forms the piping.

The prepared binding is then stitched to the wrong side and turned over so the contrast gold piping shows on the right side. This can then be top stitched.

Thanks go to Kathy for such a great idea and all her hints and tips.

Jo made several tree blocks so decided to make a small quilt from them.

Jo made 4 of the padded wreaths but has already given a couple to friends.

This plaited wreath still needs a bit of tweaking and a couple of stitches to finish it. (After requests, here are a couple of details) It was such a lot of stuffing in the three tube lengths of around 48 inches. The fabric width was 4. 5 inches but it could easily be sized up or down to choice. There was no pattern or guidelines, a similar one was just spotted recently in a window in a Lake District charity shop.

Well done everyone and let's see what comes in after another two weeks. 
Meeting, at our usual time but at lunchtime we will be strolling over to the Sefton Arms Pub in the village for our Christmas Dinner.

Christmas Panel and Easy Wreaths Workshop

Last meeting we all enjoyed a fabulous seasonal workshop with our visiting tutor, Maureen. As previously with Maureen, it was a great day and everyone was able to learn new skills and make good head start with the two projects.

Members selected various colour ways for their trees so it will be interesting to see all the different finished panels.

No doubt we will be seeing the finished projects at our next meeting and here's Maureen's panel .

We also learned how to make simple Christmas wreaths using 5 inch scrap squares, sewn in half, turned inside out and stuffed. Next 40 were then tied on to a wire circlet with raffia. So simple and easy. 

We made good headway in class but I finished mine at home the same evening....

Maria brought in this lovely table centre she had made to show us all.

She had also made two fabulous padded Christmas trees 

Don't forget that West Kirby Quilters are celebrating their 20 year anniversary with an extra special Quilt Show at Westbourne Hall, Westbourne Hall, West Kirby, Wirral, Cheshire on Fri 11th (12 to 5pm) and Sat 12th Nov (10am to 4pm) this week. POST CODE CH484DQ

Pop along if you can and our tutor Maureen will be there exhibiting.

Malvern Autumn Quilt Show 2016

First just a reminder that we have a Christmas Workshop on Wednesday so remember to bring your fabrics and sewing machines. 

(The club's machine is booked by Val.)

Despite the length of the journey home and Marj feeling unwell as we set off home, we all enjoyed another great mini bus trip to yet another super show. This time it was to Malvern and it was a joy to see the glorious colours of Autumn on the route especially as Hugh our driver had to take us off the motorway due to traffic blocks. 

Next trip is the last Friday in November and it will be at the super venue of the Royal Pavilion in the centre of Harrogate. The show is on but the shops are at close reach if anyone wants to get a taste of Christmas with the festive lights and a bit of seasonal shopping in the lovely town centre.

Here's a taster of some of the quilts at Malvern but the are lots more if you click HERE and see my full post of them. 

How about this Attic Window above? Isn't it the perfect panel that Elma Richmond managed to find on a trip to America? It's inspiring and is quite an easy quilt to make with a great youtube instruction video from the Missouri Star Quilt Co blog .

This, below, is another really simple quilt which was on a trade stand. It makes a big impact by use of vibrant colours but it is made from random scraps. The multi fabric of the sashing really pull it together visually.

Blooms, Birds and Berries by Jean Coumbe

Spring's Magic by Val Thomas

Christmas Stockings for the Last Show and Tell of October

Joan is making these fabulous named Christmas Stockings for all the members of her family.

There were several lovely table centres, cushions and bags completed, some for personal use but most towards our 2017 Spring exhibition.

Table centre by Caroline

stylish bag by Maria

 intricate cushion byBrenda

Margaret made this fabulous bag in a lovely floral fabric

Josie finished this Celtic Braid which she had ditched last year but she found it in a cupboard and decided to finish it off at last and what a success. 

Irene made a lovely table centre from 3 block with circles of flying geese.

This cute wallhanging was also made by Irene...

Another lovely cushion panel from Brenda

and last but not least another bag with a really effective elephant print made by Margaret M

Christmas Stockings for the Last Show and Tell of October

Joan is making these fabulous named Christmas Stockings for all the members of her family.

There were several lovely table centres, cushions and bags completed, some for personal use but most towards our 2017 Spring exhibition.

Table centre by Caroline

stylish bag by Maria

 intricate cushion byBrenda

Margaret made this fabulous bag in a lovely floral fabric

Josie finished this Celtic Braid which she had ditched last year but she found it in a cupboard and decided to finish it off at last and what a success. 

Irene made a lovely table centre from 3 block with circles of flying geese.

This cute wallhanging was also made by Irene...

Another lovely cushion panel from Brenda

and last but not least another bag with a really effective elephant print made by Margaret M