Needlework Archive
The 'show and tell' table was groaning with the weight of items that had been produced in the last month.
A new lady, Brenda, joined us and brought some lovely items she had made, which included a snowman!! The way the weather keeps changing it may be in season.
Bernice had made her usual amount of bags, this month they were zipped bags which could hold toiletries or make-up, she kindly makes them for her church to sell at their fetes.
Both Pat and Lesley brought their 'nearly made' Japanese folding bags (watch this space).
There was a notebook cover, a mock chenille clutch bag and a ballerina cushion. Jennifer brought a long awaited quilt that she had been working, on and off, for three years. Also on the table was Dorset buttons that Joan had made, they are buttons made with embroidery yarn. Joan will be showing us how to make the buttons at our meeting in May.
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Our Easter Competition brought some lovely results, there were needle and scissor cases, baby's mobile, pencil case, peg bag, album cover, Dorothy bag and even a bouquet of flowers. Although we had winners, each and everyone was a winner.
We had a cake, complete with chicks, from Lesley and it was delicious. Thanks Lesley.
Our 'show and tell' table was full as usual. Six bags, all different, two folder covers and two calico framed embroidered pictures. The question was could anyone guess the picture produced on the front of one of the bags, it was guessed correctly as a French bull dog. (I made it and had had suggestion that it looked like Darth Vader).
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Our 'show and tell' produced a clutch bag, a fabric box from Joan, a wooden box with a beautifully embroidered bird in the centre from Marian and a repaired felt sheep that had been chewed by Ann's dog (and no he's not a sheep dog).
We had a preparation afternoon cutting out circles and squares for our Japanese Folding bag. Some will be sewing all the bag by hand, some (mainly myself) by machine.
Jennifer arrived with a challenge for the group by way of a 10" square piece of material each, all are the same print and of which we all need to make something original and keep it a secret. On the 'revealing' day no one will know who produced the finished article but we will vote, not for the best, but for which we personally like the best.
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Our November meeting was the last of the year and the photos in the gallery are the proof of the lovely things that were made by the group. A denim coat embroidered with sashiko stitches, two cushions and Christmas tree wall hangings and hand made tree decorations.
New skills and ideas were taught over the twelve months to people who said ‘I don’t think I can do that’ and then produced items to prove that they could.
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This month Jennifer instructed on how to make a Christmas garland for the centre of our dining table.
Our 'show and tell' table was full as usual.
Bernice brought an embroidered tote bag in black and white.
Marian's embroidery is exquisite, she uses her needle like a paint brush.
The Christmas present cross stitch tags from Pat.
Ann brought a beautiful quilted reversible waistcoat, it is a classic piece that will never date, also encrusted note book covers which she assured us all were 'easy' to do.
I can see that we will have to have a few workshop day in the New Year!
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Our show and tell this month was small compared to recent months because everyone one is working on future items. Lesley's Grandma's Garden is work in progress which is going to be lovely when finished, so watch this space!
Jill had made a baby book for her great grandson's birthday in November. Every page of the book had applique designs.
Joan's contribution was a cushion for her granddaughter which had a picture in the centre of a Grandma's Garden also. Around the edges was embroidery depicting all her granddaughters activities. Cycling, swimming and gymnastics.
How lovely to receive these handmade gifts.
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We had a pleasant afternoon with everyone hand sewing. A new lady, Marian brought a magnifying glass with a light. This was a useful gadget because of her fine embroidery stitches in gold and reds. This is an ongoing work of art.
There were two more works of 'art' from Lilian and Jill, one of a hare and an underwater seascape. Both were combined painting and sewing.
Bernice brought a quilt of bright coloured squares.
Two smaller quilts for children from Jill and Jennifer, one in blue for a great-grandchild and one with a colourful alphabet design.
Another quilt from Jennifer was a Bargello design of waves, it is a wedding present for two lucky people.
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We had a pleasant afternoon, thanks to Ann, who after modelling her designer coat of hand printed 'dragon skin' on velvet, instructed the group on how to achieve designs with paints, old toothbrushes and cardboard. Amazing results!
Our 'show and tell' included from two members, Jill and Bernice, who are both well in front with their Christmas decorations. Chris's knitting needle case, with a perfect zipped pocket from the previous month's homework, and was sectioned to store her needle ends and accessories.
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Because of holidays and family commitments the June meeting was smaller than usual but some of the 'show and tell' was larger, Jill's two year in the making quilt was a large Grandmother’s Garden design.
Doreen's hand painted and embroidered quilt is an ongoing labour of love, the design enlarged from a library book and the detailed work involved is a credit to her.
Our 'in house tutor' Jennifer instructed a few of the brave on free motion machine quilting, which is a bit like patting your head with one hand, while rubbing you stomach with the other.
You will always find patchwork groups rummaging around charity shops for unusual items to unpick or adapt to make something completely different, but I think the find of the year goes to Joan who found a gem of a patchwork coat and redesigned it to tailor fit.
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Our May afternoon, although small in number and different venue, was still enjoyable.
We had done our home work of reversed applique. From Jennifer a 'Peacock feather', from Chris a 'Whirlwind and Fields Before Harvest', from Jill a 'Stained Glass' wall hanging and from Lilian a 'Trio of Koi Carp'. It still surprises us all on how we all have different ideas on the theme.
Joan had framed her Calico Garden and Doreen was busy adding more to her embroidery.
There were bags from Jennifer and Joan.
Jennifer our 'in house tutor' demonstrated on the insertion of a zip that could be used on a pocket for clothes or bags, that is our homework for the month (we were sent home with material and zips, so we have no excuse).
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It was a crazy month for bags, if you'll excuse the pun there were bags of them. Three were hand sewn by Bernice. From Joan there were two of the same bag pattern but with different fabric with several quirky pockets. A large sewing bag was another from Bernice.
Ann brought a wall hanging of unusual reverse applique and it turned out to be our homework challenge for this month, I dare say a few of the attempts will be unusual to say the least.
As so often happens a quilt turned up which couldn't be missed and was BLUE!! and was partly made up of scraps of fabric.
Pat brought an unopened Christmas present of a sewing machine and Bernice helped her to make her first tote bag. After looking at the array of bags on display I'm sure it won't be her last.
Several were finishing their Calico Gardens from the previous month and Lesley kindly offered to embroider and sew on the label with name and date onto the finished BLUE quilt.
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In February Ann instructed the group with a workshop on Calico Garden embroidery and our March meeting produced some wonderful first time attempts from the group. It was lovely to see how many had really tried to accomplish something completely different from our usual work.
As usual it would be impossible to rule out our needlework completely which included three quilts, one mainly done by hand by Chris, three bags from a new member Bernice and one with applique from Jennifer.
Another new member Margaret joined our group.
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We had an enjoyable afternoon which passed too quickly.
After our show and tell which consisted of a cream and white heavily embroidered quilt from Joan, which looked just as lovely on the reverse.
A bright and cheerful quilt made out of scraps from Jennifer along with a quilt she had made with January's block.
Jill had made, on her own, a lovely cushion and as you see is growing with confidence.
We all 'got to grips' with Ann's instructions on Calico Garden with which we were all so engrossed with, that we nearly missed our tea and coffee break, I say nearly because there was chocolate bisc
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Our group's first meeting of the year saw how busy we had been!
There were two quilts, one a large double and one with 'vintage' squares joined uniquely with pale green crocheting.
Two baker boy style hats, in time for the Spring and a tote bag with matching purse.
Jennifer instructed us on the delight of a simple block which could be used on several designs of quilts depending on how you arranged them.
Our next meeting is on the Thursday 23rd February at 1.00pm where Ann will be showing how to design an unusual embroidery named 'Calico Garden'. Anyone who attends could you please bring a large embroidery hoop or unused picture frame (not too large), embroidery needle and cream or calico coloured sewing thread.
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Our last meeting of 'Show and Tell' for 2016 produced Christmas baubles and table decorations of every description.
During our buffet we all agreed the group had done well and achieved some lovely results throughout the year. We wondered how we were going to top next year, the beautiful quilt we all had contributed to and gifted to the U3A for the Christmas Raffle.
Our first meeting in January will include from our 'In house tutor' Jennifer a new patchwork block to learn, bring notepads and pencils. The usual 'Show and Tell' and see if we can work out any needlework problems we may have struggled with.
On 23rd February there will be a workshop from Ann on the art of Calico Gardens, which are framed pieces of embroidery and your own imagination!
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On our October group meeting, as you see from the photo, some lovely items for our 'Show and Tell'. A padded jewellery box made from decorated silk material, Christmas baubles and two machine embroidered cushions.
We chose and arranged our pattern of blocks that the group have made for a special prize for the U3A Christmas party, it looks amazing!
Our in house tutor Jennifer demonstrated how to 'quilt as you go'.
Along with tea, coffee and chocolate biscuits it was an enjoyable afternoon.
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Our September 'Show and Tell' produced, as usual, some lovely items.
Doreen’s bag of silk material had an unusual use of curtain rings to attach the handles.
Jennifer’s was a clutch bag made from old jeans, a brilliant way to recycle worn out jeans.
Joan’s was a Quilt as you Go which she assured us was a simple procedure.
Jennifer instructed us on how to make early Christmas decorations. Our attempts looked nice grouped together.
We had a new lady join us named Ann. Quite skilled in hand work and so we look forward to perhaps picking up new ideas.
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Our meeting in August was a busy afternoon.
Our 'show and tell' provided us with lots of lovely items.
Joan and Jennifer had produced beautiful lined padded boxes, one had been produced with material they had dyed themselves.
Chris brought a cover for her sewing machine and a small quilt with free hand machine embroidery.
Doreen had hand embroidered with tiny stitches the Olympics emblem (sorry no photo).
Lesley brought a few of her English paper piecing 'grandmothers garden' rounds to see what they will look like when she completes her quilt, and as you can see it will be lovely. All by hand.
Joan patiently introduced us to the art of Japanese Kumihimo weaving of yarns, to be woven onto the handles of your scissors (in my case it was like patting your head with one hand and rubbing your stomach with the other), as you see a few were produced.
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Our "show and tell" in July included two handbags, one with an outside pocket of Seminole design, which was last month's home-work.
From Joan a romantic quilt with hearts and flowers which included a flying geese border.
From Jill, a sewing machine cover for her now much used machine.
A lovely cushion from Jennifer for her grandson Thomas.
Jennifer later demonstrated how to bind a quilt, a very neat finish with no bulky joints.
Everyone always turns up to the meetings with their projects they have finished or what they are working on. We had a new member, Shirley, this month and I'm sure she went home buzzing with ideas and a promise to try the Exploding Pineapple block.
We ironed out everyone's sewing problems.
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June was a bit of a patriotic month being the Queen's birthday so red white and blue was the order of the day.
Our 'show and tell' included a hexagon baby's crib quilt and shoulder bag.
We had all done our homework on Jennifer's Flying Geese block and ironed out problems with the previous month's block of the Exploding Pineapple.
We welcomed a new member to the group and Joanne left with instructions on English Paper Piecing.
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The Quilters and Needlework group have been busy the last months. Everyone has been busy sewing and the ‘show and tell’ have produced some lovely items and inspired the whole group.
We have had demonstrations from Jennifer on how to sew an Exploding Pineapple, which was not as dangerous as it sounds, last month was the turn of Flying Geese. Both were not as difficult as they looked. This month, June, the group will be shown how to do a patchwork block called Chop Suey.
Joan will demonstrate how to make a plaited cord to attach to personal items such as scissors.
----- ----- Two finished quilts were brought last month. Joan’s was for her son showing their Welsh heritage with a red dragon in the centre and blocks around it denoting his family interests and hobbies. Jennifer’s was destined to go to a family relative in Australia, if she can find the right postage, it may be cheaper to take it herself!!
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We had a ‘rainy day’ and ‘bridal’ themes for April and May and the light hearted theme for June is the Queen’s birthday.
We had a very patriotic day with items for St Patrick, St George and St David Days. Lesley brought a home baked Easter cake complete with chocolate eggs. It was delicious!
----- We had two ‘in house tutors’.
Doreen demonstrated how to make an Easter Pod which when gently pressed revealed a small chocolate egg, the pods could equally be made for Christmas to enclose gifts of money. -----
Jennifer demonstrated how to join blocks for ‘quilt as you go’ and everyone couldn’t believe how easy it was, but no doubt we will have to be shown again.
Lesley was inspired when she joined the group to finish an embroidered tablecloth of spring flowers, it looked lovely now completed.
A finished quilt was revealed with a ‘ta dah’, a quilt that started off as a pin cushion and through the dark winters night turned into a full sized quilt!!
We were given by a U3A member Eileen, items for our group of a rotary cutter with blades, rulers and a large self healing cutting mat, which we will all use and are very grateful for.
Our next meeting is on 28th April 1-pm-3pm and our light hearted theme is April Showers. The theme is not compulsory, just bring what you are working on.
If you come for the first time, please look on the noticeboard in the entrance, because rooms can change monthly. Just call in for a cup of tea and a chat and see what we are about.
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Easter came early to the Quilters & Needlework group, and produced some lovely ideas to take home.
----- Lesley modelled her creation (on her head is a tea cosy, not a papal mitre)
Feel free to join us on the fourth Thursday of the month. Next month’s theme is St George’s Day, St David’s Day or Spring or just bring whatever you are working on.