PATCHWORK PALS

A few less than usual this month on a Saturday, but great coffee and chatting by all!  Lots of sharing with Pat showing us her new Village patchwork scheme!  Very enlightening! Only a few photos as there was much “work in progress”! Pat Harvey was contemplating her material choices for Pat R’s Saturday Class on 30 th May making up a landscape!  Pat H wasn’t able to take a picture of how she laid this out, so she will see it again from the Blog! Jenny was busy cutting out the Gingerbread man and lady from freezer paper.  There are a couple of others who have taken the Gingerbread pattern to play with, will be interesting when they all come to class together and see how each person has decorated them!  Watch this space! Sarah is busy playing with her hearts quilt, making smaller hearts to go round the larger heart she made earlier.  No matter how much Sarah moved the squares around, some of the same material ended up next to each other, but they all looke...

Easter came early for the Friday Pals - our usual meet would have been on Good Friday, so this was moved to the following Friday, but the hall had been double booked.  No worries - just means we got two meetings in March - but sadly we now won’t meet until May!   But because of the date change, it meant we had some lovely visitors.  Don’t forget that you can visit another group if you can’t make your usual meet up - just remember to pay Sarah your £4!   Despite saying she’d never make another one, Sandy was working on (another) hexagonal quilt as she had lots of scraps to use up. Marillyn was crocheting a little jumper - not sure who the lucky recipient will be. Juliet was knitting a baby cardigan for the premature baby unit. Our visitor Maureen brought along another friend - this sparkly little owl.  She was also working on these cute panels which will be joined together for a children’s quilt. Maureen also showed the group this spectacular “Under the Sea” raw ...

There was a small group at the WI hall this morning, although we were all delighted to see Lyn return! Cheers and applause all round! Sharon showed off this handsome fellow! Joy was able to present this beautiful couple; plans may have been laid for Advent stitching! Just a couple of announcements -  On Friday 3  July, we will be holding a summer picnic themed around Strawberries - making some is also part of the plan.   There was also some discussion about a workshop/meeting in the Autumn to make Christmas ornaments/objects.   Next Meeting for the Friday group will be Friday 27  March.

Lots of chatter, laughter and catching up this Saturday, we had a very full room! Only took a few photos as there was so much “work in progress”! This is Sheila’s finished dog quilt using the Elizabeth Hartman pattern. And this is Sheila’s Elizabeth Hartman Kitten quilt!   They both look really good!! Anne has finished off her Heart quilt cushion following the workshop a few weeks ago.  A lovely Show & Tell for Valentine’s Day. This is Anne’s bag, which everyone admired! Anne said she used Decovil for the inner stiffening, works really well.  Might have to get Anne to share how she did it!  These are Carole’s hexagons, a work in progress but moving on well!  Kate has finished off this lovely quilt, the thin border round the inner edge really worked well. It wasn’t until we looked at the photo that you could really see the red and white diagonal patterns. Rachel’s hexagonal quilt is growing, hex by hex!  Looking lovely.  It’s for her daughter.

There was a lovely buzz of chat and stitching. Pat demonstrated a new pattern of interlocking circles – looked like magic to me- Sharon worked hard on it and was completing a fabulous example (not pictured).  Pat would be happy to share this with anyone who is interested.   Also shown here are Sharon’s lovely make up pouches:   Joy brought in the beautiful heart cushion completed following  the Saturday workshop:   Sandy and Val were working together to cut out William Morris fabrics to complete these blocks:   Pat spoke to the group about a future Sewing Art Trail for South Woodham Ferrers but looking at this happening in Spring 2027, to give plenty of time to plan and create.   Germaine would also like to thank those who were able to come to Barleylands to look at the Minerva Exhibition, the next one will open on 5 th December.  

We held a special extra day full of crafting for those that fancied it!  You could either bring your own project or one would be suggested.   Pat suggested the Heart Cushions - which have been a great comfort to so many.   The day was well attended - and as you can see from the photographs below (from our roving reporter, Joy) a very productive day was had. This was made by Julie. Carole finished her Rainy Days cushion panel.  Zoom in to see all the beautiful hand stitching. Sarah is planning on surrounding her heart with smaller hearts. Joy plans to quilt some hearts in the background. Anne made a beautiful red heart - she’s currently planning what border to put round it. This was Rachel’s first attempt at making anything like this - she did a great job. Another Special Saturday will be held in a couple of months - watch this space for the next project!