Free Motion Quilting Day

The last sewing day for 2007 saw the machines all set up for free motion work. A short discussion about quilting designs before we dropped the dogs and started.
How come "sew" many pattern designers finish the information about their design with "Quilt As Desired". We are still wondering what as desired looks like. We studied the book by that name, very useful.
Well after today the girls also have a bit more knowledge about thread thickness, remember the higher the number the thinner the thread. The Madeira Cotona 80 looked wonderful on Margaret's sample. The Daruma silk thread sewed beautifully as well. Ruth would not mind the box of these for sale at Patchwork on Pallas for Christmas. The Aurifil Mako 50 is also a wonderful thread to sew with. It is easily available from online shopping here in Australia.
These threads really suit traditional quilting styles done by machine where you like to see the texture without noticing the thread.
We discovered some machines absolutely dislike cheaper, thicker thread. It is probably variations in thickness from slubs that cause the problem. It is a shame that some variegated threads don't work too well. Kerry found that some worked well while sewing slowly but as soon as she found a faster smooth stitch the thread broke. The variegated threads are good for more contemporary work.
Feathers for traditional quilts were oohed at and some had a go. We had to learn to draw them first let alone stitch them. All the designs we tried were all drawn on paper first to develop the rhythm of sewing it.
The star pupil even had a go at a Caryl Bryer Fallert quilting design. So now she has gone home to google for her website so she can study more of her work. Other quilting experts to look up include Sharon Schamber, Diane Gaudynski, Patsy Thompson, Karen McTavish and there's probbaly a lot more. So watch out we are slowly building our reputations as quilters. Unfortunately the cameras did not come out today so here is a sample of Ruth's first free motion feather accomplished some time ago for something to view from today.



Next year we will probably decide to start early again so we can commence our raffle quilt. Ruth was just too dog tired to get the fabric and pattern ready to start this week. So watch this space.

Seven Shops Later

Come on girls, once this photo was taken you just know it had to be put in this space.

What can you do when you've just visited the seventh patchwork shop for the day and you've shopped till you're ready to drop. Find a seat of course, any seat will do. These girls were the first two to make their final purchases for the day.

Then along came the next lady to await our driver. We had a fantastic day starting with a coffee or smoothie and a snack on the way into Maryborough to fortify us till lunch in Hervey Bay. Seven shops (if you can count that two shops had two parts to them) in one day is not a bad effort. On the way home we discussed tactics for next years shopping trip which just may include dinner on the way home.

November Madness

November always sees us patchwork girls celebrating the silly season with our "Annual Cristmas Shopping Trip ". This year on Friday 23 we are off to the shops in Maryborough and Hervey Bay and possibly the patchwork shop at Howard on the way home if we have time. Looks like we wont have time to eat so it'll be a sandwich and a bottle of water for the celebratory feast.
We will be looking for fabric for our raffle quilt for next years Cancer Fundraising. Ruth has found a possible pattern but now can't remember which of her magazines it was in. Looks like she had better start writing things in a notebook while magazine browsing. Mind you she has quite a collection to find another one in.
Friday 30th November we will be dropping the feed dogs and trying to control our tension headaches whilst attempting to regulate our quilting stitches. Yes Free Motion here we come. We will be learning about free motion, ditching , selecting quilting designs,and in general trying to demystify the phrase "Quilt as Desired". Threads of all different types will be investigated also. Batting choice will also be discussed.
Feathers will be on the agenda if we can get past the fear. Should be an interesting process.
Last week we all seemed to be a bit busy doing other things so only two could make it for the day. So roll on Friday for the shopping trip.

"Cancer Cafe"

Here's some photos from our "Cancer Cafe" fundraiser held on the 26th of October.

The combined funds raised from the cafe, raffle and the sale of patchwork bags, some of which are pictured above, amounted to $500.00 which we proudly forwarded to the Cancer Council.

A great effort for such a small community, and a huge thank you to

everyone who helped either directly with the event,

or just by enjoying themselves and donating to the cause.

A fun time was had by all.

"Not Peeping Toms"

Getting the perspective on the layout of a new quilt.

Three Quilts

This first quilt is Narelle's kaleidoscope quilt and the next two as well. She diligently made all her triangles into hexagons from her jungle print fabric. In the process of arranging her heaxagons, she felt that no matter what she did the blue areas of the fabric would NOT combine back with her white and orange areas very well, even though they all started from the one piece of fabric.
It's surprising what you can decide faced with this dilemma. She has two narrow walls in her sewing room ( the rest of us are envious that she has a sewing room) that looked a bit bare. So the decision was made to create two small quilts to decorate those walls.

Now she has successfully used her white and orange hexagons. Her careful selection of boxes and quilting styles make all three very eye catching quilts. Well done Narelle.