Blog

The annual open Quilt Show was held over the August Bank Holiday weekend this year in the beautiful RHS associate Gardens. Despite the change in weather, many quilters wrapped up and went to see the 44 amazing quilts hung around the gardens.

The quilts were split into two categories – one was entirely open and the other had the theme of “The Sea”.

This certainly ticks all the boxes - recycling something that has been in the family and much loved to create a snuggle quilt; it meant stablizing the fabric first; marking the fabric with sewing lines; cutting accurately with a rotary cutter and then sewing neatly - much concentration needed.     The first block of what will be a very unique quilt,  and that has some challenges ahead for Steve, our Chief Executive.

Oakshott Fabrics’ Open Days are not-to-be-missed events, so save the dates for their upcoming ones! Saturday 8th December 10am – 4pm Sunday 9th December 10am – 1pm Whether for Christmas gifts, fabrics to replenish your stash, or ‘because you’re worth it’ treats, their Open Days are a must. For two days only, their warehouse will be transformed into a Pop Up Shop brimming with alluring displays of their signature ‘shot’ cottons.

We thought you might like to listen to this from Womens Hour on Wednesday 15 Aug 2018 on BBC Radio 4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bf4cjw They had a 'Listener Week' where listeners are invited to write in to suggest topics of discussion. If you listen from 32.00 minutes you'll hear a lovely discussion about quilting and quilting groups. A quilter from Dundee- Penelope Wild, who attends a monthly group in her area had written in and suggested quilting as a topic.

Valerie and our Director Steve Barton, took a working visit to this year's Festival of Quilts and Steve couldn't help but steal some time to admire the amazing array of quilts and take some pictures to share with you. This was Valerie's personal favourite - 'Metropolis' by Lesley Brankin - a delightful and talented textile artist whose work we have featured on the site .

For those of you following the wonderful plan to cover the tower of St Mary’s Church in Wotton-under-Edge with poppies, here's the latest update: Plans to cover the tower received a boost when a structural engineer proposed plans for hanging thousands of flowers. The proposed system uses scaffolding for suspending nets covered in fabric, wool and plastic poppies on the tower.

One lady in our community, Em Bayly from Florida has asked us to share her story with you. A few years ago I made my first queen-sized quilt to give to my son on his 50th birthday. He had just gotten out of the hospital following a difficult time in his life. I composed the following comments on a scratch pad to use on his card attached to the quilt.

Whether you're watching it or avoiding it, you can't fail to have noticed that the 2018 Football World Cup is on at the moment. But, have you seen the BBC's trailers and opening sequence to its programmes? It is in fact a one-minute 'embroidered' animation made from over 600 individual stitched frames. Who'd have thought football could be so interesting!

What a lovely surprise this exhibition was;  a mixture of music, flowers and quilts, raising money for the RNLI and held in St Mary Magdalene Church and Hall, Church Lane, New Milton BH25 6QL. Don't you just love the car!   There was a concert on Friday 29th by Nova Foresta Classical Players and Saturday included "The Friday Girls" You can see more and keep an eye on future exhibitions by checking out their webpage - Rectory Quilters Events

Kate Cropper in St Mary’s Church, Wotton-under-Edge, with some of the knitted, crocheted and stitched poppies.   The plan to cover the tower of St Mary’s Church in Wotton-under-Edge with poppies has received a world-wide boost following our appeal to the justhands-on.tv Community. The 47-metre high tower of the Gloucestershire church will be covered with all manner of crafted poppies in November to mark the end of the First World War.

We are fully behind the drive to cover the bell tower of St.Mary's church, Wootton-under-edge, with poppies - and here Valerie hands over a few felt versions - jumbo size!   You can learn more by clicking here and maybe knit your own versions.

Brilliant day filming - despite the damp English weather;  we got to see the Jane Austen Coverlet which was sewn by Jane and her mother and sister and they used the EPP method; the Community sewing Project organised by Lucy Bailey, (that Valerie and she are standing in front of)  reimagines the Jane Austen quilt and commemorates her life and legacy,  and the Admiral's Quilt was created with the EPP blocks left over and is on the approppriate bed in the house, is quite stunning.

I just loved this range of fabrics - they are so jolly - and in both colourways;  so  inspired by the cushion pattern from Lynne Goldsworthy - click here for the workshop - I worked on creating a fun quilt (wip)   With my leftovers I quickly took my 40minute quilt idea to create this little charity quilt for a youngster (still to be quilted but now layered!)     There is a bigger pink version too!

With Gail Penberthy at the helm, our group of ladies enjoyed two days of sewing in first class surroundings (and the snow didn't bother us a bit!);   firstly coming to grips with the Table centre, and then moving on to creating Hedgepigs with folded fabrics. There was shopping too from Gail, from the Justhands-on.tv box of supplies and fabric and other essentials supplied by Creative Quilting.

Retails for £2,199! justhands-on.tv and Janome offer you the chance to win the popular Janome MC9400QCP. The MC9400QCP is the latest longarm model providing both speed ( up to 1,060 spm ) and precision ( 91 needle positions ) for perfect sewing results. It’s also the biggest longarm model Janome has ever produced.  Click here for more details. It’s worth £2,199 and could be yours - - for FREE.

We had a lovely day meeting up with Sarah, who is a knitter who also loves to crochet, but as she is left handed has had to teach herself.  Well, if you are left handed, you are in for a treat, as Sarah shares her crochet knowledge with you .   We also got a quick peak at the new Janome MC9400QCP (well Val turned the lights on for you and shows you what a big throat it has!) and we filmed some new workshops too from Valerie with lovely Alison Glass fabrics - so keep watching.