Update from our September 2021 Retreat Weekend with Sue Rhodes

By Maggie Colpus, justhands-on.tv Event Co-ordinator

Drunkard’s Path/New York Beauty with Sue Rhodes

Our second weekend at the Langstone Quays since restrictions were lifted and the sun was shining.

Over half the ladies had decided to make a weekend of it and stayed Friday night at their own expense. One even added on the Sunday as well. Once the sewing room was set up, everyone was able to set out their workstation for the weekend. They could then enjoy the facilities on offer at the hotel and the island itself. We all had dinner together. This gave everyone the chance to socialise before the class started on Saturday morning.

Saturday

The rest of the ladies started to arrive from about 8.45 on Saturday morning. We even had one husband join us for the weekend – well only for his meals. By 10a.m everyone had their coffee or tea and were settled in ready for the class.

Sue showed everyone several examples of both quilts and explained the various processes. The Drunkard’s Path is a lovely modern quilt. The class would be making a much larger block than then traditional Drunkard’s Path so it would grow much quicker and was more economical with the fabric. The New York Beauty is inspired by the points of the headdress worn by the Statue of Liberty. This quilt was a little more challenging and used foundation piecing.

Heads Down

Suddenly the room went quiet as everyone was back at their workstations getting their heads round the instructions, their fabric, freezer paper and deciding where to start. Most decided another caffeine hit would help with their decisions! Before we knew it, it was time for a quick light lunch in the restaurant.

No time to linger and it was back to the sewing room, the sewing machines and irons now in use. Sue and Val went round giving assistance and advice where needed. Soon we had the start of blocks being made. The class seemed a little more relaxed now, chatting and laughing to others around them swapping hints on how they had done certain sections. And the floor was slowly being covered in paper scraps from the foundation piecing!

Teaching officially finished at 4 p.m but Sue agreed to stay a little longer to help the class. By 6 p.m most had got to a stage where they were happy to leave their work, some went to the bar, some went to their room to watch the US Open Tennis, some to the pool and some people watched as there was a wedding in the hotel. It was soon time for dinner after which a few went back to the sewing room, some went to bed for a good night’s sleep, and some managed a night cap in the bar.

Sunday

After a leisurely breakfast it was heads down again in the sewing room where some stunning work was being created, each one unique. During the morning some of the ladies took advantage of the glorious day and had their coffee break on the patio just outside the sewing room. Before we knew it, it was time for lunch, and we were treated to a choice of Sunday roasts with all the trimmings. With the weekend nearly at an end everyone was anxious to get their work to a stage where they could continue on their own at home or in their own local group.

One of the ladies did not participate in Sue’s class but sat in the sewing corner for the weekend with Val and Maggie and managed to quilt and finish her work in progress without interruption from family and home responsibilities.

Take a look below at some of the work from our students

Here are some of the comments we received after the weekend:

An excellent sewing weekend.
Amazing, helpful, and jolly good weekend
A most informative, challenging sewing and companionable weekend
Lots of fun and laughter in good company

Dear Maggie ( & val), thankyou both for hosting another delightful & satisfying W/E. I’m absolutely fired up now that Val has given me the confidence & the trick to get the quilt done

What’s coming up….

Later in October Gail Penberthy has a Fleece treats at her sewing weekend on 23-24 October at The Hogs Back in Surrey.

Our new retreats for 2022 have also been announced. In the early part of the year so far we have:

February 2022 Optical Illusions with Valerie Nesbitt and Emma Randall

March 2022 Layer Cake Bonanza with Sarah Soward and Terry Summerfield

April 2022 Animal Landscapes with Kate Findlay

June 2022 Get Creative with Anja Townrow

You are always welcome to join us in the sewing corner as a day or residential student on all our weekends, if you don’t fancy booking a class. This is subject to availability. You can finish your UFO’s or even start a new project without interruptions.