January Meeting - by Irena

This is the first time that I have attended a meeting that introduces members to the programme of the year and I was both feeling excited and anxious of what members may be asked to do. 

As we were all starting to sit down, Eileen, our Secretary was giving out white sealed personalised envelopes to members asking them not to open them, but since we are curious people we tried to feel what was in them.

The meeting was opened by the Chairperson, Deirdre who welcomed members to Shirley Quilters 2025. She then informed member about forthcoming events such as Ardingly Quilt show, the Stitch Festival and Woodhouse Craft Centre in Oxted which is hosting open meetings in March. She  informed members that Kate’s workshop this Saturday still had places available. 

Members were then invited to open their envelopes. Mine had a very pretty fat quarter in it and other members on my table did not. I didn’t understand until I was told that since I had been able to attend the December meeting where everyone was given a fat quarter, this was mine. I was so surprised and would like to thank the Committee for their kindness and thoughtfulness for doing this for those of us who missed the meeting.

We were given the diary for the year and the following challenges were then explained to us.

Kate introduced us the TEA TOWEL CHALLENGE and showed us two beautiful tea towels that had been embellished and transformed into a wall handing and a table runner. She also showed us the tea towel she intended to transform.

Next Chrissie explained why we each had a till roll in our envelope – she explained and showed how she would like us to use our scraps to attach to the till row and from this we were to make any type of block we wanted to. When making it, Chrissie told us not to think of what fabric to add – just keep picking up our scraps. She sewed us an unfinished roll she was worked on and not to work on anything longer that 40”. She also explained how she tidied up the edges before removing the paper.

Our next challenge ‘The Transformation Challenge’ was explained to us by Deirdre – she explained how fabric had been given to Shirley Quilters from a family of a quilter who had died and we were to pair up with another member and take some of the fabric and make it into something different. It was also suggested that as some pieces were quite old, to wash the fabric before we worked on it.

Our next challenge was to create boat blocks for Linus quilts that could be made into quilts for boys. The pattern was included in our pack.

Our next challenge was explained by Jenny which was a sitting cat. We were told the background has to be light and the cat dark. These blocks are to be handed in by April.

Jill asked members to make the Christmas stockings for children in hospital and she demonstrated how to put these together. These are to be done by May as they need to be given to the Linus co-ordinator who then has to make sure the hospitals have them in November.

We were told that there is no mini exhibition this year, but in December we will have ‘Show and Tell’ of what we have individually made during the year.

We were reminded that when Janet Clare comes to visit us we will be able to sign up for her workshop in January 2026. 

After refreshments members were asked to ‘Show and Tell’. Ian explained how he is a self-taught quilter, showed and explained how he makes his blocks that then become quilts 

Chrissie showed us her Storm at Sea quilt that she had made at a workshop.

Viv told us how she picked up an old box from World War II which had in it an old, dirty tea towel. There was a note in it and because of what she read, she felt compelled to wash the towel several times and finished it and then framed it. Such a wonderful and touching story.

All that remains is to thank the Committee for all their hard work for thinking of and preparing our Challenges for the year. Now our job as members is to make sure we complete our assignments.