February Meeting - by Rosie
This was my fifth ever meeting since joining the Group after the Exhibition last year. Before the meeting started, we chatted about the year’s challenges and there was an interesting mix of “I’ve done loads already” and “I haven’t even started yet”; it was a timely reminder that the deadlines will creep up on me…
Deirdre opened the meeting with a few notices about upcoming events, especially those that will be over before the next meeting – the Grayson Perry exhibition finishes on 7th March and the relatives of the late member Lynn Hill will be showing some of her work at Selsdon Community Centre on 8th March from 10.30 to 12.30. A reminder also about Crafting Live which is on between 28th February to 1st March and features various crafts which may be of wider interest to members.
Kate had brought in a large bag of scraps and we were all invited to help ourselves. Apparently this is just the tip of the iceberg… I can totally relate to this, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
Deirdre also welcomed Jess, a new member, whose addition means that the Group is now full once again.
We were all reminded to remember to sign in on arrival and to put our chairs back before we leave.
There are only 4 places left for the Workshop on 12th April. I’ve already signed up and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.
As the notices were shorter than usual, Deidre invited members to “show and tell” – Jill had brought a selection of completed Christmas stockings, which we could all view on the side tables. Wendy showed us her completed black and white bag that she had made at the Bag Workshop. I had brought a quilting book with me that shows some of the quilts made by Susan McCord, a truly remarkable Idaho woman in the 1800s who made quilts in her “spare time” while bringing up 7 children and running a farm. She has been a quilting heroine of mine for almost 50 years. If you didn’t get a chance to look at the book, please check out the Henry Ford Museum website which has 13 of her quilts – prepare to be amazed!
Tonight’s theme was border techniques, demonstrated by 4 members in 20 minute sessions. First up for me was Deirdre with French braids, a very pleasing herringbone effect that requires a certain amount of maths for the cutting but, she assured us, goes together quickly once you’ve got all the pieces cut! She showed us two stacks of cut rectangles which are then sewn onto either side of a starting triangle; it’s important to cut the pieces with the grain to avoid any bias stretch and to pay attention to any pattern direction in the fabric – striped fabric would be a nightmare! She also showed us a demonstration piece that included a small 4 square centre patch – the effect is beautiful, as well as a completed sampler that she had done for the Cleudo Challenge a few years ago. We guessed Colonel Mustard straight away and finally realised that the centre panel was the rope; the chintzy fabric represented the lounge.
Next up was Prairie Points with Gill. There are two basic techniques, both starting with a square of fabric which is then either folded in half to produce a triangle with a centre fold or a diagonal fold so that the points can be inserted into each other to form a continuous border. You can also do a continuous strip prairie point border which is very effective as long as you remember to fold the triangles the right way so that they slot together correctly! Gill showed us other uses for the prairie points including a pinwheel hanging decoration which was particularly lovely. She also had a prairie point made using a hexagon, which produces a 60 degree triangle. Prairie points are very easy to make, but do use up a lot of fabric.
After a quick (very welcome) break for tea and biscuits, it was time for Gill to demonstrate Seminole, a traditional North American Indian technique. Again the result is very striking and relatively easy to achieve, provided you pay attention to the maths! Long strips of fabric are sewn together and then sub-cut and re-arranged to form a diamond patterned border. Equal sized strips give a harlequin effect and unequal sized give a dominos effect. For the more adventurous among us, Gill also showed a third technique where the strips are sub-cut on the bias; re-arranging these is particularly tricky because the bias cut means that the fabric will naturally stretch, not to mention that the seams don’t nest when you sew them together. Certainly not to be attempted after a glass of wine! When I got home I wondered whether stay stitching either side of the cutting line before the bias cut would help with the stretch issue?
The final rotation was with Eileen who showed us inset borders. This technique gives a 3D effect to what would otherwise be a flat border. This involves long strips, folded in half lengthways and then either inserted into a pieced border or at the edge of a quilt butting up to the binding. Eileen’s Australian quilt showed the dramatic effect that can be achieved in a wide plain black border by inserting a half inch folded “zinger” fabric in bright orange. Her other full size example showed that the technique is just as effective when the insert is all round the edge of the quilt; the effect is rather like having a mount board in a picture frame. It would also work with sashings; maybe different colours round every other block? Definitely food for thought.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and I look forward to many more.