News/discussion/etc. from the meeting:
- We had the usual brief overview of the latest Modern Quilt Guild mothership newsletter email, followed by some discussion of what all the website offers for those who haven’t had a chance to dig through it yet.
- We’re starting a monthly sign-in sheet like many other guilds, so from now on when you arrive, look for it as you come in the meeting room door and check in.
- After the break, our special guest Val from the Nanaimo traditional guild led us in some gentle yoga stretches that are particularly good for those of us who spend a lot of time hunched over a sewing machine.
- And of course we had show and share. https://www.instagram.com/p/BsgbOarnS_U/
Charity quilts: At the March meeting, we’ll be doing some design brainstorming for our HSTs to get some more quilt tops kitted up and planned from our piles of HSTs, so keep ‘em coming in!
Donation quilt HSTs general info: As we discussed in previous meetings, we have an ongoing project to make half square triangles for quilts to be donated to kids in foster care. If you missed the specs on the HSTs: we’re going for a scrappy sort of look, but big and modern. Half square triangle blocks should be trimmed to 8.5 inches, with one side lighter and the other darker (relative is OK, like pink against white), and we also discussed having one side be a solid (or a subtle print that reads as a solid) and the other a print. The target age is the slightly older kids and teens, say 6-16, as there tends to already be a lot of donations aimed at the really little kids. Final quilt sizes will likely be lap size or twins, but for now, just keep feeding us HSTs and we’ll build the quilts later on. As this is an ongoing project, just make ‘em as you can and bring ‘em – great way to work through your stash.
Block of the Month/Block lotto: Instructions below. See photo for assembly. Any colour you like so long as it’s a tone on tone (e.g. light blue with a dark blue) and it must be solids.
MINIMALIST CHURN DASH – finished block 9 ½
This square reminds me a bit of a snowflake which may be coming to a region near you! I also thought we could use some color this time of the year so get your solid scraps out!
Requirements:
2 fabrics: one light and one dark of the same color, contrast is important
Cutting:
1 – 2inch strip of light and dark each (minimum 15 inches)
2 – squares 4 3/8 of light and dark each
1 – 3 ½ inch square of the light material
Sewing:
-sew your strips of light and dark together to make a light dark strip set, cut into 4 – 3 ½ inch square strip units
- using a ruler mark a diagonal line on the 4 3/8 light square, combine with the dark and sew ¼ inch on either side of the line to make 2 HST’s. Iron and square up to 3 ½ inch squares (or use whatever method to make 4 HST’s –this method works best for me)
-refer to the block assembly diagram arrange the 4 HST’s, 4 strip units and the light center block to complete your block.
Using a scant ¼ inch seam is very important for the blocks to end up precise (says the person who had to rip out her strip piecing……)
Next sew-in: January 26, 10-4, Nanaimo North library on Hammond Bay Road.
Next meeting: Wednesday, February 6, 7pm
Upcoming quilt shows:
Westshore Quilters’ Guild: April 12-13, 2019 - more info at https://westshorequiltersguild.ca/2019-quilt-show/
Island Quilters (the traditional guild here in Nanaimo): June 6-9, more info in the members section of http://www.islandquilters.ca/index.htm
Upcoming retreats:
Stitch, Sip & Splash: presented by Troll Brothers Quilt Designs - July 12-14, 2019 in Shawnigan Lake. More info: https://trollbrothersquiltdesigns.com/collections/stitch-sip-splash-quilt-retreat-2019
Links for our guild:
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/258471184565888/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanaimomqg/
Blog: http://nanaimomqg.blogspot.com
See you at the February meeting - happy quilting!
