Sunday 19 February 2017

QAYG Another class variation

Last week I attended Coastal Quilters club meeting and was excited to see another quilt completed from my QAYG class held early 2016.

This is Leonie's quilt. I love it.


TOWRAGS

I had the opportunity to attend an exhibition at Old St Pauls church  of 150 quilts made by seven quilt makers calling themselves the  T.O.W.R.A.G.S (Totally Organised Women Religiously Attending Group Stitching).  Was an outstanding display.  My photo's don't do this exhibition justice.

 



 
 
Meet the Quilters (from left to right)
Sheryl, Irene, Pat, Deborah
 
 
(Left to right) Gaynor, Ngaira and Jeanie
 
 
Great show ladies, thank you
 
Shirls

Shetland Belt

Yesterday I held a Zip Art class.   Ladies learnt how to manipulate pieces of zip to enable them to create their own zip art. One of my students Lillian is a Shetland Knitter and brought her knitting belt to show us.  It was a wonderful privilege to touch and try it on.  The purpose of the belt was to enable the knitter to continue with their chores / work while knitting as they go.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/180/a-shetland-woman-knitting Follow this link to view a similar belt in action.

 
Lillian's Shetland Knitting belt made by her Father out of leather.

Close up.  Different hole sizes for different needles.

Lillian's shawl she made when she was 12 years old using her belt.
 
Traditional Shetland Man's cardigan made for Lillian's husband by her mother in the 1970s.
Check out both sides of the gloves.

The inside of the cardigan.  So perfectly and evenly knitted.
 
I'm wearing Lillian's belt.  The needles used are double pointed.
 
Thank you Lillian for sharing.
 
Shirley

Sunday 5 February 2017

QAYG class variation

These are two variations using my QAYG template.  The white background quilt has been my main class sample.  During my classes we have played around with layouts using students blocks.  I finally have put together another variation in the greys.





For those of you who have attended my previous QAYG classes, you can use the same templates but instead of laying the first piece at the bottom of your diamond batting/backing, you place it on the side of the diamond.
My grey quilt isn't finished although I have sewn on the binding.  In the future I will eventually square up the sides to create a more functional quilt but for now its an ok size and weight to travel to Christchurch for my QAYG 2017 symposium class.

One of the major hiccups when creating QAYG blocks is demonstrated below.  See even I do it!! - Sew without checking the previous seam has been sewn in correctly.
 

There is no getting around this.  I took out the block and unpicked it.
Here are two tips I hope you will find useful when unpicking and recreating your block.
Use a lint roller to help pick up your unpicked threads.


Close your sewing holes by lightly spraying water onto your fabric, then gently rubbing with your finger making sure you don't warp any bias edges.  Finally iron dry.










I have been focused on finishing a knitted blanket which needs to be completed this week.  Will post you the photos soon.

happy stitching
Shirley