New class plus other things all crafty

I spent yesterday with 14 members from Kapiti Quilters in Waikanae New Zealand, learning four different block construction and four different joining methods of Quilt As You Go.
The club hold their meetings at their local Bridge Club.  I have taught here before and love the great facilities and space.  Here's just a couple of snaps of our day.

I am attending a weaving class at Wellington Sewing Center.  We are using Ashford Rigid Heddle looms and our own yarn (mines from my stash - ah yes - have a yarn as well as a fabric stash). So much fun and maybe I'm getting slightly addicted!!

We carry around a very important and clever tool in our handbags, pockets or back packs.  Yes our mobile phone.  Use your camera to help with your crafting or creative work.  Here is an example.  One of our customers wanted to put a red boarder on her quilt (red is her favourite colour).  By taking photos we were able to guide her to look at other colour ways what would compliment her fabric.

The red is draining the colour out of her blocks and the blue is enhancing it.

I have had my knitting needles out again.   This time using Touch Alpine Mohair (12 ply 100gms), casting on 22 stitches using size 10mm needles.  Its gorgeous and quick to knit up. 1.9 meters long, sew ends together and you have a boofy cuddly cowl.

The alpine mohair hank below my cowl is called Whitebait.  Its also very cool.  I'm restraining myself from buying it. Click with our mouse onto the photo to enlarge it for a better look.

That's all from me. 

Happy stitching
Shirls

New QAYG techniques class

There are several ways in which you can assemble blocks and join them together using Quilt As You Go techniques.   These techniques are fantastic especially if you have trouble quilting a large quilt (strength, injury, space etc.).   Your quilt may consist of blocks that need to be handled with care so rolling it up and pushing though your machine could damage your blocks.
There is also the cost factor.  We have all sent our quilts away to be quilted.  They look stunning when they come back however, if you make a lot of quilts, this can be extremely expensive.

Most QAYG quilts are made using a set quilt block design.  In this class we work though different block constructions  and joining  techniques. 

Regard this sampler as a reference.  Its all about planning and how to avoid the pitfalls.  Use up your scraps.  Its not meant to be pretty - just a great opportunity to learn, understand and practise.  Once finished, you have it always to refer to.



Most of all, its all done on your sewing machine NO HANDWORK including the binding. 

Next years class dates to be advised.

Happy stitching
Shirls.