March Meeting

We were few in number at our March guild meeting but there were still a few show and tells.
Misty recently returned from a quilt retreat and showed us her cute reversible tote bag.

                                             Notice the fun moustache fabric for the pocket.

Gale brought her version of a chevron quilt this month.  She made hers a bit differently than Jana's from last month.  A quick and easy Halloween quilt all ready to go!

Gale also brought her beautiful BOM from Common Threads in Evanston.  Beautiful paper pieced  batik quilt!

The pattern can be found in this book.

Our demonstration was also presented by Gale.  She has made several mini blocks and quilts.  It is hard to realize how small these are in the pictures but this block is in a 5x7 frame.

Incredible work!  Again these blocks are also in a 5x7 frame.   Made just like a regular size block with 1/4" seams!  These were hand pieced by Margaret, another member of our guild.

Different block patterns sewn into a tiny quilt!

The mini Americana pattern was designed by Marguerite Shattuck and pieced by Gale.  The star blocks are all individually pieced.  You can see how small some of the fabric would be to work with.

This log cabin was designed by Mary Hickey and pieced by Gale.  The camera didn't capture how pretty the colors were together.

A couple of years ago Gale made the Valley Fabric Quilt Shop's BOM.  She finished her quilt with mini quilts and aprons hanging on a clothesline.  

Here is the full picture of her award winning quilt!  So cute!

After the demo, we exchanged "ugly" fq's. 

 

 

We also brought fabric or 6" squares to exchange with one another.  Our challenge this month is to bring back a 10 1/2" block to our April meeting made with the fabric we have picked sight unseen.  Some of us will have more of a challenge than others, I think!  We can add one more color/fabric to make our block.  This will be another Humanitarian quilt we give away when completed.

 

 

 

 

A question was asked on how we get our quilts to hang straight or lay straight.  Several ladies had some good advice.
1.  To keep square, measure down the middle of the quilt instead of the sides and use that measurement to add your borders to your quilt.
2.  Use a walking foot for sewing anything larger than a block.
3.  When sewing on your borders, sew with the border fabric on the bottom and your quilt top on the top of the fabric.
4.  Use an old record album or something else that is large, even your large square rulers, and square up the corners of your quilt top with it.
5.  Steam, then press....NOT.....steam, then iron.  Make sure your aren't moving the iron but are pressing your seams so you don't stretch the fabric.
Thanks ladies for the tips!

++Our guild meeting for April will be on Thursday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at Valley Fabric.  Invite your friends to come join us!  Dues are $20/yr but are prorated.
++Holly is in charge of the demonstration.
++Bring another UGLY fq to exchange.
++Don't forget to bring your 10 1/2" block that you made with your 6" squares.
++We are also sewing after Saturday Sampler (April 13) at the quilt shop.  11 a.m. till ???  Bring a dessert to share while we sew.