I’ve just attended my first Friday UFO night with my new quilt club, Town and Country Quilters. These are run on the last Friday of each month. Suits me during winter, as I can escape the incessant hours of rugby shown on TV, and Robin is happy watching his favourite sport.
I arrived at the hall about 7.00pm. Members can bring along a plate of food for the shared meal, but I ate at home. But everything looked so tasty that I will probably join in with the meal next time. Sandra had brought along some home made soup for everyone, and invited me to try some. It was delicious, chock full of veggies, just the way I like it.
Unpicking was my “to do” plan for the evening. I was not at all pleased with my free motion machine quilting efforts using coloured variegated thread, so I am unpicking all my hard work. The test bit I have done using cream thread looks so much better, so all the coloured stuff has to come out.
There were about 15 ladies in the hall, working on all sorts of projects. Two were stitching down a quilt binding, one of the lasts jobs to do before a quilt is finished. A couple were tracing patterns, knitting needles were clicking, and Vickie was working on her needle-turn appliqué. I’m looking forward to seeing the end results of the shiny vinyl jacket which was being cut up and made into a purse, it looked really intriguing.
Of course, in between unpicking, I had to walk around and check out some stunning quilts. Kaye wanted some advice on the best way to finish off her pretty pink and purple fairy quilt, and there were several people to help her. This will be going to Kaye’s great-niece when finished.
Kaye’s fairy quilt
Sandra was busy stitching borders on to her intricate foundation pieced quilt. There is no doubt about it – this is the way to keep all those narrow points nice and sharp. I was amazed when Sandra told me that she likes to stitch the arcs onto the foundations by hand! I don’t think I would have the patience to do that.
Sandra’s foundation pieced quilt top
I love quilts with a New Zealand flavour, and Nan was stitching a really beautiful version for her son’s birthday. She had done a marvellous job with the needle turned native bird blocks, and has added some embroidery as well. The background fabric is just perfect with the New Zealand theme. What a wonderful birthday gift this will be.
Nan’s New Zealand birds quilt
During the evening we had a raffle with a difference. Our club President Leigh was over-run with free range organic eggs from her very industrious hens. We put our names forward, at no cost, to be in with a chance to win a dozen eggs - I told Leigh I would gladly pay $2 or so for a ticket, but she was just happy for her eggs to go to one of the members. Sadly, I didn’t get to take those eggs home, Kathy was the lucky winner.
We were treated to some special “Show and Tell”. Kathy was asked to bring along some of her unique wool bags which she fashions from recycled woollen blankets. Each bag is different, they can be embellished with embroidery, couching, fabric, or braid, whatever Kathy feels like doing. Each bag is beautifully lined and has a long shoulder strap. Check out Freedomart here.
Lovely woollen shoulder bags
It was a very pleasant evening spent stitching, or in my case, unpicking, all together with club members. You can be sure I’ll be there again, I’ve already made a note on the calendar for the last Friday of the month to remind myself. Next time I’ll get there in time for the shared meal, I think. Robin will be quite happy buying himself some take-aways for a change.
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