Log cabin

All the requirements for the log cabin workshop on 12th March at North Kilworth Village Hall are on the previous post (scroll down to the bottom of the post). However, if you would like some inspiration, follow this link to Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilts blog, where this post is all about log cabin! She has several photos of log cabin quilts, in various settings - lots of eye-candy! Have a look and you'll definitely be inspired!

Bag workshop

The bag workshop was a perfect antidote to the January blues, and the weather (though cold and miserable) behaved itself! We tried a new venue of the United Reformed Church in Lutterworth, and while it was lovely and warm and well-equipped, it just wasn't big enough for us all to sew, cut and iron. I hadn't realised that piecing was such a physical process! I'll try and return to North Kilworth if the hall is available.

Rosemary and Paula were well organised and equipped, and kept the chatting to a minimum!

Chris, Margaret and Jane beavered away!
Jane was the first to finish, and her Australian fabrics were fabulous.
Rosie looks a little bemused here - perhaps this was because this was her first experience of patchwork, and it was a steep learning curve for her! However, as you can see, she went away with a finished bag, so well done! Everyone worked really hard, and most people got their bag together (if not completely finished) in the day.

Here are Liz, Alison, Jane and Betty showing their completed bags at Piecemakers a few days later. (Betty didn't make two bags in the day, the green one is her daughter's!) The next workshop in March will be log cabin.

This 19th century one is in the collection of the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, and shows the effects this simple technique can achieve. The whole design relies on the placement of dark/medium fabrics against light fabrics, round a central square. Traditionally the central square is red (to represent the fire in a log cabin) or yellow (to represent the lamp) but you can choose any colour suitable to your design. You will need centre squares which measure 1½” square and strips of light and dark/medium which are 1½” wide. If you want to cut the strips ready for each block you will need dark/mediums 1½”x 2½”, 1½”x 3½”, 1½”x 4½”, 1½”x 5½”, 1½”x 6½” and 1½”x 7½”. Lights will be 1½x 1½”, 1½”x 2½”, 1½”x 3½”, 1½”x 4½”, 1½”x 5½” and 1½”x 6½”. Each block will measure 7½” (7” finished). If you want to cut the small strips from lighter tones and the longer from darker this will enhance the overall effect.

If you would like to join this workshop, there are still places, so either email me or comment on this post and I'll add you to the list.

Quilts in progress

Lots of sewing was undertaken at the November workshop, but I forgot to take my camera, so no evidence yet! It has been decided that the classes will run bi-monthly for next year, and I have booked the United Reform Church room in Lutterworth for 15th January 2011 to start off. (This should be easier to find than North Kilworth Hall at least!)

The next workshop will be to make a deep tote bag with zipped inside pocket.

Here it is. For this you will need 1 metre (or yard) of feature fabric, 1 yard (or metre) of lining fabric, an 8" zip to match the lining fabric (Leukemia Research in Lutterworth have lots at 50p) and a piece of wadding 42"x18". Needlepunched polyester wadding is stiffer and would be good, but any wadding is fine. You will also need thread to match your feature fabric (for the quilting) and the lining.

Here is a view of the inside of the bag, with zipped pocket and three other flap pockets.

If anyone wants to come and just bring a current project, that will be fine, of course.

November workshop preparations

I am really looking forward to the workshop on November 13th, as I can hardly wait to see all the completed blocks and tops! Don't wory if you're not as far forward as you wanted to be, as you can use the time to complete whatever you need to on the day. Everyone has had a requirements list (if not, email me and I'll send you one) and is hopefully getting organised. The only strange item on the list is two pieces of wood. Here are my pieces (uprights from an IKEA unit) propped against my garage door.

We will use them to wind the fabric round and keep it steady and taut while layering up. This is the best way of layering up a quilt that I know - and the strangest! Some people have requested that I show how to 'quilt as you go' so I will include that too. If you would like to do this, you will need to bring extra fabric for the sashing between the blocks.

For those who don't know where the North Kilworth Village Hall is, here is a map. The hall is a bit tucked away, but there is plenty of car parking and an efficient heating system!

The road along the top is the Lutterworth-Market Harborough Road, and it will take about 8 minutes from the aeroplane roundabout in Lutterworth to get there. For satnavers the postcode is LE17 6EZ.

The next workshop will be on January 15th (I know the weather might be bad, but then again, it might not, so we'll chance it!) and will be a bag day. I will offer a zip up tote bag and a roll-up project bag. Pictures to follow.

First session

The first session of Lynda's Easy-quilts beginners' workshops was held on 18th September, and was a huge success. Everyone there learned something (I learned lots!) and all were keen to continue the sessions.

Everyone made a number of 'Mount Hood' blocks and some hourglass blocks, and said they were going to make more at home. We decided to meet again in 2 months time, when hopefully they will have completed tops, and I will show how to layer up a quilt, tack (or pin) it, quilt and then bind it. Just to keep the creative juices going, I'll show another method (even easier and quicker!) to make half square triangles, and put them together to make a bear's paw block which could go together to make this quilt. There are only twelve blocks here, so think how quickly it will grow!

The next session will be on Saturday 13th November from 10-4 at North Kilworth Village Hall. Cost will be £12.50 per person, so either comment on the blog or send me an email if you would like me to put you down for a place.

Lynda x