Quiltathon

 A Vintage Project, more Pew Runners and a preview of Peter Rabbit 

With a project like these 2 metre pew runners, it makes me really happy to have my frame set up at the full 12ft now - I can easily quilt them in one pass. I am well into my sack load of curtain fabric and have managed to squeeze out eight runners from this fabric. The time consuming bit is unpicking, washing and ironing all the curtains. Then of course I have to bind them. But that will have to wait for a while as I needed to get on with the little Peter Rabbit quilt for my expected grandson. 

Here's a little preview - full details in my next blog after I have handed it over to Elise.

But even that had to stop for today as I have been to my first ever Quiltathon!

This took place at the Pinhole Quilting (Handiquilter) showroom near Pershore, hosted by Liz and Pete Holpin, to support the Quilt 4 Care Leavers Charity. 

Pauline Jamieson and Sharon Gresham were instrumental in co-ordinating the delivery of 82 quilt tops to be finished off by a team of long arm quilters (with stand up and sit down machines), cutters, trimmers and binders. Our target is 60 in two days, but we hope to get through the whole pile if we can. Most of us managed to get three done each today. But I think we quilters had the easier job. The other ladies were rushed off their feet with all the preparation and finishing to be done. It was certainly great fun and I am looking forward to day 2. The machine I was using was even faster than mine and didn't beep at me when I was speeding!

As if that wasn't enough to keep me busy I have taken on a rather unusual project. The last annual challenge from  'Connecting Threads' was to write down a personal challenge at the beginning of the year and see if you could complete it by the AGM in September 2020. Of course, last year was a bit of a wipeout and many things fell by the wayside, especially meetings, so it didn't really get followed up. 

In fact, I wrote down three things but only ticked off two of them;

1. To make my Tilda Angel from the kit I had bought.

'Tilly' now greets me when I go into my studio.

2. To make my 'Treasure Quilt'.

And 3. Make a vintage quilt - uncompleted. My intention had been to use vintage linens and lace etc.

Then, recently, I came across an article in the Quilters Guild 'Bits and Pieces' about a UFO which a lady called Margaret was looking to pass on. It really is a vintage project in the form of a kit from America, possibly dating back to the 1940's. She lives in Bedford, so we agreed to meet half way for the handover. I love how you can meet another quilter for the first time and chat away for an hour as if you'd known each other for years!

It is called 'AMERICAN BEAUTY' produced by a company called 'Progress' (Pattern No. 1366) and is all hand appliqué on an off white background. 

All the shapes are numbered and printed onto the background with corresponding pieces printed (stamped I think) onto the coloured fabrics.

 

Some of it has been done, (by the original owner, not Margaret) not terribly well I hesitate to say. 

Some of the pieces have been cut out and tacked (not how I would have done it).

JAN! Since when do you do hand stitching? I hear you say!

Well, I rather fancied a project that I could do in the sitting room of an evening and just pick up and put down. Mainly, I was attracted by the open space for quilting, if I ever get that far. There is already a quilting design printed on it; grid lines and a few feathers. I am just hoping they will wash out so I can do it my way.

So now I have renewed my challenge!

Happy Quilting Everyone - Stay safe and keep cheerful! 

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