It remains a bit of a novelty and certainly a pleasure to be meeting regularly again. Free from masks this month, we were not relying on name tags to greet friends.
Featured member of the month Val Jackson, said she had only a few quilts, then proceeded to show an amazing array of family and art quilts created over the decades.
Andrea Taylor of Bittern by the Bug explained her passion for Japanese textiles, particularly her love of indigo.
Show and Tell
The time of lockdown in 2020 continues to be featured in our members quilts. Some have completed a very impressive number in the past year.
Karen – County Clare A Double Irish Chain begun in a class in 2018 using the same fabrics as the sample because they were the appeal of the quilt, especially the border fabric. Number 17 of 19 quilts completed during in the June 2020 lockdown.
Karen – Mosaic Magic The kit reminded me of the cathedral floors I saw in Europe. A repeat block using lots of tones of blue. Pieced in 2019 and quilt number 19 in my COVID19 collection.
Val – Yet another baby quilt using up more bits!
Jenny – A Liberty Country Garden Blocks of the Month by Cottage Garden Threads. A thoroughly enjoyable project.
Val – A puzzle design she just had to try during lockdown.
Jenny – An Austro-Hungarian Lockdown Quilt. Fabrics purchased in Vienna and Budapest in 2006, the pattern from Quilters Companion magazine was originally in Christmas colours.
Jenny – No 3 Floral Mandela by Sonya Else Raw edge appliqué and machine quilting. First attempt at this method, but it has been a success due to the love of the Sturt Desert Pea and the encouragement of June Wilson
Ronnie – My Sashiko Quilt An appropriate quilt to show given the interest of our guest speaker. All hand sewn and hand quilted. The arm has finally recovered from too much quilting and the finished result makes all the pain worthwhile.
Baby’s Quilt with Owls – Margaret When President Heather sent me a get well card I wondered if it was also a challenge to use it as a quilt pattern. I decided to take up the challenge anyway.
Winding Ways – Linda Made for my friend’s first grandchild.
Leaves of Blue – Marion Finished just in time for a family friend’s wedding. The pattern is Adwill Leaves by Julie Wallace. The couple love blue and loved this quilt and you go quilt.
Sailing Home – Dianne Made for my great nephew Zac. The pattern is by Effie Karavitis and I have hand pieced and hand quilted it. The top flags spell out his name and the bottom ones are his date of birth.
Lockdown block of the month – Jenny Pattern is by Jane McDonald of Be Be Bold and features Sashiko and Boro stitching
Quilting with Rulers Challenge – Norma A preprinted panel was used for Angela Waters seven week challenge using a different ruler and freemotion quilting technique each week.
Online Quilting Course – Linda Using rulers, templates and freemotion quilting, a fun class with Rachel Denneny.
Bohemian Caravan – Norma Started at the Waverley Retreat in 2019 and finished in lockdowns. The pattern by Moira de Carvalho is perfect for my stash of Art Gallery fabric.
Isolation Quilt – Norma Made in a quilt-along organised by Rachelle Denneny, a fund raiser which raised $13,000 for Backpacks4kids SA.
Lockdown Quilt – Jenny Machine pieced and hand quilted using a sushi roll purchased 10 years ago. Pattern by Jane McDonald
It has been a long time coming. Commencing in February 2021 Waverley Patchworkers are again able to meet in person.
At the AGM in October 2020 a new Committee was elected, as this was a virtual meeting it was not possible to meet them in person. Here instead is each Committee member’s favourite quilt. The selections reflect the wide range of quilting interest and amazing talent found at Waverley Patchworkers.
President – Heather C
An English Garden – pattern from the South Australian Museum William Morris collection
Vice President – Jenny
Circle of Sisters
Secretary – Heather M
Friendly Baskets – many of the scrap fabrics came from quilting friends
As Melbourne emerges from its very long lockdown, Waverley Patchworkers has resumed its Monthly Meetings. We still cannot meet in person, but tonight we are having the second of our virtual meetings.
The Chook Quilt – detail
We are delighted to have Veronique Diligent as our guest speaker. Swiss born Veronique was introduced to quilting when she moved to Melbourne. She fell in love with the appliqué technique and was soon designing her own quilts.
Palais Royal
Returning to Europe with her French husband and young child she sought out a quilting circle like she had enjoyed in Melbourne. With none to be found in her village she started teaching and now back in Melbourne she has expanded both her quilt designing and teaching.
Tuscan Sun
Veronique’s love of the garden is evident in her work, as is an interest in the French boutis and her growing skill in embroidery.
Trousse Brodée
Veronique is featured in the latest issue of Quilters Companion magazine and her designs can be found on her website wattlebird.com.au
Some of the friendship groups associated with Waverley Patchworkers have stayed in touch during lock down by meeting on Zoom. Crosstown Quilters were the first to do this, encouraged by the husband of one of the members.
They decided that each month one member would send out a piece of fabric and everyone would use it as the start of a 12″ block. These would then be put together to make gift quilts. On the one occasion they could meet in person there was already a sizeable collection of blocks.
The project has continued for longer than anyone would have thought and thanks to Waverley now having a Zoom account their screen chats can go on for a few hours each month.
blocks by Margaret and Leone
The Committee is also meeting via Zoom, a bit of a bonus over the winter months as no one had to leave their warm home on a cold evening. It was decided that because members had not been able to have full use of their membership in 2020 that there would be no renewal fee for 2021. We ask that members do complete the renewal form found here as there is information that needs to be collected.
Our first attempt at a large online meeting will be the Annual General Meeting to be held on 26 October – details in the Newsletter.
Melbourne continues to be in the grip of the Coronavirus pandemic, keeping everyone to their own homes. Waverley members are missing our regular get togethers where we get to see each other’s projects and are stimulated to try all sorts of new patterns and techniques.
Fortunately some lovely people have sent in their photos of recent work, both complete or as WIPs (work in progress). Please enjoy viewing these and remember to send in your own pictures as a small substitute for what is currently missing in our lives. Check your newsletter for details.
A pattern, template and fabric kit bought by Robyn on the bus trip to Torquay last year has resulted in this stylish cushion.
Another shopping expedition, this time to Amsterdam in 2014. Jenny bought the chintz’s with a plan to hand piece something. But they proved to be too tightly woven so instead she has made this stunning quilt top by machine.
Peggy keeps her scraps organised by size. She used her 2″ strips to make this windmill block found in this strip piecing tutorial.
After using very bright fabrics in recent projects Christine is using reproduction fabrics again. She is enjoying the challenge of using these more subtle patterns and doing lots of fussy cutting. The pattern is Leonie Bateman’s ‘Evandale’ with changes made by Christine to create ‘Flowerdale’.
A cheery pieced heart quilt made by Trudy to cheer up an overseas cousin.
Ann has a new granddaughter and she has not yet been able to give her this very cute animal quilt which is so big it will last for a very long time.
Rhondda was asked by her Daughter-in-law to make these quilts. There are going to be some very happy little people when they get delivered.
Winter is coming to an end but Waverley Patchworkers are still not able to meet in person. This is very challenging but members are keeping in touch with their quilting friends in all sorts of clever ways; social media, video calls, phone and who knows maybe some are writing letters too.
However like all people who create with needle and thread we consider ourselves very fortunate to have a passion that we can pursue in our locked down homes. A healthy stash and a wealth of online purchasing opportunites means there is no supply shortage. Now that mask making duties are done – it is back to quilts. Here is some recent work.
Last month Heather showed us where she sews, overlooking a beautiful park. The foundation piecing that was on the machine is now finished.
Enchanted Star is one of Jacqueline de Jong’s more difficult designs. Fortunately Heather found the instructions and pattern to be spot on correct and she enjoyed the challenge of making this top which is heading up to Sydney for the new owner to complete.
In contrast to the speed in which the above top was made, Janine has finished a UFO started three years ago as a scrap project.
Always a great feeling to have finally finished. Janine is not the only one getting into the UFO pile.
Margaret says she has been on an archeological dig and found a block started in Jinny Beyer’s hand piecing class in 2009, the class sample from Dianne Johnston’s Clam Shells class and a stitchery with hundreds of colonial knots.
All these are now finished and will be made into cushions and a wall hanging. While she enjoyed the hand piecing, embroidery is not Margaret’s cup of tea.
Val made this very sweet cot quilt for a friend’s great grandson. Good to see there is another generation coming on to keep Val busy.
Margaret is the over achiever this month. She has been forced to keep her feet up for a few weeks and used the time to make up all the hexagon blocks she has been fussy cutting for four years. It has all the signs of being fantastic quilt once she is able to put a final arrangement together.
Another quilt made by Margaret, this one uses the longer strips from a bag of Jo Botherway’s scraps. We saw what she did with the short pieces in May. The pattern comes from Evelyn Sloppy’s book Strips and Strings.
Late last year Jo taught Jeanette how to knit a log cabin style blanket that uses one constant colour and lots of left over balls of wool. Many many cold evenings later it is finished.
Here is some of the work started or finished by members this June. While it can be a struggle to stay motivated without our regular social connections, Waverley Patchworkers are sewing away, making quilts for themselves and others.
Karen has made quilts for three of her grandchildren. So interesting to see the same pattern using different colour ways.
Margaret’s cute duck quilt is for her godson’s new baby and the pretty flower one is for our gift quilt program.
Val has been using panels and workshop samples to put together these two fun quilts. She was glad to use them all up. Good to see nothing goes to waste.
A cot quilt made for a friend by Val.
Each year when we go away together for a weekend all participants make a block. Then some lucky winners receive a set. Val has made her blocks from 2019 into this very bright quilt.
Christine was due to go on a fabulous trip to Africa this year, but due to the pandemic it was cancelled. This Jen Kingwell pattern Drops of Jupiter has been made by Christine into her Dreaming of Africa quilt. Quilted by Denise Muschamp.
Norma has been using the time in isolation to practise her free motion quilting technique. She is following two online tutors, Angela Walters and Lori Kennedy. Having learned about quilting script, she quilted the story of Hairy Maclary on the cat and dog quilt make by Di.
Norma has also joined a number of Quilt-Alongs and Mystery Quilts in the last few months. This is Wake Me Up by Emma Jean Jansen and having made it queen size, decided single was better. So it became two identical tops, one backed with car fabric has been sent off to a nephew.
President Heather has been using the gloomy weather and time inside to work on foundation paper piecing.
Peggy used some of her leftover mermaid fabric to make a baby quilt for our gift quilt program. Not happy with the first design she unpicked it and remade it. The new design is on the right, all quilted and ready to be donated.
Also by Peggy a coffee table cover using 2″ scraps and a baby quilt for her daughter’s friend. Lots of cute animals peeking out in this one.
As the situation in Victoria has worsened, Jeanette has made double sided face masks for family members. They live in a busy part of Melbourne and wanted some to wear when they shop for essentials. Great way to use all those fat quarters accumulated over the years.
Sadly we were not able to have our Quilt Show this year. Thanks to the kindness of many members in staging and photographing their quilts and works in progress here, instead, is a little of what we are sewing.
Before COVID 19
After COVID 19
Let’s start with the space we use. Trudi decided that her sewing room needed a bit of a tidy up as the lockdown started. This is always very risky as it is impossible to find anything once it is all clear and neat. She mentioned that she was tempted to start a new project so chances are it looks more like the before picture now.
Travel and Memory Quilts
Marion is piecing memories into her Bella Ruby quilt. She picked up the pattern when Emma Di Stefano of Treehouse Textiles was our guest speaker in 2019 and has been inspired to use fabric from garments made for herself and the family.
Peggy has a well trained daughter who bought fabric while travelling, then Peggy put them into a quilt and Laura embroidered the names of the cities visited. Also shown is a cross quilt made by Peggy is for her nephew to wish him a speedy recovery.
Two more well travelled quilts. Lyn attended the UK Festival of Quilts last year and took some classes. The first is an Easy Stack Quilt with Paula Doyle and the large image is Moon Dance designed by Sue Bouchard. Both tops just need quilting now.
Lyn has also made a large quilt based on a panel for her friend’s first granddaughter due in June.
Joyanne has made a sketch a day quilt from Susan at the Gourmet Quilter. As she travelled for two months she changed some sketches to personalise the quilt.
Also by Joyanne, another Gourmet Quilter design called Metro Tiles. She learnt about the ‘quilt as you go’ method while making this.
Travel to NZ put Jannie in isolation for two weeks on her return, but she has been having fun with her quilting. Two Judy Niemeyer patterns, Licorice Allsorts and a Compass Rose cushion. The hexagon cushion is made from leftover pieces bought at a small market.
New Starts
Jenny is well known for her bright quilts and amazing productivity. This Jen Kingwell design Long Time Gone was started in April and by early May was just about done. She finds sampler style quilts avoid boredom!
Cheryl is working on a zipper quilt, using up scraps. She has also finished putting together five blocks from a Wattlebird Designs Block of the Month which was just enough of this style for her. Fortunately there are no rules to say you have to follow a pattern to the letter.
Getting Things Finished
A number of members have been going to their UFO pile and making quite a dent in it.
Karen has been giving her longarm a real work out getting the tops in her ‘to be quilted’ box finished. Some have been in there for a very long time.
One more from Karen’s Covid 19 Collection.
Eileen bought a lot of the Poppy panels and fabric and has been busy making lots of quilts.
She also picked up a bag of small hexagons at the Quilters on High February meeting and has made them into two little girl bags. Another hexagon quilt is finished and she says there are seven more quilt tops at the quilters, there is no risk of boredom in her house.
Made for Others
Trish is a new member of Waverley Patchworkers and has not made a quilt in 15 years. At the suggestion of her daughter she has made a sensory blanket for her 8 month old grandson full of lots of textures and shapes. Ryan is loving it.
In the April Newsletter there was a pattern for a block that could be used to make gift quilts. Dell has done just that and made a child’s size quilt top. She has also made a cushion for her mother’s 90th birthday. Sadly she could not visit her in her aged care home to celebrate but the cushion is providing a pleasurable connection for her mum.
Finally a knee quilt for a friend. When ill health prevented her friend from finishing a project she gave away the blocks. Dell decided to make them into a quilt and return them as a useful surprise.
Gift Quilts
Margaret has used the Yellow Brick Road pattern to make quilts for the bushfire appeal. Using just 15 fat quarters she says they are quick to make. The Shadow Box pattern highlights lovely florals, perfect for a garden lover.
Margaret was given a bag of scraps from Jo Botherway’s stash and has made a whole quilt using the smallest and odd shaped pieces.
Jenny M is a great supporter of our gift quilt program. Here are two photos are of 14 basted tops waiting to be quilted. Once Jenny has done this part they are passed on to other members to do the binding.
In between times she has been able to whip up a number of baby quilts requested by family friends who know she is a quilter.
And here we are at the end of our May Show and Tell. Two gift quilts finished by Anne. If you have made it this far you must have enjoyed it almost as much as you would have enjoyed our real Quilt Show.
This month’s virtual Show and Tell is from the Appliqué Special Interest Group. In pre-isolation times this group met on the first Thursday of the month to stitch, chat, encourage, learn and enjoy afternoon tea. Appliqué quilts are not fast projects, each month a Show and Tell shows the progress made rather than a finished project.
Please enjoy these quilts in progress.
Lyn is using a Max and Louise pattern to make this lovely quilt. She has about 80 more circles and hexagon flowers to go around the finished centre block.
Di is creating the William Morris inspired Strawberry Thief quilt. She is up to the quilting stage and the stippled background enhances all that appliqué.
Krista is working on Spring Blossom Garland shadow trapunto by Annie London. She has embellished it with embroidery and beads.
Heather is taking her time to piece the next border on her version of the Bathwick Quilt by Karen Styles. She has added appliqué to the corner blocks.
Ronnie took advantage of the sunny weather earlier in the month to work on her new project outdoors.
Another floral quilt, this time by Christine. It is Meadow Blooms based on the Michelle McKillop pattern Meadow with some of Christine’s own designs, quilted by Waverley member Denise at The Quilt House.
Lyn has recently finished her giant clamshells quilt featuring appliqué, embroidery and vintage textiles. The pattern is by Wattlebird Designs.
With the birth of a new granddaughter Ann has been hard at work on this very cute quilt. The pattern from a magazine is by Caroline Price. It was going to be cot size but with the borders it is going to be much larger and will get years of use. Despite the isolation Ann has been enjoying seeing Ivy’s daily progress through FaceTime.
Another quilt made for someone special. Dianne made this popular Rosalie Decker pattern for her friend Julie’s 60th birthday.
Jeanette has powered through the sashings of her version of Irene Blanck’s Miz Kelly quilt and is now deciding on the next borders.
While everyone is missing the regular meetings it is good to see a little of the work in progress and to know that good use is being made of time at home. When the Appliqué SIG gets to meet in person again there will be a huge celebratory showing of the quilts.
