Appliqué quilts can take quite a long time to complete. When one is finished at the Appliqué Special Interest Group it is an achievement that is applauded by all. We have usually watched its progress over months or even years.

One such quilt was displayed this month by Wendy. It is Garden Party designed by Laura Heine, a big quilt at 66″ by 87 1/2″. Wendy used hand needle turn appliqué using HugsnKisses semi water soluble fusible to ensure a smooth line. There is also some embroidery. She then quilted individual blocks using the Monica Poole Quilt as you go method.

Wendy loved choosing the colours for this bright quilt. The large 20 1/5 inch blocks were too large to handle without the appropriate square ruler and the final hand stitching of the sashing strip towards the centre of the quilt was a challenge.

It is a wedding present. No doubt the lucky recipients will have many years of joy with this beauty.

Another cause for celebration is Waverley Patchworkers 40th Anniversary this year. You can read all about the planned activities here.

The meeting that was scheduled for Monday 28 June has been cancelled. We have been advised by Monash Council that due to the current COVID restrictions we can only have 50 people in the hall. We have been greatly exceeding this number at meetings in 2021.

Other group meetings over the next two weeks may be going ahead, check with your convenor – details in your Newsletter.

Remember to wear a mask, check in with the venue QR code, hand sanitise and maintain social distancing when out and about.

The Gift Quilt Sewing Day date is now changed to Wednesday 7 July due to a tennis tournament.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Veronique is featured in the latest issue of Quilters Companion magazine and her designs can be found on her website wattlebird.com.au