Companionship Quilters: August 2012

We had fun at the July group meeting.

Baby Dedications
Debbie has let us know now that there's a couple of month reprieve on baby quilts, but that usually creates a busy spell shortly after... October could be busy! And we are really low on boy and girl quilts... so don't stop now! I think the consensus is to have our Friendship Quilting Day which is on September 8th be a baby quilting day. It's also Debbie's birthday... how appropriate!

Needs

Lorraine would like to make a quilt for Ruth-Anne Heath, and would accept any jewel tone batik donations that you might have!
If you have any items you don't need (particularly fabric that others could use for our Fall Block of the Month program), please bring it to our August meeting!

Upcoming Dates
August 24-26: APWQ Show
September 8th: Friendship Quilting Day/Baby Quilting Day
September 27th: Quilt Group meeting (and our first Block of the Month block... see below)
October 4-7: Quilt Retreat at Seabeck

Retreat
We still have several spots open for the October 4-7 retreat at Seabeck! It's a great time to get lots of quilting done, and have a marvy time chatting and getting to know each other. It can be tiring and so refreshing, all at the same time. And fall is a wonderful time to go to Seabeck!

The Fall aka "What are we going to do next?"
We looked at an intro video to a fun Block of the Month (BOM) on Craftsy that we decided to do. We'll learn one new technique that you can use for two different blocks each month, as well as learn some basting, quilting, and binding techniques.

This program is on Craftsy.com for free. We'll watch a video each month starting in September, and start working on blocks at quilt group each month (so bring your machine if you'd like). Because it's free, you can sign up for it personally too, and watch the video again and again, if you'd like. I will print the directions, but you need to work ahead you can actually print them yourself.

On Craftsy there is a supply list, but I'll give you all a printed version at the August meeting. She suggests a number of fat quarters and background fabric, but you certainly could make it out of scraps and/or stash. Black or some other color would be a cool background... whatever you like! Here's an abbreviated list. I wouldn't run out and buy anything until you need it... and we'll have lots of these items that we can share among the group... like fabric markers or large rulers:

Background fabric – 4 yards (3.75 m) will give you enough for background, sashing and border.
Binding fabric of your choice – 1⁄2 yard
Backing fabric of your choice – 41⁄2 yards
Batting - The quilt is 55" x 68 1⁄2" If you buy batting prepackaged by bed size, in most brands, this is a twin. Off a 96"roll, you’ll need 2 yards.
35 fat quarters (FQ) in a variety of prints and colors – I’m working with a 35-print bundle, but
I’ll probably have a few unused fat quarters at the end, of prints I chose not to incorporate. You may not need 35 exactly; it really depends on which fabrics you choose for which blocks, as it’s a very scrappy quilt. I’m not sure I’d go out and purchase 35 individual FQs, but if you’re buying a bundle, a 36-print one will be perfect.
Thread
Rotary cutter and mat
Fabric scissors
Sewing machine
Iron
Water-soluble fabric marker/pen
Faultless Heavy Starch
24" clear quilt ruler
12 1⁄2" square quilt ruler
4 1⁄2" square ruler for half square triangles
Fabric glue stick
Templates (optional, see patterns)
Template plastic, or cardboard
Hand sewing needle