Thursday, November 1, 2018

SOCIAL SEW IN ANNOUNCEMENT! Jan 5th at the Lexington Community Center!

This event is open to the public! Join us on January 5th in Room 327 at the Lexington Community Center from 9am to 4:45pm for some social sewing. We will have a charity sewing project opportunity for those who are interested or you are welcome to work on personal projects. Visit our Meetings and Gatherings page for more info. Looking forward to quilting/knitting/hand sewing with you!

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

September Show and Tell

We had a great collection of Big Statement pieces this month:

Here is a striking piece in both color and size by Chris.



Reva shows off a traditional-made modern

After all of Charlotte’s efforts at our winter retreat, it’s great to see her dramatic finished quilt.

This is Hildy’s first venture into a quilt-as-you-go project- she send thanks for people’s input.

Joy has made a quilt for her four-year-old daughter that is big enough to grow into!

And finally, a rainbow-striped, extra-long sweater knit by Stephanie.

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Meet Your (Quilt) Maker: Christine Quirion

If you've been to one of our meetings lately then you know we are putting some Polaroid quilt blocks together for our next block of the "month". In honor of the lovely crafty lady who brought us this pattern, we have our next installment of Meet Your "Quilt" Maker.

Meet Christine Quirion!


What’s your favorite podcast/music/audiobook genre to listen to when you quilt?

I’ve been listening to Lotta Sea Lice by Courtney Barnett and Kurt Weill a lot, along with Stevie Wonder and Solange. Also Radiolab podcast.

What skill are you itching to master?


I want to go back to curves again, like a drunkard’s path or muffin top. My first and only Drunkard’s Path quilt languished for 3 or 4 years because I thought I had made too many mistakes--the other skill to work on is focusing on what is right in my quilts instead of my eye drifting to the mistakes.

What sewing skill are you most proud of?

Figuring out how to add hand embroidery to my quilts is something that took a lot of trial and error, I like doing a little customization or a small message in the quilts for people I care about.
An embroidered pillow of sad robots for my niece Lyla
Do you sew for a living?

What an interesting idea. Much of why I sew has to do with getting to work on what I want, when I want to without having to get agreement from other people (which is what I do a lot of in my work managing projects).
What kind of fabric are you most attracted to?

Prints! I love prints, my eyes are naturally drawn especially to black and white prints (dots, stripes, shapes, repetitive images of any time, you name it).  Much of what I’m looking at lately has been Cotton + Steel. I also love Carolyn Friedlander fabrics too. Anything architectural or pop art inspired really sings out to me.
Tell us about the quilt that means the most to you and why. This doesn’t have to be one that you made. And we’d love to see a picture!

The quilt that we have on our bed most of the year, which is a Modern Flying Geese pattern from Red Pepper Quilts. This was the first quilt I made on my own without taking a class.  I like adding a little bit of randomness, so I was able to turn a few of the blocks sideways and it makes me really happy.
My favorite quilt, Modern Flying Geese design by Red Pepper Quilts
How/When did you start quilting?

About eight years ago. I grew up crocheting and making clothes for dolls because my parents were always DIY-ing things. My mom got into quilting when she retired, so I followed along.
From designing and picking fabrics to watching a recipient’s face when they see your quilt for the first time, what is your favorite part of the whole process?

My favorite part is finding something I can do with the design or fabric choices that relates to the person i’m making it for. Next in my list is the Up North Pattern by Pen + Paper patterns, I want to add a dog and turn the camper van into a horse trailer for my aunt who loves collies and has horses.
Spooky spiderweb and ghost themed wedding quilt for a friend who loves Halloween 
What do you do get over a hump when you get stuck on a quilt?

Set it aside and move on to something else like improv log cabin squares. If things are looking too matchy, my husband sometimes gives me a second opinion to rearrange the blocks a little bit.
What kind of other crafts are you into besides quilting?

I knit, sew bags and clothes, embroider, and I do a lot of cooking.
Where’s your fave place to eat in Cambridge?

Trina’s Starlite Lounge, All-Star Pizza bar and Flour have the veggie options I need.
A mini version of the Rebel Quilt design by Libs Elliot which I made for a 
Quiltcon mini quilt swap last Feb. 
Do you have any favorite blogs/insta accounts we should know about? And where can we find you on the internet?

On instagram, I like to follow
@builtaquilt
@thencamejune
@libselliot
@sewyoursoul
@lisacongdon  
You can find me on instagram @quirionc
Anything else you want us to know about you?

I'm a scorpio and my preferred mode of travel is by bike.





Wednesday, September 5, 2018

August 2018 Meeting Recap

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Christine is showing us samples of the November lottery block - a Polaroid pattern.

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Julie very proudly shows of her finished quilt consisting of colorful circles and pie wedges.

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Here are four more Blocks of the Month that Sue has finished so far.


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Heather has completely assembled the quilt top whose design consists of lots of sewing accouterments.

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Jen displays a piece based on the idea of a “windy” block. Not sure what the original looks like, but a truly interesting result!

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Regina is peeking out from behind her newly finished honey bee block quilt, finished by her mom.

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Sandy explained how she made this fabulous quilt inspired by the art of Ernst Haeckel.

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Here is Christine again with a piece based on a design by Carolyn Friedlander.

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Jordan has made multiple blocks from the Quilt Block Cook Book and is showing two of his favorites.

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An invisible Gwen is holding up a dramatic blue and white Ohio Star.

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Here is a table runner that Reva has created just in time for Rosh Hashanah.

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Allison shows off a very “positive” and colorful quilt.

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Maritza displays a dramatic triangle and strip creation that may or may not be an octagon when finished.

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A group effort putting together our charity quilt submission to QuiltCon 2109.

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We were a few blocks shy to complete the quilt, so its designer, Abigail, jumped into action to make a few more squares.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

August 2018 Lottery Block: Fussy Cut Polaroid Block

August 2018 Lottery Block: Fussy Cut Polaroid Block
Due at the November 2018 Meeting


This month's block is brought to you be Christine Quirion

With this block, you’ll create “Polaroid” photo block to showcase interesting prints, fussy cut images, charm squares or tiny piecing in a photo style frame. Each Polaroid gets a gray outer frame, and the finished block illustrates 4 interesting Polaroid images.

Colors: All of the “picture” centers of your Polaroids should include dark/navy Blue. The images don’t have to be entirely blue, but a common thread of one color will tie the finished lottery blocks together. The four Polaroid blocks that you sew together should relate to one another visually or thematically.

Fabric Requirements for completed 4-Polaroid Block:
  • Four 3.5 x 3.5 squares for center images of Polaroids that contain the color dark Blue 
  • ⅛ yard of white 
    • 1 inch WOF (width of fabric) strips for tops and sides of each Polaroid frame 
    • 1.5 inch WOF for bottom of each Polaroid frame 
  • ¼ yard of gray fabric for outer frame 
    • 2 inch WOF strips 
Based on this tutorial, there are no changes to the dimensions or instructions:

http://emeraldcoastmodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/2014/04/may-2014-block-lottery-polaroid-4x4.html

Cutting:
  • White (Kona white or similar) 
    • 1 inch WOF (width of fabric strips for tops and sides of each Polaroid frame 
    • 1.5 inch WOF for bottom of each Polaroid frame 
  • Gray (Kona Medium Gray or similar) 
    • 2 inch WOF strips 

Subcut: into 8 strips of 2 X 8.5 and 8 strips of 2 x 4.5

Trimming sizes (from tutorial link above):
  • Trim each Polaroid including gray outer frame to 6.5 inches square 
  • Trim each 4-Polaroid Block to 12.5 inches square 
Note: Is OK if one or more individual Polaroid centers are set wonky as you trim. The images are the star and wonkiness can help blocks made by different people go together for the lottery winner.

Example finished 4 Polaroid block trimmed to 12.5 inches using the Emerald Coast MQG tutorial:


Saturday, August 25, 2018

SOCIAL SEW IN ANNOUNCEMENT! Sept 29th at the Lexington Community Center!

This event is open to the public! Join us on September 29th in Room 327 at the Lexington Community Center from 9am to 4:45pm for some social sewing. Visit our Meetings and Gatherings page for more info. Looking forward to sewing with you!