The lovely Sean came along to the shop for an afternoon's knit today.
A dress for his niece is coming along great guns. Thanks for the company, Sean - always a pleasure to see you.


Must be a record...he completed 4 rows!!!

Here are Kate, Carolyn and Helen all placing the zips in their skirts and all before lunch......check later for the finished skirts. Lots of laughter from the class room as we write - sounds like it will be a day well spent.

Last Thursday we tackled the basket panel.  Hmmm - deceptively simple, I'd say.  These pieces have to be cut with absolute precision and then machine sewn together so that you don't lose the points of the basket corners. Not easy! Things have definitely gone slightly awry here in the top right hand corner but am hoping that Pam can work her magic when it comes to securing it to the sashing panel. Now just the handle to attach on the top of the basket.

This week's homework has been hearts - appliqued onto the backing and then some peaceful blanket stitching around the edges.

There will be more embroidered hearts in the centre, using the variegated thread which Pam has introduced us to.

So ... 4 panels nearly done.  What next?

Our friend Tricia is in the midst of her midwifery training and heading off to Malawi this summer for a month working in a rural maternity clinic. She's taking out some essential supplies for mothers and babies and the Tuesday afternoon knitting group has been hard at work producing hats. Eileen is currently in the lead, having produced at least 10 of the sweetest little hats for premature babies. Others have taken a more colourful approach to the brief

It has been suggested that Lesley and I have 'far too  much fun dressing that window' ...

This month the mice have headed off on a jungle adventure, riding high on an elephant and narrowly escaping the attentions of the alligator in the swamp. Baby mouse is playing tricks with mum's wool, swinging across the trees trying to catch up with that mischievous monkey.

So the Dresden Plate panel is nearly complete (though still needs quilting onto the wadding and backing) and we headed into hexagons as our homework. Hexagons turn out to be very relaxing - gentle hand stitching, none of that tricky machining to worry about. I also used the week to choose my sashing fabric - that's the long strips that will separate the panels from each other - and opted for this leafy green print from our selection in the shop. After all, everything else is salvaged, so seems reasonable to spend a little!

Yesterday our quilting for beginners course began. Using a variety of salvaged fabrics (can you spot the husband's shirts and boxer shorts?), Claire produced the beginnings of the first panel in her sampler quilt. This is the Dresden Plate design. Apparently all quilting patterns are known by the same names across the globe - just one of the things we learnt from our expert tutor Pam. Next week we move onto hexagons and in the meantime we have 'homework' hand stitching our plates to the background and finishing off the centres.

Kerry leads a group this morning stitching make-up bags.
 
Intricate Union Jack-style patchwork in pretty florals, zips and embellishments - these are no ordinary make-up bags!

Kate, Scarlett, Rebecca and Charlotte spent the morning with our peg looming expert Amanda, producing fun, fibre fantasies.

Using diverse fibres, wools, plastic bags, ribbon, tape, netting and more...they all went away with piece bursting with colour and texture.

Singing away, the girls enjoyed a 2 hour class we are hoping to repeat soon...keep an eye on the classes page to find out when. Or call to book  a place on the waiting list...01608 645970