President's report
Greetings all!
With the improving weather comes gardening season, baseball season, and quilt show season! The AQS show in Lancaster is usually the first big show I get to every spring, followed by at least three or four others (Quilters Unlimited in northern VA; Quilt Odyssey in Hershey; PA National Quilt Extravaganza in Oaks) before the season ends again in late fall. Plus I aspire when possible to attend at least one or two local guild shows.
Of course, this spring is suffused with extra excitement and urgency due to York Quilters’ Guild’s upcoming Celebration of Quilts, happening May 20-21. With a huge gorgeous new venue at York College to fill with quilts, I’ve been triaging my UFOs, looking for the ones I can get finished for the show. My personality works best under deadline, so setting goals to finish some of my neglected ongoing projects in time to register them before April 24 has really lit a fire under my sewing chair.
From time to time I’ve heard quilters say, “I don’t enter my quilts in the show because I don’t want anyone judging me.” (Deep breath.) First of all, if you’re talking about the actual hired professional judges, that’s easy: register your quilt in category H1, “display only.” Your quilt will hang in the show but the judge will walk on by.
However, if you avoid entering quilts in the show because you think fellow guild members and general attendees will criticize it, PLEASE reconsider. The vast, vast majority of quilters and the larger quilt show audience are generous people who come to the show ready to be delighted. As a quilter, in fact, I sometimes enjoy viewing the quilts at the local guild shows more than the ones at the big national shows, because they tend to be more the type of quilts I actually aspire to make.
We live in a society where very few people have the skills and inclination to make a quilt: a physical object that expresses creativity with color, pattern, and texture, and can keep someone warm! If you are one of the select few who can list that achievement on your life’s resume, you deserve to be celebrated! Please share your quilts in the show. It will be the better for them.
I’ll be over here till May, sewing on binding.
See you at the meeting,
Sarah O’Sullivan
Program
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Laurene Bowers
Tiny Pieces to Modern Art Quilts
Laurene Bowers a member of the Capital Area Modern Quilt Guild, she has been a prolific quilter for 30 years.
Laurene has exhibited quilts in Paducah (American Quilter’s Society) and won third place (three times) at the Vermont Quilt Festival. She won best of show at Images 2006 in Lowell, MA. Almost all of these quilts were made up of at least 50 thousand pieces, as she has a special fondness for sewing tiny, tiny pieces together into an art quilt.
For this presentation, she will bring several of her award winning quilts as well as some ‘fun’ ones which she has been doing more recently.
In addition to members normal show and tells, modern and art quilts are especially welcome quilts that support our speaker’s topic.
Workshops
Workshops
Friday, April 22, 2016
Infinite Possibilities Workshop
Learn how to approach curves in a simple no nonsense fashion and conquer your fears. The basic Drunkard’s Path block will be used for this class and classic and contemporary settings for this block will be explored.
Participants will learn the basic skills of curved piecing and explore different arrangement for the Drunkard’s Path block. Also simple variations in the block will be presented to allow for greater design potential.
Cost $45 members $50 non-members
Friday, June 17, 2016
Dancing Log Cabins
Workshop with Jane Frenke
Join Jane to learn her technique for Dancing Log Cabins (an interesting class in breaking the rules). Taking her basic technique, each student will end up with blocks that are completely individual. No cookie-cutter blocks here!
This class is limited to 15 students!
Saturday June 18, 2016
It’s a Jungle Out There!
Workshop with Jane Frenke
This class is limited to 15 student!
Workshop fee $45 members/$50 non-members. An additional pattern fee is to be paid prior to the class.
Quilt Show Workshops
Workshops on Friday, May 20, 2016
Friday, 9:00 AM
Workshop: Clothesline Bowls
Teacher: Carol Blevins
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $20
Description: Who said that clothesline is for hanging up laundry? Ever thought of using it to make bowls, totes, or a handbag? Clothesline is covered with fabric and can be coiled into stylish home accessories or gifts. Learn the basics, then experiment to make assorted bowls. This process can be used to make placemats, coasters, hotpads and more. It’s downright fun!
Project: A small coaster to get you started and then you can create anything you want!!
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Sewer
Supply List:
Sewing machine in good working order, cleaned and oiled. Machine must be able to zigzag.
All pedals, cords, and an extension cord.
Open-toed applique foot
Machine needle: # 110/18
Assorted fabrics you want to play with. A multicolored 100% cotton print will work well or you might want to play with scraps. About ¾ of a yard will get you started.
Variegated thread such as Mettler @30 of King Tut to coordinate with fabric.
Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler.
Scissors to cut clothesline and snip threads
Fabric-Tac glue by Beacon Adhesives (this dries quickly and is clear and strong)
A stiletto (a bamboo skewer works well)
Clothesline, ¼ in, 50 ft. The nylon braided clothesline works very well. Cotton covered clothesline can also be used.
A few clip clothes pins—wooden or plastic will work.
Friday, 9:00 AM
Workshop: Thoroughly Modern Dresden Class Project
Instructor: Sheila Arnold
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $20
Description: Have you ever tried to make a Dresden Plate and it wouldn’t lay flat on the background square? So did Anelie Beiden. Then she challenged herself to develop a process to construct the Dresden so quilters could be more successful and more creative with the design. By making sample block in class you will learn her process and will be ready to tackle any of the 13 projects included in her book “Thoroughly Modern Dresden”.
Project: 12″ sample block
Skill Level: Confident beginner and above
Supply List:
Book “Thoroughly Modern Dresden” by Anelie Belden
Fabric: For blades – two coordinating fabrics. From each fabric cut one strip 5 1/4″ x 18″
For background blocks – cut four 6 1/2″ squares
For center circle – cut one 4″ square
NOTE: This is meant to be a sample block to learn the process. However, borders, batting, and backing may be added later to “finish” the project, if desired.
Neutral thread
Monofilament thread for “invisible” machine applique OR matching thread for topstitch applique
Small cutting board, ruler, and rotary cutter
Sewing machine, cord, bobbins, foot pedal, extension cord
1/4″ foot
Open toe foot for machine applique
Pressing pad and small iron (blue water soluble marker or Frixion pen by Pilot)
Thread snips
Ripper
Pins
Paper-cutting scissors
Small fabric-cutting scissors
Chair cushion, if desired
Friday, 9:00 AM
NO PHOTO Workshop: Perfect Lines & Arcs: Beginning Ruler Work (LONGARM)
Instructor: John Kubiniec & Danner’s BERNINA Shoppe
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Description: Learn to develop basic ruler work skills. Rulers make perfect straight line quilting (like stitch-in-the-ditch) easy. Symmetrical circles and all-over patterns like clamshells become a breeze. Each student will complete a sampler of quilting techniques they can take home. We will also discuss marking tools and other ruler work supplies. Students will work on BERNINA Q Series longarms but techniques can also be applied to domestic machine quilting.
Project: Small Sampler Quilt
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Supply List: All supplies are included in the registration fee.
Friday, 1:00 PM
Workshop: Beginning Paper Piecing
Instructor: Donna Sheffer
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $20
Description:
For those of you who have wanted to try paper piecing, here is the ideal project to learn the technique and experience immediate success. Foundation piecing allows the beginning quilter to sew difficult patterns easily and accurately, and offers the experienced quilter a way to explore their creativity. Participants will learn step-by-step how to use a paper pieced pattern, to sew perfect points and match seams. You will love the precision and your quilt too.
Project: Adorable 11″ x 13″ wall hanging featuring a birdhouse, bluebird, and tulip
Skill Level: Beginner to Experienced
Supply List:
Rotary Cutting Equipment, including rotary cutter, self healing mat and rulers
Sewing Machine in good working order, 90/14 needles, open toe foot if possible
Basic Sewing Supplies, including flat head pins, neutral-colored thread for piecing, seam ripper, pencil and scissors.
Post card, subscription card from magazine or thin cardboard
Material:
1 yd. fabric for border, sashing and quilt backing
¼ yd. background
¼ yd. for binding
½ yd. quilt batting
3 buttons for embellishment on birdhouse (optional)
¼ yd. for birdhouse
6 assorted scraps for birdhouse roof and flower pot, tulip, tulip leaves, bluebirds back, beak and chest. (Can also make bird a robin)
Optional Supply List:
Iron and ironing board
Colored pencils
Wooden iron
Fabric glue stick
6” add-a-quarter ruler
Friday, 1:00 PM
Workshop: Machine Quilting
Instructor: Sarah O’Sullivan
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $20
Description: You don’t need a long-arm quilting machine to achieve beautiful quilting on your projects from potholder size to king size — it just takes some planning and practice. In this class, I will demonstrate techniques for low- or no-mark quilting designs from fillers to feathers. We will discuss batting choices, basting methods, and the various notions that help make predictable machine quilting a joy to perform. Choosing quilting designs and managing larger quilt projects will also be addressed. Hands-on practice and troubleshooting on your home sewing machine will form the most useful part of class time. Appropriate for confidant beginners through intermediate.
Project: Machine quilting practice examples
Skill Level: Confident beginners through Intermediate
Supply List:
Sewing machine in good working condition. You must be able to drop or cover the feed dogs or set the stitch length to 0.
Darning or free motion foot for your machine
Manual for your machine
6 practice quilt “sandwiches,” approximately 8″ x 10″ each: low-loft 100% cotton batting sandwiched between two layers of 100% cotton fabric (all cotton means it will stick together without basting for class practice)
Thread (NOT hand quilting thread): ideally 50 weight cotton but bring metallics or variegated threads or different thread weights if you’d like to experiment
Size 90 Jeans/Denim needle for your machine
Quilting gloves (optional but recommended; Machingers are my favorite)
Extension table for your machine if available
Presser foot knee lift level for your machine if available
Water soluble blue fabric making pen
Thread snips
Friday, 1:00 PM
Information Session: What Quilting Machine Do I Need? (LONGARM)
NO PHOTO Instructor: John Kubiniec & Danner’s BERNINA Shoppe
Information Session Length: 45 minutes
Registration Fee: $0
Wondering which machine quilting option is best for you? Longing for a longarm but need help to “take the plunge”? Let us help you evaluate your quilting goals while we demonstrate how to quilt on a variety of BERNINA domestic & longarm models. This info session is free of charge, but registration is requested by contacting Danner’s BERNINA Shoppe at 717-637-4685 or sales@dannersbernina.net.
Friday, 2:30 PM
NO PHOTO Workshop: Modern Fills: Intermediate Ruler Work (LONGARM)
Instructor: John Kubiniec & Danner’s BERNINA Shoppe
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Many modern quilts have large areas of background space that can seem overwhelming to quilt into. Learn how to break down these backgrounds into smaller design areas. We’ll explore the secrets of straight & curved cross hatching. And also discuss ways to approach applique. Students will work on BERNINA Q Series longarms but techniques can also be applied to domestic machine quilting.
Project: Small Sampler Quilt
Skill Level: Basic ruler work experience suggested
Supply List: All supplies are included in the registration fee.
Workshops on Saturday, May 21, 2016
Saturday, 9:00 AM
Workshop: Quilting Unplugged
Teacher: Patsy Hartnett
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $20
Description: We all know the quick and easy, the fast and furious, the strip pieced and the “mile in a minute” quilts but let’s unplug and take it easy for a minute. This class will introduce you to the slower, peaceful, relaxed hand piecing, and quilting. Completely portable and a small investment; the items you need to learn how to quilt are few. If you always wanted to learn how to quilt – this is the class for you. If you already know how to quilt, but wish you had a deeper knowledge of “Old” ways, please join us. This class will result in a finished project and you will go away with all the knowledge you need for your next project.
**All work will be done by hand and a small kit will be furnished for each class participant.
Project: We will make a small pieced pincushion, with a touch of applique to make it special.
Skill Level: Beginner to Experienced
Supply List:
Bring a thimble that fits on the middle finger of the dominate hand (I like the Clover thimbles with the rubberized fit for those of you who are not accustom to thimbles),
A small pair of scissors to clip threads
A small Omni grid ruler – 6 inch is my favorite but any size will work
Saturday, 9:00 AM
Workshop: Fiesta Mexico Block Three
Teacher: Karen Kay Buckley
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $35
Description: During my visits to Mexico I was influenced by the designs and colors of their handmade pottery and the flora. I designed a large quilt called “Fiesta Mexico” and this is one of the blocks from that quilt. For this 3 hour workshop I added a wonderful border to the 10” square center block. In addition to learning to appliqué smooth curves and sharp points you will also learn to create and appliqué perfect ¼” strips and perfect circles of differing sizes. I will make your hand appliqué fun, easy and enjoyable.
Project: Appliquéd 10″ square block
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supply List:
Package of Perfect Circles™
Scissors, both paper and fabric
Small sharp pins to position appliqué
Fabric markers
Pencil
Emery board
Sandpaper-optional
Tape
Iron and pressing board
FABRIC
White background fabric 12” x 12
4 green fat quarters
2 pink fat quarters
3 gold/orange fat quarters
5 blue shades, scraps
PATTERN PLUS FEE: $24.00 (Does not include fabric) It does include the full Fiesta Mexico pattern (12 patterns in all), 2 sheets of Templar, a brush, the border pattern, glue pen and 5 pages of border instructions. This kit will be made available to purchase during the class. You may use check or credit card.
Saturday, 9:00 AM
NO PHOTO Workshop: Free-Motion Quilting Introduction (LONGARM)
Instructor: John Kubiniec & Danner’s BERNINA Shoppe
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $55
Get started with free-motion quilting! Experience the ease of loading a quilt onto a frame versus pinning or basting and learn basic startup techniques. Master simple free-motion patterns like loops, pebbles & swirls on a modern panel quilt which can be turned into a pillow-top, wall quilt or runner. Students will work on BERNINA Q Series longarms but techniques can also be applied to domestic machine quilting.
Project: 45″ x 60″ Wall Quilt
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Supply List: All supplies including a premium quality printed panel that can be turned into a mini quilted project are included in the registration fee.
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Workshop: Circle Play Machine Applique
Teacher: Pat Matthews
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $20
Description: Let your imagination run free as you learn the basics of fused machine applique to make a small flannel quilt top. You will have a wide choice of colors, sizes, and patterns of perfused circles and rings to appliqué onto either 16-10″ square blocks or a 1¼ yard whole cloth piece.
Provided for you: Background fabric; perfused circles and rings; and a spool of decorative thread.
Project: Small flannel quilt top (38″ square)
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supply List:
Bring Sewing machine- with at least zigzag stitch
Open-toed foot for your machine, if you have it
Basic sewing supplies
An iron and ironing surface (can be shared)
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Workshop: Jelly Roll Race
Teacher: Sarah O’Sulllivan
Workshop Length: 3 hrs.
Registration Fee: $20
Description: Do you love to buy those beautiful packs of precut 2.5” strips but then get stumped as to how to use them? Here’s a fun technique for a quick throw-sized quilt top that uses 40 width-of-fabric by 2.5” precut strips (one Jelly Roll, Bali Pop, Tonga Treat strip pack etc.) or just 40 assorted strips from your stash. The simplest version involves just the strips, but directions will also be included for easy variations in which squares or triangles are added. The fun of a Jelly Roll Race quilt lies not only in the unusual construction technique (ever sewn together a 1600” strip of fabric before?) but also in the surprise as to how it turns out, because you can’t plan which strips will end up together. Join me to enjoy a few hours of fabric play in a class that won’t send you home with a UFO.
Project: Machine pieced throw-sized quilt top
Skill Level: All levels from beginner to advanced
Supply List:
40 precut (2.5″ x width of fabric) strips of 100% quilting quality cotton. This can be a Jelly Roll, Bali Pop, Tonga Treat, etc. or strips that you have cut in advance from your stash
Neutral piecing thread
Sewing machine in good working condition with 1/4″ piecing foot
Dressmaking shears
Rotary cutter with mat and ruler (optional for this project)
Standard sewing supplies (extra machine needles, pins, water soluble fabric marking pen, thread snips)
Irons and ironing boards will be available in the classroom, but this project does not require pressing between steps. All pressing of seams can be done once the top is essentially complete.
Saturday, 1:00 PM
Unleash Free-Motion Quilting Creativity (LONGARM)
NO PHOTO Instructor: John Kubiniec & Danner’s BERNINA Shoppe
Workshop Length: 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Creating a quilt plan can be daunting. Learn techniques for developing free-motion skills into simple patterns that can be mastered without a ruler & require minimal marking. We will build our ideas from Amanda Murphy’s Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book (available for purchase at the event). Students will work on BERNINA Q Series longarms but techniques can also be applied to domestic machine quilting.
Project: Small Sampler Quilt
Skill Level: Intermediate. Some free-motion skills suggested.
Supply List:
Book “Free-Motion Quilting Idea Book” by Amanda Murphy; All other supplies are included in the registration fee.
Book 2 Quilt Challenge
The challenge is to create a quilt by interpreting a title of a book you have read. The book could be any type – children, cookbook, novel, car manual, etc. Use your creativity.
The challenge will be due at the Oct 2016 meeting.
Please bring the book, a picture of the book or at least the title of the book on a piece of paper to the October meeting so we can display your inspiration with your quilt.
Your quilt should be at least 20 inches on each size.
We will award prizes to the top three quilts selected by guild members.
Thread, needle, tension questions/answers (Follow up from February 2016 guild meeting
How can you tell a good metallic thread?
The way it drapes when hung in a “U” shape when you pull a length of thread from the spool/cone will indicate whether or not it is a good metallic thread. If it curls or kinks when unwound, it’s not a good metallic thread. If it hangs smoothly, that indicates that it is a good metallic thread. Inferior metallic threads can be successfully used in bobbins because the thread doesn’t pass through tensioner discs.
What’s the best “style” needle to use?
The best style needle to use is a “topstitch” needle. This needle has an extra-large elongated eye, a deeper groove in the shaft, and a sharp point. It is the most common needle type recommended by professionals and educators
What is mercerized thread?
Mercerizing is a process of treating cotton thread in a solution which causes the fibers to swell. It allows dye to penetrate the fibers better, increases luster, and strengthens the thread.
Why is Egyptian cotton thread better than other cotton threads?
It has an extra-long staple. The soil in Egypt produces great cotton with longer, stronger, better fibers. Everyone wants Egyptian cotton. Some labels can be deceptive, saying they are “Egyptian cotton, made in China”. This is not the same as Egyptian cotton grown in Egypt. Egypt cannot possibly grow all the cotton that is claimed as “Egytpian quality”.
How can you tell if top tension is too loose?
When you get looping on the back, it means that the top tension is too loose compared to the bobbin tension so, the bobbin thread is pulling too much top thread underneath. Tension is a “tug of war” between the top thread and the bobbin thread. Good tension is when both sides give in, allowing a good stitch without breaking or looping. Sometimes both top and bobbin threads need to be adjusted to create a good stitch. Don’t be afraid to adjust tension!
Which way should thread come off a spool/cone? (Straight wound VS cross wound)
Thread should always unwind in the same manner it was wound. Thread from a straight wound spool should come off the side of the spool, not from the top of the spool. So, a straight wound spool should sit on a vertical peg on your machine. Thread from a cross wound spool/cone should come off from the top of the cone/spool. A small cross wound spool can be placed on a horizontal peg on your machine but a larger cross wound cone should be placed on a sturdy thread stand placed behind your machine.
Fact or Fiction: You can only use cotton thread for quilting? Why? /Why not?
Fiction: The number one reason quilters are taught to use only cotton thread is tradition. The traditions, myths and rumors that polyester thread will tear the quilt are not true. Under extreme use, a strong polyester thread might but, so will a strong, glazed cotton thread. Under normal use, softer non-glazed threads will not tear through the fabric and it is perfectly fine to use any type of quality thread, except nylon which will discolor and get brittle over time.
Why is it better to have shorter color change lengths in variegated thread?
You can make a more accurate prediction of what color will appear in each place on your quilt. Precision dyed 1 -inch color change allows for more accuracy than does a random dye pattern.
YQG Trivia
February 1997, Guild member Sheila Arnold teased us with a program entitled “Strip Tease”
Because this is guild and not a gentlemen’s club, we knew this was about quilting. Sheila showed
us strip piecing techniques. She also had “show and tell” of items she had made. Today strip piecing
is a pretty well know way to quick piece a quilt and lots of fun.
Barbara Colvin
For Sale
8 foot wood quilt frame.
Bars with muslin leaders
Cogs to tighten quilt.
Excellent condition.
$100.00
Barbara Colvin
755-6213
becolvin@juno.com
Request for Donations
Hello Guild members,
Wow, it is March already and our Quilt Show is fast approaching. I hope some of you have been thinking about my request for donations for the “Raffle Table” at the quilt show. If you aren’t familiar with this portion of the show, it is where we display collections of items (new fabrics, notions, freshly made items sewn by our members, etc.) and visitors will purchase raffle tickets to place in bags next to the collections. The last day of the show, we will pull tickets to see who will win the items. I have been actively soliciting corporate donations but still ask that our members consider a donation of some sort. During your selection of any item(s) to donate, please remember that we want visitors to buy tickets for the items. So, ask yourself if you would want to win the item that you are donating. If you do, it will probably be a good selection and we will gladly accept the donation. The proceeds from our show go back to the guild to use for those wonderful programs that we have monthly as well as help pay for our meeting room and support our charitable contributions to the community so we need the show to be a success. If you know that you want to donate an item and just haven’t completed or purchased it yet, could you please let me know so that I know what may be coming our way. My email is KING8561@aol.com or you can call my cell phone and leave a message if I don’t answer. Cell phone # is 717-309-1979.
Suggestions for donations:
Handmade items: Placemats, table runners, baby quilts, bags ( purses, totes), etc.
Purchased items: Rulers, rotary cutters, cutting mats, fat quarter collections, patterns, kits, batting, etc.
PS- Please don’t forget to sign up to help at the table during the show. We need volunteers.
Thank you in advance for any donations,
Anne King
February 2016 Meeting of the York Quilt Guild was called to order by President, TheSarah O’Sullivan at 7PM,
Sarah was pleased to announce that Nancy Spiese has volunteered to be our new Vice President and Mary Ellen Wical has volunteered to take over our newsletter. Thank you, ladies! We still need a program (chair) planning person.
We had two visitors at our meeting: Jackie Sutton and Joli Harrington.
Committee Announcements:
Paula Shamoian ( substituting for Evelyn Hunt) announced that our March program will be Laurene Bowers. She will speak about “Tiny Pieces to Modern Art Quilts.”
The March meeting will NOT be on the third Thursday of the month, which is Maundy Thursday. The Fifth Thursday, March 31, is our new meeting date. I repeat, THE NEXT MEETING OF YQG WILL BE ON MARCH 31!
Cindy Hodge asked everyone to sign up for jobs at our upcoming quilt show. There are boards with job listings on the back table. And we need many hands to set up and take down the show.
Paula Shamoian encouraged everyone to enter quilts. The deadline for entering quilts will be Apr. 24.
Ginny Lehr asked everyone who will be giving her items for the Consignment Table to get a number ahead of time. If you are giving items for “donation only,” please start setting those items aside at home.
Pat Matthews encouraged sewers to bring in patches made from your “crumbs.” These patches will be made into a quilt. Pat and her “barn quilters” will do a demo of how to make a crumb quilt at our show in May.
Celebration of Quilts now has a web site. Look at it and “like” it. Everyone should sell ads for our quilt show book. Anyone who you do business with is a potential person to sell ads to!
Danners will bring 6 long arms machines to our May show.
The Ways and Means Drawing was won by Cindy Hodge.
We had our usual marvelous items displayed in Show and Tell.
Cindy Hodge presented the program for the meeting. It was a movie on “Thread Therapy.” Due to technical difficulties, we were not able to view the entire movie, but it was an excellent. Cindy told us that it can be seen on our computers. It was sponsered by Superior Threads. For more info, see Cindy.
The meeting was adjourned after the movie.
Respectfully Submitted,
Linda Kenee
Recording Sec’y
