Finish-along 2016 Quarter 2 - The Result

Just a short one this time. I thought I had not finished one single item, but looking back at what was on my list, I actually did have not one, but even three finishes!

Here I show you the charity quilt I finished with the help of the Library Quilters, the group I teach in our local library:

The quilt is very much like the previous one we made, they were more or less made in tandem, though one was finished before the other. To show you that there are indeed two, I got a picture of them both together:

If you remember in the finish-along goal setting post, this quilt was just a set of blocks.
I trimmed them to equal sizes, added sashing, layered the quilt. Then I machine quilted along the sashing to stabilise the top. It could now be passed around for quilting without any pins.

Several ladies passed the quilt amongst themselves to hand quilt the blocks. As you can see in the top picture, they all quilted circles over the blocks, apart from the appliqué Sunbonnet Sue block, which was outlined in quilting.

I then received it back to stitch the binding on, and add a label.
A few weeks ago I handed both quilts to someone who organised a whole load of quilts to go to Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin.

We're all hoping the quilts get enjoyed and will comfort and give support to two children going through a hard time, and beyond.

And even though I have not done every stitch in this quilt myself, I think it deserves being mentioned in the finish-along, because without the support of the finish-along this quilt would most likely still be in twelve blocks.

My goal setting post can be found HERE.
Linking up with 2016 Q2 finish-along.

Sandra

Library Quilters Mallow - a local exhibition

Since almost 10 years a small group of enthusiastic quilters are meeting in our local library once a  week. We sew and quilt, chat and share, and drink a cup of coffee or tea. It is as much a social gathering as a quilt class. Ten years ago the members were beginners at quilt making apart from myself, though every one of us had sewing and other (needle)craft experience. If they are stuck or need advice they call on me, but I am not teaching any specific class as such.

Every few years we are asked by the library to hang some of our work in their designated gallery space, for all visitors of the library to enjoy. It was a most varied exhibition this year, and we filled the place as much as we could:

our quilts in the library exhibition space

There was a scrappy Grandmother's Flower Garden:

hand pieced and hand quilted

From a just-finished first quilt (we have some more recently joined members) to an old(ish) quilt (slightly faded in places):

hand pieced, hand quilted

machine pieced, big stitch quilted

Small items with detailed appliqué and embroidery, and one collaborative sampler quilt (each member has made a block) for charity:


A beautiful Double Wedding Ring:

hand pieced, long arm quilted

A quilt made through a block-of-the-month programme:

machine pieced, hand appliqué, hand quilting

Two Baltimore-style appliqué quilts, from another block-of-the-month (showing nicely how fabric choice influences the final result):

hand appliqué, hand quilting

hand appliqué, long arm quilted

Some sashiko:

cushion cover

And a mini:

From a panel to my king size "Feathered Star" quilt:

panel, hand quilted

machine pieced, hand and machine quilted

We even covered the stair banisters...

Seeing the work together like this gave a huge feeling of achievement, individually and as a group. And hopefully we have inspired some visitors, too.

Sandra