International Quilting Day

Tomorrow (3rd Saturday in March) is International Quilting Day (or National in the US).  This year won’t have gatherings of people as in the UK, at least, there is lockdown due to the pandemic.  So how to get a quilty fix?

The National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky has links on their website to various past exhibitions and collections.  In the UK the Quilt Museum in York closed a few years ago, but there is a website for the Quilters’ Guild Collection here and there are more quilts to see on the Quilters’ Guild website here or you can click from my sidebar on the right.  The Quilters’ Guild all has a blog here . Another collection to look at is that of The V & A Museum

If you fancy seeing a show The Quilt Show with Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson has five free shows available here and they may have an extra show available for this weekend, but I haven’t seen anything as yet (as I type this on Friday).

On You Tube (just go to the Search Section) I can recommend Just Get It Done Quilts, Leah Day (Hello My Quilting Friends), Missouri Star Quilts with Jenny Doan, or Lori Holt.  There is also Curly Seams, two cousins who not only quilt but sew and knit too.

Modern Art Quilters run by Helen Howes and Aitchbee have a resource of tutorials and galleries of modern quilts.  Just look at their newsletter archive at the colourful makings.  Youngish Quilters , although aimed at the younger quilt maker has a fresh looking site that this year has taken artists to inspire quilt design.

If you are into English Paper Piecing the Australian quilt maker Jodie Godfrey is Tales of Cloth is a good website of lovely colourful quilts. Also Vintage Sewing Box is a UK EPP maker but using more traditional print fabrics.

Want to do a quick quilt?  TeresaDownUnder has a blog with links to her tutorials on YouTube to make quick quilt blocks. Jo Avery has several tutorials for projects.  Julie of The Crafty Quilter has tutorials for quilt blocks.

But of course we’re going to be far too busy sewing to do any of the above!!  Let’s hope that this time next year that Quilting Day can be celebrated with friends.

Have a good weekend.

A March Catch Up

 

Still on lockdown until the end of this month it’s been difficult to stay motivated at times.  Unlike January where there seemed to have been a lot of blog posts, I have posted anything in March until now.  But I’ve kept busy nonetheless.

At the beginning of this month, there wasn’t a quilt block request from the Siblings Together block Mama, but there was a post on Instagram from the group for a block ‘drive’ to make 6” blocks, so week before last I made 12.

Yesterday I made 4 more 

So I sent them all off yesterday

Then last week there was a request for 2 rail fence blocks to be made 12.5” square, so those were made and sent.

So I’m getting a bit of sewing back after not doing much sewing for ages.

Also on Instagram, Helen (@florahoneypot) asked if anyone would make a couple of crochet squares that she could join to make a blanket to raise funds for Mind.  I made and posted these last week. She had so many volunteers to send squares that she has enough to make two blankets.  I’ll share the photos when she completes the blankets.

On the crochet front I made a mandala by Sew Happy Creative   called the Flower Power Mandala and gave this to my friend for their birthday on Saturday.  I enjoyed making this so much I think there may be more.

Ooh those colours do look happy and I think the cream edging frames it well.  I must make another.

I am still knitting Sarah’s long cardigan almost every evening and I’m pleased to say that I’ve made both fronts, one sleeve and I’m up to the armhole shaping on the back.  I was beginning to dread making the back but as the lower part is in stocking stitch it’s knitting up quickly.  Meanwhile I placed an order with Wool Warehouse and have another 3 projects (all small ones) lined up for the near future.  First is this one

For youngest granddaughter Cecily, who will be two at the end of this month.  Her Mum requested this pattern (by Sirdar) the colour.  I can’t guarantee I’ll get it done for then...

Then a pair of socks and a knitted mouse awaits but I will post about those when I get to work on them.

Last month I made a postcard for the Mardi Gras swap, which I posted off

And I had this one sent to me

It’s brilliant! 

It’ll be Worldwide or International Quilting Day on Saturday.  I think 🤔 it will be celebrated at home! 

Whatever happens I hope you have a wonderful stitchy day.