A New Year - but old items!

One of our members was busy over the holidays, completing a series of machine stitched architectural pieces which have been created on rusted fabrics - is that a reflection of how long these pieces have been left unfinished?!

A lovely knitted scarf, in great jewel-like colours, was finished during our first meeting - that's a good start to the year! It looks good enough to eat....

The 'Grand Depart' inspired bunting has been finished and was strung up for all to admire. Members of the group are keen to have a go at this for themselves - let's hope it doesn't become another UFO hidden in the cupboard as we might have to travel to France to display it in future years!

A toadstool brooch made from vintage fabrics was hand-embroidered during the evening. Where's the gnome to sit on it?

Bunting bonanza

Stitching continued on these rather charming geese at the last meeting, ready to be 'laid' on Christmas cards.

Two other festive items were added to: some crocheted Christmas trees to make into cards; and Nordic inspired knitted bunting (very on trend!)

Preparations for the Grand Depart have not passed us by, and one member is playing with some other knitted bunting to celebrate the great race.

Meanwhile, the Suffolk puffs continue to grow and are looking rather colourful!

And a number of cosy mobile phone pouches were finished off ready for a craft stall.

What other festive delights will we see at the final meeting of 2013?

Decorative delights

It was a hive of activity last Tuesday evening with many different projects on the go. A fabric Christmas wreath was brought along to inspire us.....








and a Christmas stocking made from vintage fabrics was embroidered in preparation for a workshop.

Knitting needles were flying through the air - these blanket squares are part of a year long project!

 This lovely striped piece will be transformed, eventually, into a bed jacket....

... and another multi-coloured knit will become a warm snood.

The pile of patchwork pieces continue to grow - there are now over 350 ready to be transformed into what?

The cathedral window patchwork is nearly complete - it's still amazing to think that these coloured sections are actually old silk ties!

Multi-tasking success!

Well, at our final October meeting not only did we get on with our stitching/beading/knitting, we also entered the pub quiz and won - that was a successful night!

Christmas has arrived in the form of some festive beaded baubles. These were on sale for members of the group and several were snapped up,

The quilt made from Suffolk puffs is growing! The colour combinations are looking great.

A cushion/bolster cover was also brought along and admired....

 and a printed and embellished Christmas card made an appearance - is the festive season upon us? Or maybe someone being super organised!

A felted piece of sea blues and greens had some extra embellishments added, including some metallic thread.

Not long until our first anniversary - will more items be finished by then?!

Warm woolly knits

The mountain of Suffolk puffs is now starting to come together into a quilt cover - we look forward to seeing the finished article!

A rather cute hedgehog came out of hibernation and had its last trimmings attached during the meeting. He looks a bit lonely, though, so needs some friends to be made.

This beautiful Klimt-like piece is actually part of a beadwork mini komono. It really shimmers and sparkles and will be stunning once finished.

Another completed piece - some lovely pure wool squares have been knitted up into a warm blanket ready to be sent abroad for a local charity.

This cute pair of purses have been made from vintage fabric and decorated with some lovely pom-pom trimmings. Just a few final touches to be made.

September blue skies

A newcomer to patchwork was helped along by another member of the group at our last meeting - what will these hexagons become eventually?

The pub's billiards table was put to good use as this black jacket was laid out to measure progress!

And another jacket was tried on for size - not far to go now.

The 'church windows' are coming along nicely - who would have thought that old silk ties could be used to such great effect?

Some scraps of fabric were cut out for a spot of applique - where's this piece heading?!

A big celebration!

Well, while most of us we're relaxing this summer, Chris was beavering away and look at the result! Started over 6 years ago, this patchwork quilt is finally finished and it looks stunning. So far this is the largest (and oldest) of the UFOs that have been dusted off, tended to with care and completed to everyone's surprise and delight!

Chris is no patchwork novice as she made her first quilt in the 1970s and has made several since including a cot quilt. She finds it "incredibly calming and creative" and says that - when the UFO leaflet came winging through her door - she realised that she now had no excuse not to finish this piece.

Chris obviously has a very patient daughter, too!

There is chatter amongst the group that there are some even older unfinished items but no-one, yet, has dared bring them along. Now where is that jumper I started in the 1990s?....