Summer Challenged Many of Us

Where has the summer gone? Many of our members took extended vacations in July and/or August but that did not stop the needles from flying at MAP! Work continued on the One Stitch Challenge. The first step in the challenge was coloring the fabric in one or more of several methods taught. All of the participants completed this step and remarked about how much fun it was getting to play with the paints and dyes. The next step of the challenge was to make an under the sea scene using just the Feather Stitch and the additions of some simple beads or other embellishments. Everyone was quite proud of their first attempts and were eager to move on to the second stitch in the series, which they have done. It is a two step challenge using another stitch in two ways. We will be sharing the results when it is complete.

Here are some of the pictures of the Feather Stitches Under the Sea pieces as completed by several of our members.

Stitching & Tatting By Donna H.

Stitching & Beading By Cynthia G.

Stitching & Embellishment By Sharon G.

We also continued with the Pilot Class of our Basic Crazy Quilting Course. The first order of business was cutting out and properly marking the muslin backing pieces. No one had any idea what they were going to end up being when they first got the cutting instructions. Can you guess?

Completed by Donna D.

Next, everyone spent some time auditioning fabrics for their projects. There was much to learn about balancing the blocks with color, textures, printed and solid fabrics. There was a lot of oohing and aahing as the sharing of the auditioned fabrics progressed.

Jeanne Z shares one of her fabric auditions

Each of the apprentices participating in the BCQC managed to complete the piecing of the required blocks by the end of August and they are eager to begin stitching the seam treatments. Templates for use in marking the stitch placements have been run off and prepared to use. Supplies have been purchased for the embellishments to come. Yes! We are ready to have FUN! Let the needles fly!

Here are some of the blocks that were pieced by the apprentices in the BCQC for their first projects. In addition to learning a bit about carrying the observer's eye around the block by balancing color, etc. the apprentices learned one method of applying a curved patch to their CQ block. They have actually learned 3 methods of block construction in this course: the flip and sew method, the "T" construction method common in same quilting and the strip quilt method with an 'end cap'.

Square block done by Amy A.

Round block done by Eileene G.

Rectangle blocks done by Renee G.

Congratulations to everyone on their accomplishments so far! This summer was challenging and fun. Registration is now being taken for the Pilot Class of our Basic Hardanger Course - through Sept. 10. We hope others will come and join us on our journey to keep needle arts alive by sharing stitches.