Friday 26 April 2013

Weekender Sewing "Marathon"


EMMQG meeting
Liz and I deep in thought.
Last Saturday saw the first sewing meeting of the East Midlands Modern Quilt Guild (photos shamelessly stolen from Di , Moira, and Kerry), and the ladies were due to meet up to sew a Weekender Bag using the Amy Butler pattern.  We all headed over to Stitchcraft Studio in Grantham, which is a fabulous fabric shop with workshop rooms and a little cafe- perfect for my favourite things, sewing, eating, fabric shopping and nattering!  You'd think that in nearly 6 hours I would have made some serious progress, but if I'm honest it was a pretty poor attempt, and I only managed the below:
Slow progress on my Weekender!
Ooops, the pocket panel is upside down.
This was due to a number of reasons, enhanced procrastination to begin with, as I had decided to do QAYG but due to my head space being cluttered the previous week with moving information, I hadn't actually decided on fabrics to use, so I dragged about 100 fq's with me, and had a bit of a think about it.  
EMMQG weekender bag workshop 
Decisions had been made (finally)
My inspiration was this fabulous Weekender made by Cassie which I had seen on Flickr a while back, I loved the monochrome "background" with the pops of colour.  A few weeks ago I had fallen foul of the lovely Justines Tempting Tuesday over at Simply Solids and ordered some bargain Essex Yarn Dyed in Denim (there was no black available) and decided to use it for the piping and lining etc.  

The other reason for the lack of real progress was a simple but good one, the company.  The ladies are just such great company, and I just couldn't resist chatting to them, it is so nice to be with others who share your passion for sewing and quilting.  So although I didn't exactly get it finished or anywhere near, all of the main pieces are cut out, and ready to go.

EMMQG meeting
 So I just need to find a little time to make some more progress, but with my Simply Solids Bee Block for April not having been done yet, and the May block already up, as well as Stitch Tease starting in May, I had best get my skates on!

Others did make better progress, Di had been a good girl and done lots of prep, so she was ready to put hers all together, she finished it over the weekend, and look how fabulous it is!
Weekender Bag 
 Trudi was storming ahead too with this beautiful pile of fabrics:

EMMQG weekender bag workshop
And Kerry has managed to get this far after a little work out of hours:

Weekender progress

A big thank you to the lovely Mandy who provided the expertise, canvas and the piping cord, what a total star.  :o)
Ange x


18 comments:

  1. Lucky you, looks like a great day, perfect tonic to moving house!

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  2. Jealous!! Love the fabrics you are using Ange - give yourself a chance - you have just moved house! :)

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  3. Jealous too... lol looks like you've all been having so much fun.

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  4. Hey, the main panel (just two fabrics) is all I managed out of hours! I'm onto the other large panel now with the same fabrics. I did take a cutting out shortcut on the day though, so don't forget just how much time you spent cutting out all of the layers, you've done better than you think.

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  5. Sounds like a great day out. But not like you to chatter too much and procrastinate!

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  6. You've had a big few weeks getting yourself there was achievement, and it's so tempting to chat to someone who shares your passion I don't know anyone in person who sews and I only know one who cross stitches, the bags are going to be great when they are all done.

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  7. What a great way to spend the day xxx

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  8. Sounds like a great way to spent the day! And if you are all making the same thing you can help each other out... I'm sure your bag will be lovely, what you've done so far is fab. :o)

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  9. It was a really good day. I didn't do too much sewing (just a lot of prep) done but we did all do loads of chatting and eating and drinking. It was a perfect day. Di x

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  10. Wow, they're all going to look amazing! Any idea the name of the fabrics Di used? I think I need them :)

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  11. I suspected it was the chatting wot did it ;o)

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  12. Was a perfect day! And I must show you my mini! My pile of fabric is still a pile!

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  13. Sounds like the best way to spend a weekend day with like-minded people! And finishing you can do in your own time ;-)

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  14. i need a weekender sewing group. what fun to sew a tough project with friends

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  15. Your weekender is looking good!

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  16. Thanks for your comment on my blog - I loved the Quilt and Stitch Village show, it was the first time I had been to an event like this. Your work is super!

    My friend is kindly going to teach me the art of quilting - I have to say though that the quality of the work on display was so awesome I felt a bit intimidated :)

    Usually I crochet and do hand sewing (felt hearts mainly) as well as some cross stitch and rudimentary dressmaking (skirts!). But really fancy a new challenge.

    I wonder if I might have something to enter in the competition next year....

    Helenxx

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  17. looks like a brilliant day - which was no doubt much needed after moving hell! I'm seriously considering giveg the QAYG method a go when I decide which weekend bag I'll make x

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  18. Looks like so much fun, am v jealous! I am an East Midlands Girl by birth so with you all in spirit me'ducks ! x

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