The Star Hollow Quilt by Jolene Klassen of Blue Elephant Stitches is our informal winter quilt along, spearheaded by Anita Z. Here are Anita’s notes for February!

“Have you found some forgotten treasures while digging through your fabric collection? From the photos I’ve seen, it looks like most of you are making beautiful Star Hollow blocks without buying a thing! Don’t forget to share your photos with TwilightSimcoe@gmail.com for our meeting Show and Tell.

The late Gwen Marston showed us how to make these improv stars (and more!) in her 1996 book “Liberated Quiltmaking” and “Liberated Quiltmaking II” in 2010. As a starting point, she suggested cutting the base squares 3”. Then cutting the star point triangles from 3.5” – 4” squares. Working with oversized triangles provides flexibility in placement, and you are able to vary the star points in both angle and size.

Both books are no longer in print but are available on used book sites. However, American Quilter’s Society still offers Gwen’s on-demand Liberated Quiltmaking class. Almost 3 hours of video instruction for less than $50CAN.

I’ve also started a second version of Star Hollow, using setting #3 from the instructions – because I couldn’t resist the pull of my small bits of remaining 30’s fabrics. My 9 Patches are in the classic “mishmash” setting. But you could be more organized and use a traditional 4- or 5-placement position of matching fabrics in the 9 Patch that will give you a crisscross pattern throughout.

My size for this quilt was again determined by the amount of yellow background I had available. But you could also use various fabrics in one colour for a more scrappy background for your stars.

I hope you enjoy building these quilts – it’s like cooking with leftovers! And as encouragement, all completed flimsies and quilts shown at our March meeting will be entered into a draw for a $100 gift certificate for longarm services. Keep sewing!

Anita“

Is the actual quilting of your quilts, even the small ones, the part of the process you enjoy least? During the pandemic, Johanna Masko came up with a method that she says “revolutionized the way I quilted my quilts “. It’s not Quilt-As-You-Go! How does she do it? Find out at our February 12th meeting. Johanna will help you get your quilts- ALL the quilts- finished! Save money and time by using her practical modular quilting techniques to complete even very large quilts, on your own, at home.

Monday February 12 @ 7pm Eastern via zoom. Guests are welcome. Please see the guest section of our fees page. You might even want to join our guild for $20 for the remainder of the guild year (through June)!

And if you’d like to get the inside scoop on Johanna’s activities you can go to her website and sign up for her newsletter, and keep up to date on the new workshops and courses she has planned for 2024.

Happy New Year everyone! What a great time to start a new project (or three)! I hope this Star Hollow quilt by Jolene Klassen of Blue Elephant Stitches inspires you to create and spend some calm winter months stitching. Let’s start now and see how far we get by the March 11th guild meeting.

Although I’ve called it a Quilt Along, there is no registration required, and there are no instructions posted weekly or deadlines to meet. Totally stress and guilt-free!

There are also no fabric requirements listed. Because this is a “build your own adventure” quilt, there are various design options and different fabric variations within them. So lots of ways to organise your colours/fabrics. My hope is that you will join me in a deep dive into your collections and use what you have on hand!

Because this star is pieced a little differently, you’ll also have a chance to work in a slightly improv manner. Your stars can be very wonky or just a little bit “natural” looking, depending on your sewing angle. Plus, your points on this star will never disappear.

Everything you need is on Jolene’s blog –the pattern and instructions are free when you register for her blog updates. The subscription form is on the right sidebar of her website: Blue Elephant Stitches

Your free pattern will be emailed to you. You can also check out her 2023 blog entries of September 19 and 21, and November 9 for more info on her creative process in making the Star Hollow quilt. Star Hollow Quilt (choosing the fabrics), Star Hollow Quilt, Sunset Star Hollow Quilt

I wrote to Jolene explaining our potential project and that we would encourage our members to register for her blog updates directly and not copy or distribute material from her site. She thought this was a fun idea for the guild! In return, I would ask that if posting your progress photos on social media you use the hashtags  #starhollowquilt and @blueelephantstitches so that she can see what we are creating!

Please submit your photos to Jan G. at TwilightSimcoe@gmail.com for Monthly Show and Tell – and please include your progress photos. We all love to see the journey and not just the finished quilt.

January Notes

Which pattern setting am I using? Editors Note: You will need the pattern for this to make sense!

–   I was immediately drawn to setting #4 since I have a box of 3.5” strips that have been sitting around for many years. I’m using 3.5 strips for the piano key bars (but they can also be 2.5” or any measurement that you prefer). The stars use 3” squares, so half of my cutting is done already!

–   I decided to use a different background fabric for each star block in order to use various old taupes that I have. Each block only needs 9 – 3.5” squares. The background could also be various prints of the same colour/low volume.

–   Instead of the star middle made from background fabric, you could make it from the star point fabric, or from an entirely different fabric.

–   Anyone for crumb or string pieced blocks? The star middles are perfect for them!

–   There are lots of options that let you use small bits of fabric!

Size of the quilt? As I am working from my stash, this is determined by the amount of fabric I have available.

Setting triangles?  Quilts #1 and #4 need setting triangles. This free chart from the Fat Quarter Shop includes both exact and oversized measurements. https://www.fatquartershop.com/on-point-setting-guide-free-pattern

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Hope this inspires you – see you next month!

Anita

Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Simcoe Branch NCPL, Large Board Room, Lower Level

Come for the day, or drop in anytime! The doors will open at 10 a.m., and we won’t pack up until 3 p.m. when the library closes. The easiest way to the room is to use the library door that faces the mall, and to come down those stairs right there. If you are bringing your machine, the elevator is just behind the big staircase, on the right side. This event is FREE to all members and there is no signup required. Just come anytime between 10 and 3! And bring a mug as we will have coffee and tea! And we will supply some Holiday treats!

Sew your Own Project

The large room has lots of space to set up your sewing machine. We will set up tables for anyone who wants to bring their machine and sew for the day. There will be some extension cords, but please bring your own if you have one. We’ll have one ironing board and iron to share.

Bring some handwork to socialize and chat while you make progress on your projects.

Felt Snowmen and Mittens

Join Lana for some hand stitching; no sewing machine is required! Drop in anytime; each ornament takes a couple of hours to complete. 

Patterns, felt, threads and stuffing are provided, but bring your embroidery needle!

Prairie Point Demos

The demos will take place throughout the day, including making continuous prairie points from wide and medium strips of fabric and individual prairie points from cut squares and rectangles (sewn).

There will be some fabrics for sharing so you can try some techniques! Please bring your machine and the usual kit if you want to sew along.

Think Quick Gifts

Towels

You’ll need washed and dried towels (some shrink a lot!), coordinating focal fabric and scraps for prairie points, and thread for topstitching to spruce up some ready-made tea towels.

Depending on the style of prairie points, you will need a strip of fabric at least 3 ½” wide and the same width as the towel plus 2”. For two colours, you can use two strips of fabric OR be scrappy with multiple colours.

The top of the prairie points must be covered in some way. In the samples, I used fabric strips and woven trim. These should be the width of the towel plus 2”. If your towel is dark or has dark stripes, you may need a light-coloured fabric under the strip. I needed to do that with the red and white striped sample. The wintery background is light, and the red stripes show through it.

Snappy Pouch

To make a snappy pouch, you’ll need fabric, batting, medium, fusible interfacing for the outside of the bag, a coordinating fabric for the lining and top casing, a highlight fabric for the prairie points and thread for topstitching. Measuring tape, sacrifice scissors and duct tape will be provided.

I’ve found that the no raw edge technique for these snap bags means it’s difficult to top stitch if the bag is less than 6” wide. I’ve had luck with snappy closures up to 11” wide.

For this technique, the lining piece is sewn over the outer fabric by approximately 1½”. It’s best to allow extra length for the lining and trim it to size before the bag is sewn together. If you want to use an orphan block or a fussy-cut motif, make sure to add 1½” of extra batting or fabric to the top of the block.

In some of the samples, I added a D-ring for a handle or accessory and two D-rings to one of the bags for a strap. These pouches can be finished with a boxed or straight bottom.

Rope Bowl Demo

After 12 noon, Melanie D will also be there to demonstrate how to sew “Cotton Pottery” with clothesline rope. She will have a variety of bowls and baskets she has made for gifts. And the beginning of the base can be used to make some easy coasters! In this sample, she added a few fabric strips to add colour. Melanie will show both round and oval bowls.

It’s time to sew together, in person! We are repeating our popular retreat with a couple of changes. It will be on Saturday from 9 am – 8 pm and Sunday from 9 am – 4 pm. The cost will remain at $35 for both days and $20 for either Saturday or Sunday. We will try to accommodate everyone.

This time, the Saturday night Catherwood and the Kiln pizza will be free! Ordering options will be available on Saturday afternoon.

We are introducing a workshop component to this retreat. Stephanie has been asked to teach “Dyeing in a Jam Jar” (Saturday at 1 p.m.) and a Fish Pod Zippered pouch (Sunday at 1 p.m.). You will learn the basics of Procion MX fabric dyeing while making 4 coloured squares of your own. These squares will make 4 pouches with this fun One Zip technique! Do not fear the zipper! Stephanie has simplified it! This is completely optional, and kits with the materials for 4 pouches will be supplied for only $10. Payable at the retreat!

You will need to fill out a Google form to register and send your payment within 48 hours. Your registration is not finalized until we have your payment! Hopefully, we can accommodate everyone. Having 44 quilters seems to work in that space, the Vittoria & District Community Centre, 35 Oakes Boulevard, Vittoria. For insurance purposes, you must be a Twilight member to attend. The registration form link will be emailed to all paid members in the Follow-up Links email after our September 11th meeting! If you have any questions, you can always send an email to TwilightSimcoe@gmail.com

Are you interested in knowing more about sustainability in the quilt world and looking for green options as a quilter, artist, or crafter? Bridget O’Flaherty, a passionate advocate for sustainability in quilting, will open the Twilight Quilters’ Guild new season and share an in depth look at the complicated story of the environmental impacts of the products we use. We will look at what sustainability means and how it is being addressed in the textile, quilting, and fibre industries.

From organic or recycled fabric, threads, natural fibres, and dyes, there are a lot of options when going green. Find out where to find them and what to look for when searching for sustainable products. We will learn how to reduce our environmental impact as fibre artists and how we can easily bring sustainability into our practice to be part of the change.

Explore how you can do your part to help save the planet, one stitch at a time. Monday September 11, at 7pm EDT, via zoom.

You can find out how to become a member on our Fees page. This year there is a Google form to fill out and then you will receive E-Transfer directions! It’s easy!

And you can send your Show and Tell photos anytime. Please email them to TwilightSimcoe@gmail.com before the meeting Sunday, 6 pm.

Our Program Committee has finalized our meeting lineup for the next year and we have some great speakers coming!

September 11	Bridget O’Flaherty bridgetoflaherty.com “How to Be a Green Quilter: Making Our Passion More Eco- Friendly”
October 16	Sheila Frampton Cooper zoombaby.com “Spontaneous Creation & Inspiration”
October 21-22	In-Person Retreat: at Vittoria Community Centre
November 13	Kestrel Michaud kestrelmichaud.com “Designing for Realism”
November 18 & 25	Zoom Workshop: Diane Harris – Stash Bandit stashbandit.net “StarQuar Scrap Quilt” 10am-1pm, both days
December 11	Bonnie Blakely “Vintage Sewing Machines: Still Going Strong!”
January 8	Christina Cameli christinacameli.com “Five Skills of Free Motion Quilting”
January 22-21	Zoom Retreat: Vice President’s Retreat Weekend
February 12	Johanna Masko johannamasko.com “Modular Quilting: Making Big Quilts at Home”
March 11	Rose Parr healthyquilting.com “The Ergonomic Toolbox”
April 8	Tammy Silvers – Tamarinis tamarinis.com “Seeing Double”
April	Possible In-Person Retreat: at Vittoria Community Centre
May 13	Krista Moser kristamoser.com “Diamonds Are a Quilter’s Best Friend”
June 10	Kathy Doughty materialobsession.com.au “Get the Mix”

Zoom starts at 6:30pm – Meetings start at 7pm! All programs subject to Change

Check out twilightquiltguild.ca and Facebook.com/twilightquiltguild

Show & Tell and General Emails: twilightsimcoe@gmail.com  

Financial Email: twilightquiltguild@gmail.com

Click here to download a clickable and printable PDF of our lineup. You can find out more about most of the speakers by following the links (blue, underlined text) in the PDF and enjoy the full experience!

Already almost half of our members have signed up for another year and we are happy to welcome at least 2 new members!

Our monthly meetings are all on Zoom. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month, except for October, July and August. The October meeting is held on the Monday following Thanksgiving and no meetings are held in July and August. Virtual doors open at 6:30 pm, and meetings start at 7 pm.

Membership is $40 per year. Details are on our Fees tab. Fill out our Membership form here and then e-transfer your $40!

Special thanks go to our Program Committee, headed by Suzanna K, with Kathryn G, Mary M and Stephanie S.

Mark your calendar for our annual Fall Retreat in Vittoria on October 21/22. It’s a Saturday and Sunday this time! And watch your email for details about our new in-person sewing initiative!

Save your 2.5″ square scraps for our November workshop with Diane Harris. You won’t believe how many beautiful designs can be made from the humble StarQuar block.

The Vice President’s Retreat in January will be Virtual. No need to lug your machines in the  snow!

We have had some requests to change our Sit and Sew afternoon to another day. Which day works best for you?

Unfortunately, our vendor, The Quilted Boutique, has had to back out of attending our closing social. But, there will be lots to choose from at the TQG fundraiser table and inexpensive books from our library sale!

Once again, we are having our June Sew & Social meeting at the Port Dover Community Centre. All members and guests are welcome between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Tables and chairs will be set up for socializing and hand sewing.

We will have a limited number of spaces for in-person machine sewing beginning at 10 a.m. If you want a table to do machine sewing, we ask that you register using our online form at https://forms.gle/eB5HSqDntmDDMJ827. Spaces are limited, so sign up soon!

The TQG Fundraiser table of donated stash items will raise funds for our guild. Anyone “shopping” from that table will be expected to donate an appropriate amount for their chosen items.

The TQG library books will be sold beginning at 4 p.m., and the silent auction for the newer books will end at 8 p.m.

Tables and tent cards will be available for our quilt display. We encourage you to bring a few quilts so others can see them up close and find you to ask about what you’ve made (or tell you how fantastic your quilt is)!

Please bring:

• some cash in small denominations for our fundraising activities
• no-longer-wanted quilting-related items to donate to the TQG Fundraiser table 
• quilts for display
• your own drinks and snacks
• your name tag

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10 a.m. In-Person Sewing begins (register for a table if sewing by machine https://forms.gle/JuRzf1RK7e8GK97X8) 

10 a.m. Quilt Display begins

10 a.m. Shopping from the TQG Fundraiser table begins

4 to 8 p.m. Book sale; the silent auction will close at 8 p.m.

8:30 TQG President Jill Jackson & Incoming President Vicki Monroe

9 p.m. See you in September!