Quilting Together

What a lovely day for a run out! Today's been cold but sunny and I was fortunate enough to be on my way to Shepshed, to visit the 'Quilting Together' group who meet there. (Last time I went, there was cake, so I had my fingers crossed!)

The ladies didn't disappoint in any way : not only was there cake, and some of the most fabulous quilts I've had all year, but such a welcome and a lovely relaxed atmosphere! I wish I lived a little bit nearer so I could go regularly.

Altogether they had made 31 quilts for Linus (plus the four I collected from Eileen a few weeks ago) which is a fabulous total. Apart from the cake, I was also hoping for some boys quilts, as I'm quite short on anything masculine, and they didn't disappoint in that direction either!

What about this for a start? Footballs and lots of toning bright colours, to fill any boy's dreams with goals!

Another bright one without a hint of pink, with cats and other creatures.

Yet another one for boys, with trains in the feature fabric, and cars in the borders (and backing).

Of course, I want girls' quilts too, and this one is so refined and delicate.

A baby quilt made from a panel.

Another baby quilt with a frill - look how the quilting makes you overlook the fact that there wasn't enough fabric to do alternate squares. How clever is that!

Another cute panel - they're always very popular.

Some quilts are unisex - or gender-neutral as my PC DD says. This is suitable for anyone.

This one could be boyish, but yellow and blue are always good together.

An alphabet quilt made from a panel, cleverly sashed with yellow to make it bigger and brighter!

A bright panel - I've found someone else who likes lime green!

A selection of lovely prem quilts.

This cot quilt was also made from a panel, with the individual blocks sashed and a novelty border added. Here is good use of some of the strippy blocks in red, white and black. I know that Jay made this one, and not only has she put the blocks on point to give them 'pizazz!' but also added the stars to pep the whole thing up a bit. Another one for a boy!

All the ladies in the group would agree that Jay is particularly creative. The green floral and lilac half square triangles were donated, and looked so bland, but not now that Jay has added a jazzy centre block and matching border, they look great!

Eight windmill blocks (why are there ever only three or five, eight or fourteen blocks donated?!) made into a nine patch with a central medallion.

Farm animals I, another gender neutral quilt with lime green borders. My favourite colour!

Farm animals II, this time only eight blocks, but cleverly quilted to look like sixteen!

Donated sampler blocks united into a pretty green quilt,

and a pretty yellow one!

This brown fabric has been made child-friendly by the addition of stars.

And last, but by no means least, another of Jay's quilts, made from half a dozen stack-and-whack blocks she found in a box and made into a vibrant quilt by the judicious addition of pieced borders. Fabulous!

Many thanks for the quilts and the cake, ladies, but most of all thanks for the welcome and the contribution you have made to giving needy children an extra hug!

PS. I forgot to say that I took three boxes of donated fabric and blocks, and have come back with only two not-very-full ones! Way to go, ladies!