Our September meeting was all about making fabric containers. Member, Sarah Shulman, coordinated the effort and four of our members were gracious enough to share their expertise with all of us!
These containers were inspiration for our members for the upcoming holidays, and for our annual Winter Gift Swap, held in December.
A BIG THANK YOU to all our participating members for putting together such a WONDERFUL and VERY MUCH APPRECIATED meeting for all of us to enjoy.
Member, Laura McDowell Hopper, shared with us the One Hour Basket Tutorial by Hearts and Bees. If you are looking to make this basket in other sizes, she recommends purchasing the Friends of the Hour Basket pattern also by Hearts and Bees. To see more of these containers in various sizes and variations, please go to her Instagram account @sonicstitches.
Member, Debbie Pine, shared with us the Tiny Treasures Basket & Tray Pattern by Noodlehead. Instead of using leather, Debbie recommends using Kraft-Tex.
Member, Kathy DeVries, shared with us the Round Bottomed Bucket by Film in the Fridge.
Member, Dani Miller, shared with us the Divided Gift Basket by Clover and Violet. If you are interested in adding handles or a pocket, there is the Divided Basket Pattern by Noodlehead that can be purchased.
All participating members put together this helpful “Container Tips & Tricks” list for you.
- Read through the pattern before starting to decide on any changes you’d like to make.
- Consider using a different interfacing to suit your needs. Not sure which one you want? Take a trip to a big box store to see a variety of interfacings.
- Cut bulky interfacing (fleece or foam) ¼” smaller on all sides to reduce bulk.
- Or, trim bulky interfacing close to the seam line after sewing pieces together.
- Use a walking foot if using bulky interfacing such as foam.
- Use a damp cloth over fusible interfacing. Press with a dry iron until fused (varies by interfacing, be certain to read the directions).
- Sew lining with a larger seam allowance than the exterior. For instance, if seam allowance is ½”, use a 5/8” for lining.
- Or, add ½” to lining measurements to get a fabric border around the top of the container.
- A zipper foot can be used for sewing harder to reach areas.
- To make rounded corners more square, make a tacking stitch at each corner.
We then ended the meeting with some Show and Tell. Refer to our guilds Instagram account (@chicagomqg or click on the “On Instagram” picture in the right side bar) to see some amazing quilts (including Medallion quilts) made by our members
Announcements from today’s meeting:
- Membership Chairperson, Sally Prokopec, announced that membership renewal will begin at the November, 2016 meeting. You will be able to renew at the meeting or prior to the meeting online. Dues are $55 (same as 2016). More information to come.
- The registration for our Fall Retreat is CLOSED and FULL. Our guild hosts two (2) retreats per year, click here to see our 2017 dates. If you are interested in being added to the waitlist, contact Heather Kinion {here}
- Member, Donna Moscinski, is working on a presentation for our October, 2016 meeting titled “Where do YOU sew?” a presentation of member’s creative spaces”. She is seeking members that would like to share their space or just a portion of their space. This can be your table space at retreat, a corner of your living room, a spare bedroom, or a full fledged studio space. If you would like to be part of this special project, please contact Donna at chicagomodernqg@gmail.com.
- We will be hosting Heidi Parkes at the November, 2016 meeting. She will be doing a presentation and a demonstration on“Contemporary Mending”. Non-members are welcome to attend (non-members pay a $5 Special Events/Guest Speaker fee). To learn more about Heidi click here .
- The Quilt Exhibit at the Bernard A. Mitchell Hospital will be taken down at the end of this month. So there is still time to see the exhibit if you haven’t already. Member, Dianne Bienick, will be returning the quilts to participating members at the October, 2016 meeting. For more information including directions, click here.
- Members Emily Handley and Melissa Bogusch are leading the effort on our guilds QuiltCon 2017 Charity Quilt Challenge. Currently all blocks, backing, and binding have volunteers. If you would like to be a back-up volunteer, please contact them at chicagomodernqg@gmail.com. To learn more about The MQG QuiltCon 2017 Charity Quilt Challenge, please click here.
- The MQG is hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, September 22nd. If you are unable to attend, it will be recorded and posted on the Community Resource page shortly after airing live. For more information, click here
- Charity Update:
- The guild made eight (8) quilts for “Quilts for Pulse”. For more information and to see pictures of all the beautiful quilts, click here
- The guild is continuing our work for Sarah’s Inn. Pillows, lap quilts, and pouches are due at the October, 2016 meeting. For more information, click here and here . If you have any questions, please contact Amy Struckmeyer at chicagomodernqg@gmail.com.
- Member, Sarah Shulman, is leading an effort to make a quilt for a local Veteran thru the Road Home Program. For more information on how you can contribute, please click here .
- To quickly find information regarding our current charity endeavors, please click the “Charity Projects” button in the right sidebar.
Want to Attend our Next Meeting?:
All meetings are 2-5 pm on the third Sunday of the month, unless otherwise noted.
Next month’s meeting is on October 16, 2016.
Meeting location:
Rush Oak Park Hospital
Centennial Room
520 S. Maple Ave Oak Park, Il 60304
A list of our meeting schedules can be found on {this} page.
Not a member, but would like to be? Click the button below to join our Guild!
We hope to see you there!
– written by Dianne B.
– edited for content/posted by Erin D.