July Meeting Recap

August 8, 2020

Our July meeting featured hand quilting demos, the presentation of a very special award, general announcements, and Show and Tell, all via Zoom meeting.

Members Andrea DiOrio (below left) and Heather Kinion (below right) shared techniques and tips for quilting with both small and big stitches. Their demos included close up camera views so we could really see how they work – something that might have been harder to do in a big in-person meeting.

First Andrea showed us her method for traditional hand quilting, using small needles and skinny thread. She shared her favorite tools (needles, thread and thimbles), then started her demo with a “quilter’s knot” how-to. She suggests practicing until your stitches and the spaces in between are the same length. She usually quilts in a hoop made for quilting, and recommends a single, short length of thread. Check out Andrea’s notes for resources and tips.

Then Heather demonstrated big stitch quilting. She showed us a different technique to make a quilter’s knot. And, although she uses thicker thread (she prefers pearle cotton or Aurifil 12 wt.) and bigger needles (she likes Clover brand sashiko or chenille needles), she has the same goal of achieving stitches that are the same size as the spaces in between. For even more visible stitches, she says go ahead and double up the thread – since the reason for big stitches is to see them!

GUILD ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Half Square Helper of 2020: Arguably the most important announcement of the day was the presentation of a very special surprise award to longtime guild member Holly Harper! Holly has been volunteering for the CMQG for years. Several members spoke of their appreciation for her, sharing some of the following sentiments: She selflessly helps out whenever needed, and is often one of the first friendly faces to greet new members and attendees. For many years running she has hosted our annual Member Trunk Show, carefully selecting members with a range of styles and experience – this meeting is always a treat and a favorite meeting of many! Holly is often caught enabling new projects and fabric purchases, she is playlist-ready at retreats, and is a cheerleader to all! We are beyond lucky to have her in our guild.

A huge thank you to Julia Bryant for creating the beautiful Half Square Helper award ribbon for the first of what we hope will be an annual tribute to members for giving their time and talents to our guild.

Star Stitches: Jenni introduced this new positive and uplifting program in support of our CMQG community.Each month, members can submit their friends’ life, or quilting, achievements (or their own) for announcement at the upcoming meeting. Jenni shared the first month’s encouraging Star Stitches during the meeting announcements.

MQG news: QuiltCon Together 2021 registration opened July 15th for members, and the MQG recieved more registrations on opening day than ever before. There are still spots available in workshops and lectures. Also, don’t forget to check out the MQG website and it’s many resources. Your membership in the Chicago guild gives you all the benefits of MQG membership as well.

QuiltCon Community Outreach Challenge: A plan for this quilt is in progress and will be revealed soon! Look for information on how to contribute by making a block, providing long arm quilting services, or attaching the binding in the guild newsletter. The theme is curves, the color palette includes blues and oranges (see below), and fabric will be provided to anyone helping to piece the top. We haven’t yet selected a charity for the quilt, and welcome any suggestions.

The Chicago MQG anniversary book: Modern Quilts in the Second City: Ten Years of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild is ready to go to press and almost complete!

Annual member survey: If you haven’t yet, please fill out the survey and let us know what you think, what you want, how things are working for you. And thank you to everyone who’s already responded! Your responses are so helpful to us as we determine how to move forward. There are coupons and prizes for those who completed the survey by July 24. There’s a link to the survey last month’s Full Bobbin.

Membership update: There are many benefits to membership: QuiltCon early registration access, all the resources on the MQG website, access to our online meetings. The board is energized to provide community and access to make the best of the pandemic. Being a member creates a pool of resources to provide the community space. We currently have 110 members. Don’t forget to invite your friends to a meeting! The first meeting is free for guests. Simply contact us for a meeting link. Find out more about membership and guest fees here.

Do you have ideas for blog content? We would LOVE your input! Please include any suggestions in the member survey, or reach out to us via email.

Anniversary quilt challenge: We don’t know yet when our tenth anniversary celebration will take place, but we’re excited to see your mini quilts! A timeline will be announced next month for the Chicago MQG 10th Anniversary Mini Quilt Challenge, and we’ll do a virtual quilt show at the end. Start your work – we can’t wait to see what you create! #ChicagoMQG10YearMini

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 16, 2:00-5:00, virtual meeting via Zoom, featuring newly added guest speaker, Sarah Nishiura, a Chicago based quiltmaker and artist, who will be talking about the prevalence and significance of stars in quilts.

September 19 and 20, virtual workshop and lecture with guest speaker/teacher, Carole Lyles Shaw. Find out more here.

October 18, 2:00-5:00, virtual meeting via Zoom: Quilt Photography. We’re looking for members with quilt photography experience and tips to share. If you are interested in contributing to the meeting, please let us know.

All meetings are 2-5 pm on the third Sunday of the month, unless otherwise noted.

This month’s meeting is on August 16, via Zoom. (Look for a link in our member newsletter, the Full Bobbin.)

Meeting location:

Rush Oak Park Hospital
Centennial Room
520 S. Maple Ave Oak Park, Il 60304

A list of our meetings can be found here.

Not a member, but would like to be? Click the button below to join our Guild!

We hope to see you there!

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Photo: Triangles quilt by Erika Mulvenna

July Meeting Recap

Become a new Chicago Modern Quilt Guild member

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