I’ve been working on this quilt sampler using EQ8 for the VQG 2022 Quilt-Along.

• The quilt is approximately 61 x 61 inches.
• Blocks range from 24 x 24 (largest) to 2 x 2 (smallest).
• Various techniques are used in this sampler: piecing, foundation piecing, applique, templates.
• The theme of the quilt is “all things BC“. A log cabin set in the woods with pine trees, maple leaves, bears, owls, birds, flying geese under the starry night sky. There’s even the plant representing the dogwood.
• This will be a scrappy quilt.
• I will send out selected blocks throughout the upcoming months. Some months will have more than one block.
• Anticipated time to complete this is 12 months, but definitely work at your own pace.
• Post pictures in facebook groups as we work on this quilt-along.
• Block instruction, for piecing, foundation piecing, templates and/or applique, will be sent out via email.

So let’s have a ton of fun!  If you would like to join in, please send me an email.
—  Parm G.

From January to December we run the “Works In Progress” challenge (better known as WIP’s).  This is how it works:

• In January and February, members can register every quilting project that they started BEFORE January 1st of that year.  As many and as old as they like!!
• Cost is $2 per article.  As each one is finished it must be shown at a Show & Tell, where it will get an entry into the final prizewinning.
• New members throughout the year will have 1 week from joining to submit their list.
• Deadline is the December meeting, when the Winners are drawn for cash prizes.

** If someone really can’t get around to finishing an old project, or has extra squares leftover … they can consider donating to the VQG Blankets of Love Charity Quilts project!

Fabric Exchange:
Join our fabric exchange and use and share your batik fabrics. By sharing fabrics you’ll be able to make a scrappy quilt with lots of variety. The exchange will be an outdoor event where you can drop off, and at a second date pick up, an equivalent number of pieces. Please see the June 2021 newsletter for further details.

Stretched Star Quilt:
These instructions make a lap size quilt 49.5” x 58.5.

Use fabrics from your own stash and those you get from the VQG fabric exchange to make a “Stretched Star” Quilt from half snowball blocks as follow:

1. Cut the 2½” strips into 2 ½” squares (light neutrals).
2. For each block pick one of your 5” dark or medium batik squares and 2 of the 2 ½” lights.
3. On the wrong side of each of the 2 ½” squares mark a diagonal line in your preferred method.  For example, you can finger press across the diagonal or press with an iron.  Or you can mark a line with a pencil or a marker such as a Hera marker or fabric pen.  Some of you will be confident enough to eyeball the diagonal line.
   (Note: Often the right and wrong-sides of batiks are indistinguishable in which case you do not need to pay attention to which is the right and which is the wrong side.  For those batiks that do have a discernible right side you will need to take care to put right sides together.)
4. Place these marked squares on opposite corners of the 5” square, wrong sides together, and sew on the line you have marked.
5. Trim ¼” away from the sewn line and press towards centre (darker fabric). Your light/dark fabric placement will be the opposite of this illustration:
   
6. Make 99 of these 5” unfinished blocks.
7. Quilt Assembly: Arrange the blocks 9 across, 11 down all facing the same direction.  When you are happy with the layout sew the rows matching the intersections.
8. Border:  Add 5” cut (4.5” finished) borders.

Variations:
These blocks can be set in an X’s and O’s pattern by arranging the blocks in alternating directions.

For more variations see: Missouri Star Quilt TripX’s and O’s Projects with Jenny Doan

 Love  in the time of Covid

Paddy and Mary would like to issue a challenge to VQG members.  We would like you to make: 

•  A small quilt (18″ X24″) … Maximum size … can be smaller … if you wish.
• Depicting what you loved during this stressful time of COVID:  It can represent: a person or people whom you got (were forced) to spend time with in 2020, OR a favourite activity you found you had time to pursue (such as finishing off some UFO), OR maybe taking up sour-dough bread making, OR jig-saw puzzles, OR some other activity you were able to do while going through the past year.
• It must contain a plant, flower, fruit or vegetable or some form of vegetation  from at least ONE of the following: (a)  your home province, (b) a place where you spent a lot of fabulous time, OR (c) your homeland ( if you were not born in Canada).
• Finished Challenge pieces will be shown when we are able to meet again in person.
• Prize-winners names will be drawn that night.

Good luck and we are anxious to see what LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID  looks like for you.
— Paddy M. and Mary B.

Open those bins, go through those piles, and search your closets.
Pull out all of your unfinished works.
Either donate them to the free table, or join us for the 2020 WIP Program which is now underway.

You must show your completed item(s) at a Show and Tell during the year (2020) to be eligible for the draw in December.  Full details are in the February newsletter.

Loretta R.