Fat Quarterly retreat 2014

I managed to take a grand total of one photo whilst I was away. Very poor, but I will bore you with photos of what I brought back and the classes I took.

 

 

I arrived on Thursday and spent the day wandering around London, first stop was my hotel to drop off my case and fellow sewer Maureen on the desk, found me a room although it was only 10 am. I stopped at John Lewis where I bought some more backing (not the green Tula Pink I wanted though) and on Friday morning I accompanied the Manx girls - Nessie and Corine to Libertys.



 

 

It was then time to don my quickly put together badge, which received several compliments over the course of the weekend.

 

 

 

Once we'd checked in and been allocated a number for the evening's block party, it was time to collect our goody bag. Lots of lovely stuff from Love Patchwork & Quilting, Riley Blake, Moda, Makower, Soak, Janome and more. Since returning Lizzie has stroked the Elementary by Sweetwater candy and I have to buy some for her university quilt. The marketing worked its magic.

 



The first class of the day was with Brioni and we produced a four block panel ready to quilt. I chose colours to go in our new kitchen and it will be quilted and made into a cushion. The backing and wadding is already cut so it shouldn't be a big job.

After dinner at Ask, we returned for the block party where we put together a quilt top for siblings together. Trash contributed the purple fabric above, Betty a charm pack and Clare a Quilt Jane jelly roll. Not fabrics I'd choose to put together but they looked great and will please a young child. Brioni offered to finish the quilt and we quickly accepted her offer. Our group worked well together with Tess and I cutting, Sasha and Nessa pressing, Trash arranging and Betty and Clare stitching. A good way to get to know a few more ladies better.

 

Saturday morning was soon here and I was thankful for the electric fan I'd acquired from the concierge. My first session was with Jenny of Love Patchwork and Quilting about getting your work into print. The information was useful, thought provoking and beautifully presented. Then I did embroidery with Jo Avery and learnt a better way to do French knots as well as bullion stitch and a wrapped back stitch. a well thought out class and project.

Saturday afternoon was the popular class with Jen Kingwell of Amitie Textiles. We received both the full colour pattern and a quarter inch wheel during the class and lots of tips and tricks. I may even make this quilt but it will definitely be pieced by machine and pressed as I go along.

The sample swap was moved to Saturday afternoon and I swapped with Tess, Sue, Corine, and Renee. We were all delighted with our swaps and roared with laughter at receiving two Zakka trivets. I like this pattern so wasn't complaining. Off for Italian for dinner again and to meet up with Jo.

 

Saturday evening was busy and started with a small quilt market where I bought fabric from the Village Haberdashery, poppers from Eternal Maker and the green scrap from another shop.

 



 

Then it was Ugly fabric swap, scrap strip swap, quiz and raffle. I won a book in the raffle and learnt that there's a new Kona colour called cabbage about to be released.

 

 

Sunday morning and my last class which was from US teacher Amy Smart, who I spent my time persuading that she'd love to come to Jersey next time she's in the UK. I think I was successful. This was to be a fabulously fast tile quilt and I would have got further if the machine hadn't been playing up and I had to unpick and move machines. I plan to finish this one at the August Caesarea Quilters UFO day.

 

The end came too quickly for another lovely weekend with new friends and old. I then set off to West Hampstead for some more fabric shopping and a lovely lunch with April and her family and Corine and Nessie. I hope that next time the retreat will be at a cooler time of the year as travelling on the Tube was unbearably hot.