Thursday, December 12, 2019

Rockin' Round Robin 2020



Round robins are a fun way to push your creative boundaries. You work with styles and colors that might be a little uncomfortable for you. You get back your project and see that others have made choices you’d never make. You must leave a little of your possessiveness behind because you don’t have a lot of control over the outcome of any of the quilts you work on.

In this swap, each participating quilter will create a starter ROW, BLOCK, or MEDALLION and then will exchange it with other quilters.
Drop-in when you are ready or drop out anytime you feel your quilt is done. The exchange will take place at each monthly meeting of the Calgary MQG.
I found this sentiment from Sherri Lynn Wood to be useful. Think of round-robin quilts as ongoing conversations.  You want to listen to the conversation the quilt is having, and then continue it, adding your own voice.


How It Works:

·         Create a ROW, BLOCK OR MEDALION to exchange with other quilters in this Rockin’ Robin!
·         Pack up your completed ROW, BLOCK or MEDALLION in a bag, box or tote and bring to any meeting.  Exchange your quilt box, bag, or tote for another quilter’s Rockin’ stuff.
·         Take it home and add to the quilt top.
·         Each month you will trade off and exchange for a new box, bag or tote. The exchange will take place at our Calgary MQG meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
·         Bring your Rockin’ Robin box, bag or tote to the next Calgary MQG meeting and get ready to have fun!



Items for your first exchange:

·         Completed BLOCK, ROW, or MEDALLION in a box, bag or storage tote
·         Additional fabrics, if desired
·         Journal (optional) or a preference sheet.
·         Quilt label for signatures of the quilters -an easy label is made by ironing a piece of muslin to freezer paper



·         Prepare a box, bag, tote or even a pillowcase for the project to travel through the rotations — include your name and phone/email address inside.
·         Place your completed BLOCK, ROW or MEDALLION in the bag, box or tote.
·         You can include extra fabric that you would be glad to have included in future rounds., Those who work on your quilt CAN use those pieces or ignore them completely, their choice.
·         As this is a Modern Round Robin, fabrics should have a modern aesthetic, and be 100% quilt-shop quality cotton.
·         The goal is to add about 1 meter of fabric each round, except for the first round you can aim for about 1/2 meter. Buy, take from your stash, and maybe use some of the fabric provided in the box. You can pass leftover scraps along with the quilt. That way they can be used later in the quilt.

·         Add a journal or a few sheets of paper with your personal preferences such as “do not use any cat fabric” or “you can use black if it works” You could even include a few paint colour chips!  But again, your preferences may be ignored. Part of the pleasure here is giving up control. Really!
·         You can start with the first entry and explain how you came up with the idea for your center block or row or explain what your vision for the quilt is. Leave words of encouragement for the next person or wishes you may have for the finished quilt. It’s okay to specify colors you don’t want in your quilt or to say you would prefer all solids. Please, however, be flexible and open to the creator’s inspirational direction.
·         Be sure to add whether you prefer prewashed fabric or not.
·         A participant can leave the swap at any time, whenever she thinks her quilt is done. At this stage, we have not set an end date. Likely after about 5 or 6 rounds, but it could be ongoing if more participants enter after the start, or to allow for people taking breaks.  We will discuss with the participants.
·         A participant may “hold” her quilt to temporarily remove it from rotation.  Useful for vacations
·         Lastly, follow the Golden Rule: do unto other’s quilts as you would have done unto yours.

Helpful Hints:

·         If making a MEDALLION quilt, your MEDALLION should be at least 12 inches; if it is smaller than 12 inches, it will get lost in the rounds and will not be a focal point when your quilt is completed.
·         If you need inspiration, Google “Modern Round Robin quilts” or “Modern Row Robin Quilts” or “Modern Medallion quilts”
·         Not sure where to start? How about using that orphan block that you love but can’t figure out what to do with it?
·         Use your favorite modern technique or block to get creatively inspired.
·         Some design elements you may want to include in your design includes:
-Asymmetry
-Negative space
-Improvisational piecing
-Alternate block structures
-Reinterpretation of traditional blocks

Your responsibilities:

·         If a participant can not attend a guild meeting and has someone's quilt, it would be best if she could have someone bring it to the meeting for her.  Otherwise, she will need to deliver or mail that quilt to the next participant for the following round within 1 week of the meeting.
·         If a participant is not at a guild meeting. Her quilt will not be worked on in the next round.  The quilt will be held by the swap chair.
·         If you don’t finish your next ROW or BLOCK, and this happens to you consistently, you may be asked to drop out. Don’t disappoint yourself or your fellow quilt makers – keep your commitment and make sure to finish your ROW or BLOCK each month…Instead, plan ahead and request a “hold” where your quilt will step out of the rotation.
·         You are working on someone else’s quilt, so be sure to use your very best workmanship. Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew, so if you add a row or a block, and it does not lay flat, or just looks bad . . . take it out and do something less complicated or make something else that looks better. Remember: there are many talented quilters in our guild that would be happy to help with advice on a tricky bit of stitchery – just ask them.
·         Additions should be respectful of the owner's requests and the work of the participants who previously had the quilt. 
·         The Rockin” Robin is NOT blind.  That means you can share on social media, and show at guild meetings.
·         Share with the tags @calgarymqg #calgarymqg #rockinrobinYYC on IG or on the Calgary Modern Quilt Guild Facebook page.


Still Have Questions?
If you have a question or a problem, call or email Philippa. Contact numbers and emails or participants will be provided when you sign up or at your first exchange – or contact us on the Calgary MGQ Facebook page.


Thursday, November 21, 2019

December Swap - 2019

We are making reusable grocery bags for our traditional December Swap.
We will be holding our swap at our December 12 meeting, being held at the Uplands location.
Please note: 1 week earlier than usual.  


Bring a bag, take a bag (of the same kind)  Yes, you can make more than 1!

Via a show of hands at the November meeting. we decided to draw for order of choosing the bag you take home.

Please use modern fabrics.

Pattern choices:
michellepatterns $10 usd  LARGE
Besides being super simple to sew, these reusable fabric shopping bags are machine washable, fully lined (reversible), fold up nicely, and are durable.
fabric requirements - 2@ 18" x WOF . One for inside and 1 for outside.
plus fabric for handles.  1x fat quarter not quite enough, but could use 2 different fabrics.

Stitched by Crystal  free Pattern
It is not fully lined so it is lightweight.  French seams make it super sturdy,
fabric requirements -3 fat quarters. 2 for outside, 1 for the partial lining.
 
michellepatterns - large

michellepatterns - large

STITCHED by Crystal

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Quilcon Charity Quilt 2020 - Improv words

Have you made a word for the MQG Charity quilt yet?
We've pulled together a few links to help you along your way.

2020 Announcement from the MQG.





This Book "Word Play Quilts" by Toni Ruccici is a fantastic resource for improv letters.

She has a little bit on her blog but Mrs Sew and Sow has written a couple of good posts based on the book.

Here are some bassic methods. 'p', 'd', 'b', 'g', 'o', 'c' and 'q'  Big tip- Start form the centre. http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.com/2012/06/bee-challenged.html

Letters with a slanting line - 'r', 'h', 'n' 'u', 'm' and 'w'  - http://mrsssewandsow.blogspot.com/2012/06/more-improv-letters.html






The colours - black, white and grey. It doesn't matter which is background and which is the letters. You can do the whole word in one fabric, or make each letter different.  Solids, or prints, but no other colours to be included. Bonus points for text fabric!

Size - Your letters should be 3-5 inches tall.

If you don't have a word yet. check-in on the fb page.
Awesome, Believe, Calm, Confident, Creative, Dream, Epic, Fierce, Love, Kind, Relentless and Unique have been claimed.
To Choose a word - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYPGxQIVbLlEi2-mHCuTd1P_JKRkRxKmLy4wUFvaHIRxi0Zw/viewform





Tips for Inprov peicing your letters:
 In order to stay within the size limits, start with some 3/4” and 1.5 “ strips of the word colour fabric. This will help you restrict the size of the words so that you don’t end up with a giant block. 

Do a rough sketch that breaks down the structure of the letter. Start with a section and work your way out. 

Don’t worry– wonky is OK.  Just be sure to have nice 1/4” seam allowances to maintain the integrity of the quilt when washed. 



Thursday, October 17, 2019

October 2019 - Lockup


Thanks to Karin King for choosing this month's Block Lotto

As part of our memberships with the Modern Quilt Guild, we have access to a huge library of resources including webinars, quilts of the month, tutorials, and even a public television show called Fresh Quilting!
This month's Block Lotto is one of many blocks studies that the guild also publishes for its members, and was published by the MQG in January 2018.

The Lockup block is by Riane Menardi Morrison of the Central Iowa MQG. It's twice as long as it is wide, making it a little unconventional but lots of fun to play with!
You will need to sign into the MQG site to get access to the block. 






Colours: As above.
Finished size: 8-1/2" x 4-1/2
Fabric required: Scraps or fat quarters of two different colors.

General Rules:

1. Make one quilt block (or more) following the pattern and colour scheme outlined in the monthly post.  For every block you make and bring to that month’s meeting, you will get one entry in the lotto.  If you are unable to attend the meeting, but really want to participate in the lotto, comment on this post or contact Philippa and we’ll try to work it out. Remember, you must be a member of CALMQG to participate.
2. The winner gets ALL THE BLOCKS to make a quilted project from them (guild reserves the right to vote on splitting up the blocks between more than one winner if there are enough entries).  If you win, the blocks become yours and you can use them in any way you choose.
3. We would like to see your finished project, either in person or pictures, within a year of winning the blocks.  You may continue to participate in and win subsequent block lottos during that time (at least for now…we may elect that you can not win again until you've shown your finished project).  After the year is up, you cannot participate or win again until the original project is finished.
4. Use modern fabrics that you like or love! If you are unsure about your fabric selection as it relates to 'Modern', just ask.
5. Have fun!  Keep in mind that (most likely) someone else will be taking home your block to incorporate into a larger piece and things must fit together (literally, …so keeping your block true to size is probably the most important thing), but you should also make it yours and enjoy the process!

6. Share with the tags @calgarymqg #calmqgblocklotto #calgarymqg on IG or on the Calgary Modern Quilt Guild Facebook Group. Have you tagged yourself #calmqgmember yet?


Signups and deadlines - all in one place.

Because there's so many sign-ups for this month, here's your handy post to access them all! If you are sending funds, please make the etransfer password "pinwheel"

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

September Meeting Recap

We met September with a presentation by Ana Buzzalino, an award winning fibre artist and quilt instructor from Calgary on "Colour Theory and the Colour Wheel: What It Is and How to Use It?"

Lots of block lotto squares:


Lots of show and tell this month!
















Check out the results of our Summer Cut It Up Challenge!


    

 

 







See you next month! Our meeting will be October 17, 2019!