Welcome!

Ninigret Quilters is an organization for quilters of all abilities in the Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut area. We meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Westerly Senior Center, 39 State Street, Westerly, Rhode Island (Google Maps) to share our common passion of quilting. Guests and new members are always welcome!




Friday, December 27, 2013

Friendship Block Swap

The time has come to start our next swap! The nine patch swap was so successful, members have been anxiously awaiting swap #2. The friendship star is just a bit more challenging than the nine patch block, incorporating half square triangle units.


Swap Instructions
Each participant is asked to make (12) twelve 9" finished (9.5" unfinished) Friendship Star blocks. You may participate for one, two or three months. Swapping will take place at the January, February and March meetings. At each meeting, participants will gather to swap blocks with others, keeping one of your own, and acquiring eleven blocks from other quilters. At the end of three months, you will have 36 different blocks to use in a fun scrap quilt.

If you would like to participate but cannot attend the meeting, please give your blocks to a friend or mail them to Tina Craig. This swap is open to members of Ninigret Quilters only.

Block Instructions
For each block, we will be working with a neutral light background and medium to dark fabrics for the stars. The light backgrounds may be solids or prints and anything from white to tan or light gray and may include hints of other pastel colors. In modern quilting jargon, these are called "low volume." Each block may be constructed from two fabrics or may be scrappy, as long as the star contrasts well with the background.

For each block, you will need:
(4) 3.5" squares of background
(1) 3.5" square of medium/dark
(4) 3.5" half square triangle units (3" finished)

Use your favorite method for constructing half square triangle units. Here are a few links to get you started.
Cut 4" squares and trim units to 3.5"
Cut triangles with an Easy Angle ruler from 3.5" strips
Use 3" Thangles with 3.5" strips
Make 8 units at a time from 8 or 8.5" squares (requires trimming)


We would like our stars to "spin" in the same direction, so please note the correct layout below.
Correct layout for our swap
Incorrect layout for our swap

 Stitch with an accurate 1/4" seam allowance for properly sized blocks. Blocks should measure 9.5" for swapping. Star points should fall 1/4" from the edge of the block so they won't get chopped off when blocks are pieced to sashing or other blocks.

Please sign your blocks along one of the diagonal seams with a permanent fabric pen. 

Look for another blog post coming soon with layout ideas.

Friday, October 18, 2013

It's Show Time!

 We had a wonderful opening day!
 

After viewing 170 quilts, visiting 6 vendors, and searching for the best scrap fabrics, books and magazines, quilters need a cup of coffee and a snack.
 

Come on down to the Westerly Armory on Saturday or Sunday, 10am-4pm.
 

We'll see you there!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

October Meeting Recap

 We celebrated the upcoming quilt show with a "champagne" and chocolate preview party!


Twenty-seven quilters completed the Seeing Stars challenge, including all three junior members! Voting for our favorites was a difficult task. These little quilts will look terrific hanging together in the show next week!

The winners are (from left to right):
Most Creative - Donna C
Best Depiction of Stars - Beverly N
Best use of Challenge Fabric - Roberta B
 Members' Choice - Erin C


Ellie announced the ribbon winners from the judging last weekend. NQA Certified Quilt Judge Beverly Fine judged 40 quilts last Saturday, including one from each of our three junior members. It's wonderful to see our junior members fully participating in guild activities.


Best in Show was awarded to Tina's quilt, Chris and Jamie's Wedding Ring. 
Congratulations to everyone who submitted a quilt for judging.

Quilt by Tina Craig, Machine Quilted by Pat Harrison, Piecing Pattern by Judy Niemeyer, Applique Designs by Erin Russek

 Show and Tell is a highlight of every meeting.

Sue C showed her results from last month's workshop with Marianne Hatton.

Sue R enjoyed the workshop so much, she doubled the size!



Petie completed her project from Anita Grossman Solomon's workshop in August. Petie added some red squares to spice up the grays.


Pat H's quilt Raspberry Spin is home from its photo shoot at Quiltmaker.


Barbara C reproduced an antique quilt using a jelly roll of batiks.

Pam B showed a sampler made from a Marti Michell sampler pattern.


Pam also completed "Twinkle Toes" from Laurie Shifren's book Batiks and Beyond.

Junior Member Rebecca finished an adorable baby quilt. She machine quilted around the lambs.


Rebecca also completed her Ninnie Nine Patch quilt made from blocks we swapped earlier this year. She quilted it with a fun variegated purple thread.

Roberta B finished her nine patch swap quilt, too.


One more nine patch from Tina includes participants' names quilted into the border.

Patti T finished a fun baby quilt in brights. It is quilted with a frog design.

Pat G showed a quilt she finished for her niece's graduation made from Hawaiian prints her mother bought her. She started the project at the getaway in 2012 during a Fun & Done quilt as you go workshop.

Kate C completed a lovely mini quilt that she started at Girl Gang at Folk Art Quilts. It was machine quilted by Pat Harrison.


 Ellie used gridded fusible interfacing to piece the green "path" in this little beauty.


 Our furriest member, Toby, is being trained by Lois G to be a companion therapy dog.


The quilt show is just over a week away. See you there!!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

August Show & Tell

 Tora showed a few new Outreach quilts. Ellie finished the binding on this quilt.

Margaret E. finished this top.

Donna C. finished this quilt for a lucky little girl in just a month!

Barbara C. designed this quilt to use five 1yard pieces of fabric.

This is a scrappy baby version of the same pattern that will appear in The Quilter magazine.

This blue stars quilt pattern was designed for The Quilt Pattern Magazine.

Donna C. finished this peek-a-boo quilt for her 3-year old granddaughter.

Beverly A. used a mermaid print for this quilt for her tall granddaughter.

Beverly restored and tied this lovely antique hand-pieced top.

Mary Kay made a special memory quilt for one of the bus drivers of her quilting trips.

Pat G finished a sweet Advent calendar wall hanging. She is keeping up with her goal of finishing a project every month.

Rose K made this baby quilt for a little one due in September.

Another baby quilt by Rose for a baby born a week before the meeting.

And a doll quilt for her 4 year old sister.

 Barb N. made this stunner from the Crossings pattern by Weeks & Ringle.

Tina C. made this mini star quilt with leftovers from a wedding gift.

Tina also brought an older mini using Anita Grossman Solomon's Xcentric blocks.

Petie S. pieced pinwheels from a charm pack for this baby quilt.

Petie also made this quilt for her grandson who is a music major.

Susan R. made this fun piece called "So Many Hens, So Little Time."

She had collected so many chicken prints, she even pieced the back.

Cheryl K. made this quilt for her friend Jeff.

Rita showed a few minis that were donated for our silent auction. These were made by Sue V.

Sue C.

Alberta

Alberta