News

Festival of Quilts 2025

A memorable year for Beartown Patchwork and Quilters – the group quilt – “Rust Collective” – won first prize! Thanks must go to Ruth Axon who organised its design and construction. I think it stood out in the winners gallery – best in show! Though obviously I’m biased. Several people entered quilts in this year’s festival. Val Lancaster entered her Magic Tile Bonzana quilt in the Novice category and was Short Listed. Her entry was Read more

By Diana Woods, ago

Chronicle Report – May to July 2025

Written by Anne Carter Megan Barley was the speaker at Beartown P’s and Q’s meeting on 13th May. Megan is the coordinator of Region 13 of The Quilters’ Guild of The British Isles and she talked about that role and also her travels. She brought along some of her large quilt collection for us to admire. On Sunday, 18th May, a coach trip to the Quilts’ UK exhibition at Malvern Showgrounds was organized by Doreen Read more

By Diana Woods, ago

Chronicle report January to May 25

Written by Anne Carter The first meeting in January for Beartown P’s & Q’s was cancelled due to poor weather and so the AGM was postponed until April.The two meetings in February were coordinated by Ruth Axson. Donated silk fabric was supplied to members to take home and dye with rusted items such as old keys, rusty nails and horseshoes. The resulting fabric was made into patchwork blocks which will be made into a contemporary Read more

By Diana Woods, ago

Rust Collective Quilt – the Winner!

Over the last 4 months the group has been creating a silk quilt, having used rust and vinegar dying to colour the pieces of silk first.For the first session, at the end of January, Ruth Axson, the member leading this project, asked the group to bring –Ice cream container or similar2 or 3 medium size plastic bagsBits of rusty stuffFine string/old crochet thread or something of a similar weightRubber or silicone gloves for personal protectionTable Read more

By Diana Woods, ago

Magic Tile Workshop

Christine Davidson led this as part of a DYOT day on February 15th 2025. Her finished example had been displayed at the group’s Ruby exhibition last year. She provided detailed instructions and individual help and support, for which the participants were really grateful for. Magic tiles involved 12 squares, numbering them carefully, making a cut, adding “grout”, rearranging the smaller pieces, re sewing to the larger piece, then making the next cut etc Everyone worked Read more

By Diana Woods, ago

That Purple Quilt!

At the 2024 Ruby Exhibition a purple quilt was on display and much admired. I asked Ruth Garner and Mary Turner to write the story behind it – The 2019 exhibition committee enjoyed working together so much that in March 2020 we got together to talk about a new group venture of creating a quilt based on the poem below, using only vintage fabrics that we would dye ourselves. Warning by Jenny Joseph When I Read more

By Diana Woods, ago

Lizzie Wall’s “Two Fine Fish” Workshop

Written by Wendy Townley, Photos from Nancy Clark On Saturday 5th October 2024, at Astbury Village hall, fifteen members of Beartown Patchwork and Quilters attended a raw edge appliqué workshop by Lizzie Wall. The workshop was entitled “Two Fine Fish”, Members were shown how to cut out fish templates which were then collaged and embellished by layering them with colourful and exotic fabric, using the heat and bond application method. The embellishment could be as Read more

By Diana Woods, ago

What should I take to my first meeting?

Written by Judy Harris My first meeting of Beartown Quilters was on 10th September 2024. I set off, not quite knowing what to expect but full of trepidation and excitement. What to wear, what to take and how to get there on time – mustn’t be late for my first meeting! I knew there would be “show and tell” so do I take something and if so what? Eventually I decided to take a quilt Read more

By Diana Woods, ago