The Saskatoon MQG gathered on January 28 for a productive sew day at Home Inn & Suites in Stonebridge. To kick off the meeting, we engaged in an ice breaker discussing “What do you like least about quilting?” Common challenges included tasks like burying threads, dealing with bindings, stitch ripping, sandwiching the quilts, setting up temporary sewing spaces in condos, piecing together backing fabrics, the frustration of being on a roll and having to stop, searching for fabrics, accepting imperfections, the need for organization, squaring up blocks, cutting fabric, the fear of fabrics bleeding, matching up points in pinwheels, pressing of full quilt tops, and the presence of languishing UFOs. This serves as great inspiration for future education topics. Perhaps we can explore solutions to alleviate some of these common quilting hurdels.

Anne demonstrated how to use an Accuquilt Go Cutter and dies. Personally, I’ve set my sights on creating a tumbler quilt and see how the machine will make that smoother. Then Laura took the floor to present a number of challenges for our guild to try. Rest assured, participation in these challenges is entirely voluntary. We selected “Scrappy Words” which will continue to November. We encourage you to show the progress of your projects through the year . The concept, borrowed from Victoria Modern Guild, challenges us to make a quilt using scraps and revolves around our own chosen word of the year.

Anyone interested may also participate in the Ugly Fabric Challenge that will run from February to April. If interested, bring a fat quarter of your ugly fabric in a plastic Ziplock baggie with your name written on the front of it next meeting. You will go home with someone else’s ugly fabric and the challenge is to create something using that fabric and fabrics of your own. Be creative such as making a pouch, a mini quit, a bag, a casserole cover, a journal cover, a hot pad or whatever. At the end of the challenge, wrap it up, bring it back and present it to the original owner.

So much eye candy this month. See some of this in the photos.

The next sew day at Home Inn & Suites is February 25. We are now taking reservations for the retreat on March 23 and 24. And membership fees are due by February 29 as we have a waiting list to join our guild. Happy sewing!