*The completion of one of these projects per guild year satisfies the community service membership requirement. It is not mandatory to attend the workshop to create either quilt or bags. See more information by clicking the "Membership" tab on the navigation bar at the top of this page.

Saturday, February 17, 2018: Bay Shore/Brightwaters Library, 9:30 - 4

See Susanne Ankner or Joan Dlouhy for further information

Saturday, April 21, 2018: Bay Shore/Brightwaters Library, 9:30 - 4

See Jean Pastorino for more information

This is a volunteer program at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, NY. The purpose of the program is to encourage new parents to read to their newborns. Our Guild makes tote bags for this program. Each bag contains new children's books, finger puppets, and information about programs and services available at local libraries. One of our mandatory community service project choices, 20 bags are required to be made in one calendar year. Please see the pattern below, as well as supplies that are always needed for the bags.

Ready for a challenge? From September 2017-June 2018 guild member Ronnie Alber will lead participants in this program. We will be using as a reference the books Around the Block and Once More Around the Block by Judy Hopkins. A copy of the pattern will be distributed each month and made for the next meeting when a subsequent block pattern will be distributed We will not be exchanging blocks; what you make is what you keep! The blocks will measure 12 1/2" straight from your sewing machine. At the end, each participant will have 12 blocks to construct a throw sized quilt. We only meet 10 times a year, so twice during the year participants will be challenged to make two blocks in one month. For these two instances, the blocks have been chosen that are identical in size, shape, and position of the pieces, but the value arrangement is different. The throw will be 3 blocks across and 4 rows done. Add a little sashing (three 1 1/2" strips are suggested) and the throw will measure about 48" x 63". It is recommended that you choose a background fabric that you use for every block. Another suggestion is to choose a flowery fabric to use in the sashing and then choose those colors to use in the blocks.  Any questions, please see Ronnie at the meetings.

At a recent meeting, Donna Ketcham asked members to donate wheelchair caddies for the sisters at Maria Regina residence. The following are two patterns: the first is the one that Donna showed at the meeting; the second is a less complicated pattern. Please be as generous as possible in participating in this endeavor.

At a recent meeting, Ann Kershaw and JoAnn Incalcatera distributed a pinwheel and nine patch block pattern with directions and background fabric. Each member is encouraged to take this home and, using fabric of your own for the remaining parts of the block, complete the block and submit it to JoAnn and/or Ann by the December meeting. These blocks will then be assembled into quilts at our January Sit and Sew Snowflake workshop. The quilts will then be donated to the bereavement group of the South Shore Hospice. Members are encouraged to create at least one block; the more blocks donated will increase the number of quilts made, so please be as generous as you can. See the patterns below for detailed instructions for each block.

At our December meeting, members share the joy of the holiday season by participating in a grab bag. Please bring a new, wrapped, sewing related gift between $15-$18, and write your name on the outside so your recipient can thank you! A potluck dinner is also on the agenda, where members provide delicious homemade dishes for both dinner and dessert. Signups for the dinner menu will be in November.

Each year the Guild hosts a special, full day of sewing and fellowship for its members. Members can choose to attend a special class taught by enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructors or bring something of their own to work on.  The fee for non-members and guests is $15.

This year Quilt Camp will be held on March 24, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Joyce Fitzpatrick Senior Center at Brookwood Hall, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip.

Details of classes TBA

An optional activity, the Mystery Quilt is led by Cindy Carroll. The 'mystery' is that the quilters do not know what the final product will look like until its final construction!  See below for fabric requirements.

GREAT SOUTH BAY QUILTERS

MYSTERY QUILT 2017-2018

By: Cindy Carroll

This mystery Quilt is very unique in that you can pick whatever style fabric you like. Most of this quilt is using up your scraps and ¼ yard and ½ yard pieces. This quilt will be approximately 90 X 90 when finished.

The original pattern calls for reproduction fabric, but as I studied the pattern I realized it can be used in so many ways. Here are some suggestions:

There is some applique on the quilt so you have to think for example “If I choose beach theme” I will need some patterns with a beach theme, shells, fish etc. Autumn you will need some patterns for leaves or pumpkins etc. If you choose floral or reproduction you can use the patterns that came with this quilt. With the reproduction fabric they used a floral applique. Just keep that in mind. 

Instead of using reproduction you can consider any of the following.

*Pastel and/or floral             *Primary and brights            *Holiday and or Seasonal

Such as:        *Christmas    *autumn         *Thanksgiving

*Red, White and Blue – Patriotic   *Sea Shore Beachy theme or *Country

*Fabric from Children’s or Grandchildren’s Clothing

*Just Plain Scraps – No Rhyme or Reason

Fabric requirements:

7 yards total of the colors of your theme. Fall colors for autumn, red/green and gold for Christmas …You get the idea!

2 yards of a background fabric. This will stay in the background and “pop” your theme color fabrics. They used muslin with the reproduction. Maybe a white or light blue for beach, or a pale yellow for autumn. See what goes nice with your scraps. Even a white on white is perfect.

2 yards of a striking color solid or reads as a solid. For example maybe a burgundy or gold for Christmas or autumn, or Deep Navy for Patriotic. It should blend with the scraps but stand out from them.

One consideration to think about.

As I mentioned you are instructed to do applique on this quilt. Here comes the fun part. You do not have to applique if you don’t want to. You can do any of the following or whatever you think of and make it your own. We have seen what you can do from the English Cottages quilts!

You can choose hand applique, machine applique, hand embroidery, machine embroidery, painting, thread painting, crayon coloring...

Or anything you feel that you would like to do. At the point where the applique comes into play you will know what you want to do. Don’t fret over it at all. You can also decide not to do any of it and it will also be fine!!! This is your quilt to be as creative as you want.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PLEASE TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS.

Cindy's  e-mail xboss23cc@gmail.com 

Meetings are held at the Bay Shore/Brightwaters Library starting at 9:30 a.m. Participants construct quilts that are donated to our local Veterans' organizations. Please see Ruth Caulfield for more information.

October 27, 2017

No meetings in November or December 2017 due to holiday conflicts.

January 26, 2018

February 23, 2018

March 23, 2018

April 27, 2018

May 25, 2018

June 22, 2018

July 27, 2018

August 24, 2018

September 28, 2018

October 26, 2018

The Hidden Stitchers, an independent applique group, meets the third Friday of the month at the Islip Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We share idea and projects that we're working on. Anyone is welcome to join us. The membership is open: no attendance, no dues except for the Christmas collection for the custodian, no formal classes, always someone to help with a problem, share their knowledge, share new products or old and enjoy one another's company. In June, at the library's request, we set up a display of members' projects. Come join us!