Welcome to the home of the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild. Find us on Facebook
Monthly Meetings
Join us for our Zoom meetings in 2020/2021. We will meet on the third Monday of each month, September through June – our meetings begin at 7:00 pm with Zoom opening at 6:00 pm. All are welcome.
Our next meeting will be February 15, 2021,
- Download the Quill-Jan2021 here.
HOW TO JOIN/RENEW YOUR THUNDER BAY QUILT GUILD MEMBERSHIP
- Click here for more information
Click here for information about our past meetings and a schedule for our 2020/2021 meetings as well as details of our meetings from years past.
Click here for the Guild’s Constitution and Procedural Manual.
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Sew Days are happening!
more to come in 2021 – CLE Coliseum Building
Anyone who would like to participate in future Sew Days please send me an email at ellen_lang@tbaytel.net and your name will be added to the list.
Virtual Sew Days
- Wednesday, January 20 – 1 to 4 pm
- Sunday, February 7 – 10 am to 4 pm
- Wednesday, February 17 – 1 to 4 pm
- Sunday, February 21 – 10 am to 4 pm
Join us on-line from your sewing room. A chance to get a project or two done while visiting with others. And we are there if you need an opinion too. Please email Cathy if you are interested in being added to the list at president.tbqg@gmail.com. Space is limited.
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Teddy Bear Quilts
First of all I would like to thank all those who made quilts for their stuffed animals or teddy bears this year. I also want to thank the committee who tied and bagged the many ones that were handed in.
We had a total of 275 handed in on November 21 for the Tailgate party. Weather wise we had a great day to do this. It was +2C but there was no wind and no snow showers. Christmas Cheer will get 60 with stitched eyes and the remaining 215 will go to Our Kids Count for their Christmas party.
This was a very different year with the pandemic and it was great that we could help out another organization and put a smile on a young child’s face.
Peggy
Click here for more information on this wonderful project and some more great patterns to try like:
Peggy
For more details about this and other Community Service Projects click here.
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Virtual Quilt Bee – cancelled – stay tuned for a new date
Two virtual sew times have been organized for people who want to sew together:
- Saturday, January 30 – 10 am to 1 pm
- Sunday, January 31 – 1 to 4 pm
Email president.tbqg@gmail.com to register.
A special pattern has been drafted that you may want to consider making. At the next Bee, our long time and creative member, Linda Guitard, handed in a beautiful quilt top that has been made into a new pattern especially for the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild. It is going to be ready for the 2021 Bee as both hospice size and lap size. A photo of Linda’s quilt is included here so you can consider if you’d like to make this quilt as your charity quilt this year. If interested, please let Adrienne know. Don’t worry if you’re not ready for this quilt. It will be around as a Guild pattern for years to come.
- download the instructions for Linda’s Quilt-Instructions
If you don’t want to work on quilts we encourage you to consider working on placemats. Remember, placemats can be great ways to practice your quilting, try out a block, test a fabric combination and practice your binding.
Thank you to everyone who is completing quilts for donation! We are doing a great job of keeping our recipients warm this winter. If you have finished a charity quilt and hand it in at a meeting please remember to let Adrienne, Leona or Wendy know so your name can be marked off the list. Remember to attach the guild label before handing it in. Thanks.
If you are in need of batting or backing, or if you’d like a kit to make a top, please email Adrienne. If you’d like to hand back a complete top to be quilted by others please contact Adrienne, Leona or Wendy. Thank you. Keep up the great work (quilting).
Any questions? Email Adrienne at alopes@tbaytel.net.
Adrienne
For more information on the Quilt Bees and our Community Projects – click here.
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NEW *Figit Quilts
We’ve added a new page that will feature pictures, patterns and instructions to make Figit Quilts. Check them out and try some. Click here
Pat and Florence
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Superior Quilt Show – May 26, 27, 28, 2023
Although our Quilt Show has been postponed – the Challenge is still on!
Information about the Challenge can be found here .
NEW – The challenge quilts will be displayed as part of the Grand Nations Crossroads fibre arts exhibition from July 13 – September 17, 2021 at the Thunder Bay Museum. Voting information to follow.
Keep checking this site for more details.
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Placemats – *New Patterns* added
There are two new placemat patterns and an updated Placemat Pattern Index below.
We are pleased that we have been able to broaden our outreach to include the 135 residents of the Sister Leila Greco facility last month. We have also received a request from the PR Cook facility for placemats to distribute to their 181 residents, so we WILL be collecting finished placemats from the members this month. Please email Doris (dorisd@tbaytel.net ) with the number that you have finished and ready to contribute. We plan to coordinate the collection with the Quilt Bee kit pick-up and will also have some placemat kits available at that time. It will also be possible to drop off completed placemats at Doris’ home near Calvary Lutheran or with Laura Cooke in the north ward. We will also continue to investigate other facilities or organizations whose clients would be cheered by receiving our work.
This month we also have two new patterns (Reel as You Go and Fill in the Corners) that will be available on the guild website. Samples are pictured below. Both are quilt-as-you-go, although the one with the larger square needs a bit of quilting in the center. Happy New Year and happy quilting!
Doris and Judy
Each year our guild members make and donate over 400 placemats to be distributed to clients of Meals on Wheels in Thunder Bay. These placemats are a great opportunity for you to try a new technique, practice your machine quilting and binding skills, use up some scraps and get a satisfying “quick fix” of sewing. Recommended size for donated placemats is 12” x 18”. We have guild labels to be sewn in under the binding on the back of the placemats. At the moment, however, Meals on Wheels is not permitted to distribute anything beyond food to their clients, due to Covid-19 health and safety restrictions. We ask that you keep any placemats you have made to donate until such time as we can donate them once again.
There are lots of new patterns for placemats to try. Download the handy revised Placemat Pattern Index (Nov20) and try one or two or all of them. Patterns can been found here. If you need some labels, please contact Doris (dorisd@tbaytel.net ) to make arrangements to get a supply.
Click here for information and links to the patterns or to download the pdf’s. And here are some new patterns to try:
Happy Quilting!
Doris & Judy
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Library
Please Note – The Library Committee is currently working on a plan in the works to allow members access to the Guild’s extensive collection online. We will update members when we can.
In the meantime, click here to view the updated TBQG Library List Aug2020
When we are back up and running the Library will open from 6 – 7 pm and during the break. Members are allowed to sign out 3 books at a time. Did you know that Quilting magazines are available for free and discontinued library books are on sale for $2.50.
Try out one of the new rulers:
- Non-slip Pineapple Trim Tool Mini (4″, 5″,6″) or the Regular (6″, 8″, 10″) size
Quick Curve Ruler (Regular Size and Mini) with Runner Pattern
Tucker Trimmer
Wing Clipper
Add-A-Quarter Inch Plus Ruler (12″ long and a 6″ mini)
Click here for more information on what’s new to borrow at the Library.
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Andrea Tsang Jackson – 3rd Story Workshops – it was so great having Andrea with us for her workshops and trunk show. Check out other opportunities this year, click here.
Comfort and Figit Quilts
In February 27 lap-sized and 7 bed-sized comfort quilts were collected along with 2 neo natal blankets. Figit quilts are small textured touchy/feely blankets or squares that are washable and safe for children and seniors. They are wonderful items to amuse and occupy time. We have some pattern suggestions if anyone is interested or there are lots of options if you search on the internet. We have some supplies of lace, textured fabrics and other notions so let us know if you want some starter materials.
The Committee is always reviewing and updating the list of locations that receives Comfort Quilts. If you know of any location that may benefit from receiving a quilt or quilts, please provide contact and background information. The aim has been to support facilities where quilts will be used multiple times and benefit the users. We don’t provide quilts to sell or give specifically to any individuals, however, Guild members often contribute their time for these other projects.
Jackie Black is piecing together larger quilts using the quilted 12 1/2 inch blocks. Please keep bringing them in. Blocks can be any pattern but we are requesting that colours be kept neutral so they can be used by male and female residents. Remember to sandwich larger (about 14 inch backing and batting) and leave them untrimmed. It is a wonderful way to try out a pattern you find in a magazine or on-line. Come find Jackie or me if you have questions.
Thanks goes out to the many quilters who contributed quilts, squares, time and so much support so far this year. We wish you Happy Holidays and a Wonder-filled New Year!
Just a reminder – Labels should be sewn on the back of the quilts flat so that they do not get caught on anything including fingers and toes. The label that is sewn on flat is the correct way to sew them on. Click here for more information about our Comfort Quilts and other community projects.Have you thought about making a Figit Quilt? Florence and I could provide you some tactile fabrics and notions to give it a try. Here is a great example of a fidget quilt. This is from ‘Man Quilting’ with Rob Apell. He has some great ideas on this fidget quilt. If you Google ‘fidget pillows’ you’ll see more examples made as pillows instead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=GhojSOjTAn4
Florence and Pat
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FAQs and Tips
Aunt Marti’s 52 Quilts – Susie’s Magic Binding Tutorial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8N6nv90H2c
Binding a quilt without binding strips – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw_OBqG_nAI
Do you have any tips to share? Click here for more…
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Take a look at what we’ve done in our past shows –
Superior Quilt Show 2019
Viewers’ Choice Best in Show & Members’ Choice – Paradise in Bloom by Shirley Assaunt
2nd in Viewers’ Choice – Full Bloom by Suzanne Mills
3rd in Viewers’ Choice – Friendship by Jeanette Dann
Winner of the Challenge – Joyce Gilmore
Best Booth – Road 17N
For more information about the Superior Quilt Show – click here
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