Sewing, quilting and friendly chat

FOR this week’s Craft Creations we are off to the Conwy Valley to chat to Gill Meyer.

Gill is a member of the Dyffryn Conwy U3A Patchwork and Quilting Group and she explains: “We are a small group which meets once a month to enjoy an afternoon of sewing, quilting and friendly conversation.

“We don’t make things to sell but for the pleasure of making things for ourselves, friends and families. Members work on their own projects and as we have different skills we share experiences and advice and learn from each other. Piecing together small pieces of fabric to form an overall pattern requires patience, precision, an eye for design and colour and a willingness to unpick occasionally!

“Patchwork comes in many forms, from traditional block patterns made from squares, rectangles and triangles, crazy patterns popular in Victorian times, English patchwork which is pieced together using paper templates, often hexagons, or your own random design. Welsh quilts, for example, have a central motif around which the maker sewed strips of material of varying lengths until she had the desired size.

“Patchwork pieces can be sewn together by hand or machine and once assembled they are usually quilted to emphasise the design.

“Some members enjoy hand quilting following traditional patterns like feathers, Celtic knots, spirals or flowers. Hand quilting is very satisfying and relaxing but machine quilting is quicker and looks good too.”

“New members are welcome, even if you have never done any patchwork or quilting before. Come along to one of our meetings – no commitment.”

If you would like to learn more about the Group, please contact Gill Meyer or 01492 660339 or email gillmeyer21@googlemail.com