12th - 14th April Talk and two workshops with Lis Binns

TALK

Lis Binns titled her chatty talk, “In at the Deep End” because, when she started quilting, she didn’t start with basic squares but with challenging, technical quilting techniques! 

 However, she had started stitching at the very young age of four with instruction from her mother. This was until she could read and she was then told she could teach herself!  Lis made clothes and dolls but also did lots of detailed cross stitch, worked on 18 count linen.

As an adult, after studying for a degree in electrical engineering, stitching was a way of relaxing.  The quilting started by accident when she and her mother needed to sit down in a shopping mall and the only place to do so was a quilting demonstration, which was free! 

 From then on Lis went on to study for a City and Guilds' course in Quilting and we were shown lots of quilts that she had made over the years, for herself, her family and friends, and for the City and Guilds course.  Only a year or so after taking up quilting, her entry into a competition at the NEC Quilt Show won third prize!  The competition was for 12 small quilts made one per month, so all were very different and reflected what was going on in her life during that month. 

 Lis gave us an illustrated talk with photos and followed up by showing us a selection of quilts and smaller quilted pieces which she had made – we were all in awe!

 

STAINED GLASS WINDOW APPLIQUÉ

 

Lis is a very thorough tutor. She explained the stages we would do, before we started cutting and stitching and she monitored us all as we went along.  After tracing the design on to our backing fabric and applying the bonded pattern pieces to it, we started the process of applying the bonded bias tape, although this turned out to be a particularly fiddly aspect of the workshop which most of us struggled with!

 

After lunch we continued bonding the bias outline and then got down to stitching.  This was also quite fiddly, requiring stitching on the inner edge first and then the outer.  Predictably, only Helen actually finished stitching completely – the rest of us have another UFO!

Apologies that photos of this project are not available. If you attended and finish the piece, please send a photo, so that it can be posted. (jeanmarg48@manx.net)

Lis demonstrating the origami twist technique

ORIGAMI TWIST

Lis’ second, half-day workshop, was attended by 10 members and, once again, she gave lots of tips and instruction to help us all make a variety of Origami twist samples.  Some are going to make a banner, others a cushion, and then others just a pincushion!  Janet actually finished her pin cushion – everybody else has work in progress! 

 

Again, it was a workshop with its challenges – how difficult can it be to fold fabric?!  Well - it can be quite fiddly and

is also made more difficult dependent on the fabric chosen.  Lis demonstrated how to make a basic origami square and then how to adapt it in a multitude of ways by additional folding.

 

All in all, I think everyone would agree that, while they were challenging workshops, they were also hugely enjoyable and we all got a lot out of them.

A selection of completed "twists"