RCQG has Gone Virtual!
In early May, the Executive Team decided that Royal City Quilters guild will transform itself into a virtual quilt guild until it is safe to resume in-person meetings. We shared the rationale for that decision in our May newsletter to members.
During the Spring, we held three virtual guild meetings using the popular online platform, Zoom. The local newspaper profiled our efforts.
Before each meeting, we share a quick tutorial for those who are new to Zoom. Once the President calls the meeting to order, we make announcements and conduct any guild business before turning over the meeting to our guest speaker for a virtual trunk show. Of course, members always have questions for the speaker at the end of the trunk show. We wrap up the official meeting with Member Show and Share before adjourning to Zoom breakout rooms for a little member-to-member socializing.
Although we miss spending time with our quilting friends, we’re excited about our new virtual format. We can welcome members, guests and speakers from all over the world. No one has to drive in bad weather or after dark. Everyone gets a front row seat to see the beautiful quilts and projects shared each month.
Each summer, our guild goes on a summer hiatus. Our virtual meetings will resume Tuesday, September 22. If you’d like to join us, please visit our online store and purchase an annual membership. Until our meetings resume in the Fall, we are sponsoring a summertime mystery quilt for our members with clues published every two weeks. If you’d like to participate in the summertime mystery, please use this form to let us know.
For more information about Royal City Quilters Guild, send an email to president@royalcityquiltersguild.ca or membership@royalcityquiltersguild.ca.
RCQG Now Accepting Online Payment
You can now use credit or debit cards to sign up for workshops, renew an existing membership, purchase a new membership, or make a donation. Visit the online store by clicking the button found on the right. If you have any problems, use the contact form at the bottom of the page to let us know so we can follow up.
June Meeting
Our next Zoom Guild Meeting will be on June 9, 2020 at 7:00pm.
Please watch your email for the Zoom invitation.
The June meeting will include our annual AGM, and a trunk show by Mary Pal. http://marypaldesigns.com/
RCQG Profile in Guelph Today
The Guild is in the news! Thanks to Barbara Geernaert for a great article about all the great work our Guild has been doing.
Nurse's Gowns
April 2, 2020 Update: We have been asked to make more gowns. Fabric and elastic is being sourced. An email will go out to the Guild email list about pick-up and drop-off locations if you'd like to help with sewing. Thanks for all your help. Hospice and the midwifery clinic have been grateful.
April 5, 2020 Update: The pattern has been updated again with a narrower sleeve. The fabric has been picked up and is just being cut into kits. It should be available for pickup on Monday, April 6.
Pattern corrections:
Thank you to Trish's (Guild members) daughter Rachel who has worked in garment production. She updated the pattern for us to fix some of the problems with the sleeve hole and seam allowances.
Fabric requirements:
2.5 metres of a durable cotton or poly-cotton. Any pattern or colour is fine.
Elastic: 14 inches (7 inches per sleeve)
Ties: 80 inches for waist, 30 inches for neck
Thread
Instructions:
-If you don't have elastic, a cuff can be made of t-shirt jersey (see below).
-If you don't have tape for the ties, bias tape can be made from fabric and sewn with a single line of stitching.
-These will get lots of wear and washing, so please use a tight zig-zag stitch, or a folded seam, or a serger.
-Please do NOT make gowns if you are feeling ill or are in quarantine.
-Please wash your hands before you handle the fabric for cutting or sewing.
The pattern can be found here:
https://royalcityquiltersguild.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/gowns_updated_ap2.pdf
This version has a narrower sleeve (5 inches) which the midwives have requested:
https://royalcityquiltersguild.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RCQG_Gown_NarrowSleeve.pdf
Virtual Sew-In
All in-person RCQG meetings are cancelled until further notice.
Join us on Saturday, March 21 for a virtual sew-in. Check your email from a message from the RCQG list for information about how to join.
Our goals for the sew-in day are to help reduce feelings of isolation, to give away some prizes, and to help you feel that you have a community of quilters around you. Sew on!
9:00am Update: Send a photo of your project for the day and a message to your fellow quilters. The prize is a gift certificate to MakeOne in Guelph.
9:30am Update: Keep track of the number of seams ripped out for the 3:00pm challenge. Prize is gift certificate to Country Concessions.
10:00am Update: The oldest UFO wins a gift certificate to The Quilt Place.
11:00 am Update: Show us the blue fabric you're working on today. Prize is a gift certificate to Triangle Sewing.
12:00pm Update: Show us your hand stitching. Prize is a gift certificate to Sew Fancy.
1:00pm Update: Answer the question "I love quilting because..." for a gift certificate to Border Creek Station.
2:00 pm Update: Domestic or longarm quilting for a gift card to Cobwebs and Caviar.
3:00 Update: Your tally of seams ripped for a gift card to Country Concessions. A final post about what you accomplished and some final words of encouragement for your fellow quilters for a gift card to Meerkat Shweshwe.
4:00 Update: It's a wrap! Thanks for all the fun. Winners will be emailed.