Welcome
Ash Valley Quilters is a friendly group of enthusiastic quilters at all levels of ability, from beginners to the more experienced.
Ash Valley Quilters Exhibition will be held on
17 & 18 May 2025
About Us
Our aim is to draw together and encourage people with an interest in patchwork and quilting, and help them to develop the appropriate skills through talks from invited speakers and meetings for practical work. Workshops and occasional exhibitions or other types of meeting (social) are also held. Why not come along to one of our meetings and give it a try? Visitors are always welcome.
Ash Valley Quilters was formed in January 1996 by Pauline Adams and Sue Waugh, and both remain life members. The Group meets on the third Thursday evening of every month at The Memorial Hall, The Forebury, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 9BD, arrive from 7pm to start at 7.30pm.
Ash Valley Quilters' Newsletter
ASH VALLEY QUILTERS’ NEWSLETTER
November 2024
Thursday 21st November - Lis Binns - Tips, Tricks and Tools - A talk covering many of the tips and tricks Lis has picked up over the years along with information on the tools she uses and things that have been recommended to her. We will also have the sign up sheets available for the fish and chips supper at our AGM meeting in January.
Friday 22nd November - Lis Binns workshop - Machine Trapunto a selection of designs with which to learn the techniques of machine trapunto. Always lovely to learn a new technique and there may still be a space left so if you are interested please speak to Ami.
Thursday 19th December – Our Christmas meeting, come along and enjoy an evening of celebration to include show your favourite make from this year, Winter Wonderland challenge Christmas refreshments, information about the new programme for 2025 and the company of good friends. The perfect last meeting to end 2024.
AVQ Challenge – The challenge for this year is “Winter Wonderland”. This can be any stitched item, no more than 24 inches in any direction. We are hoping to see lots of entries this year at the December meeting. How about a winter, fabric postcard?
Workshop on 6th February 2025 – The programme for 2025 will be with you all at the December meeting. However, with the first workshop of 2025 is scheduled for Saturday 6th February ,an in house workshop called “get to know your sewing machine stitches”, and to let as many people as possible have an opportunity to sign up, the sign up sheets along with details of the workshop and a sample will be available for you at the November meeting on Thursday. Do check your diary before you come so that you can sign up to the places draw if you are available!!!
Bumper mega raffle – At our January 2025 AGM meeting we will have a mega raffle for our charity. More details nearer the time, but keep in mind that we will be asking for your participation to bring something for the raffle, (an unwanted Christmas gift?) as well as buying some tickets to win from an interesting range of prizes .
RSPB Quilt competition – a reminder of the RSPB mini quilt competition. I sent out the details with last month’s newsletter. I hope some of you found it interesting, and even be tempted to participate?
Carpark - Please don’t forget the system for the carpark at the hall, all drivers must register their car on the system inside the hall to avoid any fines.
Building works – These are still going on but hopefully will be finished soon. Please take care around the building and in the car park.
Rags!!!. A big thank you to Jackie Nash and Hazel Sugarman who are still taking ‘Rags’ bags in support of St Clare’s Hospice.
Mugs and name tags - I keep thinking I should stop adding this item each month as everyone knows to bring a mug and your name tag, Then I realise I have forgotten my mug! Thank you to everyone that remembers.
Website & Facebook group – If you would like to join our facebook group please speak to Lindy. The Ash Valley Quilters website, http://www.ashvalleyquilters.com has information about us, the programme plus events and shows along with a copy of the newsletter.
2025 AVQ Exhibition – 17th and 18th May 2025 The exhibition date is creeping ever closer and will be with us before we know it. Please talk to any committee member with your ideas to make this the best exhibition yet. Have you thought about how you would like to help, more hands make light work and everyone’s help will be needed!!!!
And Sew On – I am sure many of you will have seen the sad announcement from Natalie at And Sew On that she is closing her shop at Blake End and online from 21st December. Please do support her as she faces this difficult time.
Last meeting in October – A wonderful sit and sew evening with an opportunity to chose and sew one of 3 preprepared projects. Some lovely items were finished on the night or taken home to be completed. It was a relaxed and very chatty evening, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
2025 Quilt show dates
30 January – 1 February Ardingly Quilt Show, Haywards Heath, Sussex
28 February – 2 March 2025 Spring Quilt Festival, Newmarket, Suffolk
20 – 23 March 2025 The Stitch Festival, Business Design Centre, London
15 – 18 May 2025 Quilts UK, Malvern
17 - 18 May 2025 AVQ Exhibition
31 July – 3 August 2025 The Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham
9 – 12 October 2025 The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London
With best wishes
The AVQ Committee
How to join us
Why not come along to one of our monthly meetings (the third Thursday of the month, arrive from 7.00pm, meeting starts at 7.30pm) at the Memorial Hall, The Forebury, Sawbridgeworth - we always have some application forms at our meetings.
Our year runs from January to December. We hold our AGM at our January meeting, the next one will take place in January 2024, when we ask everyone to renew their membership. So, don't forget to bring your cheque book or cash. After the AGM we have a Fish and Chip supper, please let us know if you would like us to order some for you. Julie Finbow or any other member of the committee will be happy to take your booking.
Alternatively, if you would like to join before the next meeting, then please send us an e-mail via this site and we will send you an application form and details of where to send it with your joining fee. The 2024 annual membership fee is £25.00. This is reviewed each year at our AGM. Visitors are charged £5.00 per meeting and members £3.00.
Programme for 2024
- January 18th - AGM with Fish and Chip Supper and Quiz
- February 15th - Practical evening
- March 9th - Workshop - UFO's
- March 21st - Melanie Missin-Keating - My Indian Textile Adventure
- April 18th - Carolyn Forster - How I got here today
- April 19th - Carolyn Forster Workshop - Utility Quilting
- May 16th - Nodeen Salmon - Machine Embroidery
- June 8th - Workshop - Scrap Busting
- June 20th - Strawberry Fair
- July 18th - Rosemary Muntus - Boro and the Japanese Approach to Sustainable Art
- July 19th - Rosemary Muntus Workshop - Japanese Stichery meets 'Make do and Mend'
- August 15th - Members Social sit and sew
- September 19th - Gail Lawther - Trip around the World
- September 20th - Gail Lawther workshop - Low Tide
- October 12th - Workshop - Bags
- October 17th - Practical evening
- November 21st - Lis Binns - Tips, Tricks and Tools
- November 22nd - Lis Binns workshop - Machine Trapunto
- December 19th - Giant show and tell.
Exhibitions, shows and classes
2025
30 Jan – 1 February Ardingly Quilt Show, Haywards Heath, Sussex
28 Feb – 2 March Spring Quilt Festival, Newmarket, Suffolk
20 – 23 March The Stitch Festival, Business Design Centre, London
15 – 18 May Quilts UK, Malvern
17 - 18 May AVQ Exhibition
31 July – 3 August The Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham
9 – 12 October The Knitting & Stitching Show,
Alexandra Palace, London
Committee
Chair Julie Finbow
Secretary (including Web Site) Terry Millson
Treasurer Lindy McChesney-Tilley
Programme Secretary Jan Butler
Workshop Bookings Ami Richards
Refreshments Theresa Pye
Raffle Carol McVie and Jacqui Michie
An Annual General Meeting is held at the January meeting each year. At this meeting, the Chairman's and Treasurer's reports are presented and any new committee members agreed or ratified. Any changes to the annual subscription are proposed for agreement by members present, so as to become immediately effective for the current year.
Find Us
Address
Meet
We meet on the
3rd Thursday of the month 7.00 for 7.30pm start.
Directions
DIRECTIONS to Memorial Hall from Bishops Stortford.
Take the A1184, Cambridge Road, south. As you come into Sawbridgeworth, turn left at 2 mini roundabouts into Station Road and after about 100 yards, turn right into Knight Street. Turn left into the Forebury and the Memorial Hall is on your left opposite a school., You can park either behind the hall or in the road.
DIRECTIONS to Memorial Hall from Harlow.
Take the A1184, Cambridge Road, north. As you come into Sawbridgeworth, turn right by the White Horse pub into Bell Street and at the T-junction, left into Knight Street. The turning to the Forebury is on the right, about half way down the street and the Memorial Hall is on your left opposite a school.
DIRECTIONS TO OSCA, HENHAM from Bishops Stortford.
Our workshops are held at OSCA (Old School & Community Association) premises, Crow Street, Henham, CM22 6AG.
In Stansted turn down Chapel Hill, and at the bottom turn left into Lower Street, bear right and go up the hill, over the traffic lights and keep on into Elsenham village. Go straight over the double roundabouts by the shops and carry on through the village. Once through the village then take the next turning on your left - signposted Henham and follow the road into Henham village.
OSCA (The Old School) is on the right by the green. It's a red brick building and looks like an old school! Turn down the path and then left into the old school playground.
* if you get to the war memorial- you've gone too far! (but only just)
