Welcome
Ash Valley Quilters is a friendly group of approx. 80 enthusiastic quilters at all levels of ability, from beginners to the more experienced. We are affiliated to the Quilters Guild of the British Isles.
Ash Valley Quilters Exhibition will be held on
This weekend!
17 & 18 May 2025
from 10am to 4pm each day
An Exhibition of members work, sales table, tombola, raffle in aid of St. Clares Hospice, refreshments,
Admission - £5.00
Disabled access; limited parking at venue; public car park within walking distance.
Will be held at The Memorial Hall, The Forebury Sawbridgeworth. CM21 9BD
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. 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
May 2025
Thursday 15th May meeting - Janet Goddard – Hawaiian Applique evening hand sewing workshop. Explore the possibilities of Hawaiian applique and the techniques involved. Hand stitch a small wall hanging or cushion top.
Everyone who signed up for the Christine Green and Kate Findlay workshops have a place. Jacqui has a letter for you to collect at the meeting please. Requirements lists for both are below. There are still a couple of places for Christine Green’s workshop on June 20th – please just speak to Jacqui.
Hawaiian Applique Requirements:
• 2 pieces of fabric each 20 inches square (contrasting colours - either 2 plain or 1 plain and 1 patterned)
• Thread to match fabrics
• Needles , pins, scissors for both paper and fabric
To finish the project but not needed on the night : Backing fabric, wadding, quilting thread, fabric for binding.
Please bring with you any books, patterns and kits for the book stall. Also for anyone who forgot to bring their wrapped tombola prizes last month, or any one who has found something to add, do bring them along to the next meeting for Jacqui or Carol who will be collecting them and will be extremely grateful.
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th May 2025 - AVQ Exhibition -The exhibition date is creeping ever closer & will be with us before we know it. Details supplied on the exhibition newsletter! We are looking forward to seeing you all there for some exciting days and things to see!
Exhibition general information – All items to be collected when exhibition closes at 4pm on Sunday, as they are taken down from the display by you or your nominated person who must have details with them of the item they are collecting.
Also to note that help is always required to support the work of the exhibition over the exhibition weekend and take down. Do speak to a member of the committee. Thank you in advance for those who have already agreed that they will help with set up on Friday afternoon.
Thursday 19 June - Christine Green – Talk ‘Bust the rules and get creative’ Christine has been patchworking since childhood and has made numerous quilts over the years. With her very creative and liberating approach to patchworking, throwing out most of the rules, recycling wherever possible she creates unique pieces. She references her influences and explains some of the different techniques used, from the quilts of Gees Bend to Japanese Boro.
Friday 20 June - Christine Green workshop – Improv Patchwork (details below)
Thursday 17 July - Kate Findlay – Talk ‘Appliqué birds’ A talk about Kate’s bird designs and outlines her early applique series of journal quilts and goes on to examine a number of other pieces in detail, using the elements of art as a focus for the work. Kate will also bring a selection of books and cards for sale, and examples of work.
Friday 18 July - Kate Findlay workshop – E-Textile lantern (details below)
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.
Mugs and name tags – Please bring these with you to the meeting!
NO RAGS!!!. Please do NOT bring any rags to this meeting, it might cause confusion with the hand in of the books, patterns and kits along with tombola prizes for the exhibition!!!!!!!
Facebook group & website – The Ash Valley Quilters facebook group is open to members and is an ideal way to chat and connect between meetings. Lindy is the person to speak to if you would like to join our facebook group. The website, http://www.ashvalleyquilters.com has details of the programme for 2025, the events and shows list for 2025 along with a copy of the newsletter.
Last meeting in April – Thank you to everyone who brought in their items for the exhibition, their challenge pieces, tombola prizes all beautifully wrapped and items for the sales table. We all then enjoyed a relaxed evening with friends enjoying our hand sewing projects.
Christine Green - Improv workshop Friday 20th June
Christine has been patchworking since childhood and loves using preloved items for her work. Her style of improvised patchwork is very liberating, creative and mindful – anything goes. The workshop is suitable for experienced quilters and those with less experience too. She will bring lots of samples and you can decide what you would like to make from bag to cushion cover or throw. You will be shown how to create a unique design using a diverse selection of fabric and how to turn your panel into a useful item.
Workshop requirements:
A sewing machine
A 45mm rotary cutter, 6x24 inch quilting rule & A2 cutting mat
Sewing thread for piecing
Thread for hand stitching to embellish your work
Pins and a needle for hand stitching
A selection of preloved fabrics & scraps. A good mix of patterns – something with a
small design, a big design & something formal eg stripes, checks & anything else
you have.
For a bag you will need enough fabric for a lining, for a throw enough fabric for a backing.
Kate Findlay – E-textile lantern workshop Friday 18th July
Make a stunning lamp using lutradur and a variety of decorative effects, then learn how to sew in a circuit to switch on a colour changing LED (light) Kate will bring lutradur sheets, artists paint sticks, acrylics, some brushes, a heat gun and soldering iron, and the components needed to make a sewn electronic circuit with a switch, to light our lamps. She will also bring kits for this project at a cost of £9 each.
Workshop requirements:
Hand sewing kit, needles, pins, scissors etc
Gluestick Craft knife, Ruler, pencil, Cutting mat, Needle nose pliers.
Sewing machine (not essential – but great if you like adding free motion details or
couching decorative ribbons and threads) The branches in the right hand lamp were
freemotion machine stitched, and the houses were outlined with stitch.
Optional extras – bring if you have them:
Watercolours/acrylics/inktense sticks and a few brushes, waterpot and saucer to mix
colours in (Don’t buy in specially – I will have stuff to use too!)
A selection of interesting organzas/sheers/ribbons/threads/beads etc which could be
used as decoration – to be hand or machine sewn on.
Heat gun and/or soldering iron, irons and parchment
Something to see!
From 9th May to 24th July, see Liberty’s amazing Patchwork Collective
supersize patchwork house in celebration of Liberty’s 150th anniversary.
With over 1500 blocks submitted from all across the globe, this
installation is a physical manifestation of the creativity, community,
values and talent that make Liberty, Liberty. The installation can be
found on floor 1 in the East Gallery of Liberty London’s Tudor Halls,
Regent Street, W1B 5AH.
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 2026, 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 2025 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 2025
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January 16th - AGM with fish & chip supper and quiz
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Feb. 8th - Workshop – Exploring your machine stitches
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Feb. 20th - Practical evening
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March 20th - Jennie Rayment – Manipulated Magic & Devious Delights
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March 21st - Jennie Rayment workshop – Tucked up & embellished circles
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April 17th - Sit & Sew
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May 15th - Janet Goddard – Hawaiian Applique
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May 17th & 18th - AVQ Exhibition
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June 19th - Christine Green - Bust the rules and get creative
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June 20th - Christine Green workshop – Improv Patchwork
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July 17th - Kate Findlay – Appliqué birds
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July 18th - Kate Findlay workshop – E-Textile lantern
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Aug. 21st - Summer Evening
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Sept. 18th - Helen Howes – A journey into 3 dimensions
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Sept. 19th - Workshop - Kismet Pyramid Pouch
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Sept. 27th - Workshop – Exploring Log Cabin
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Oct. 12th - Jane Cheshire – My journey into hand stitched quilts
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Nov. 1st - Workshop – Hand stitching
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Nov. 20th - Practical evening
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Dec. 18th - Christmas evening
Other Events in 2025
28 Feb – 2 March Spring Quilt show at Newmarket, Suffolk
20 – 23 March The Stitch Festival, Business Design Centre, London
15 – 18 May Quilt UK at Malvern
17 - 18 May AVQ Exhibition
13 - 14 June Patchwork at Kempton Park Racecourse
31 July – 3 August The Festival of Quilts at NEC, Birmingham
9 – 12 October The Knitting & Stitching Show at
Alexandra Palace, London
17 - 19 October Quilt UK, Malvern
7 - 9 November Autumn Quilt show at Newmarket, Suffolk
Committee
Chair Julie Finbow
Secretary (including Web Site) Terry Millson
Treasurer Lindy McChesney-Tilley
Programme & Workshops Carol McVie & Jacqui Michie
Refreshments Theresa Pye
Raffle (Co-opted members) Georgie Butcher and Erin Laker
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)
