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
was 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. 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
August 2026
Thursday 20 August– Pearl party celebration. We look forward to welcoming you all,
doors will open at 7pm. Do please bring along an item that you are proud of or particularly enjoyed making in the last 30 years. Wearing of pearls is optional!!!!
Thursday September 17 – Angela Daymond – Dyeing From a Natural World. Angela’s talk covers her experiences of dyeing from plants, trees, vegetables and so much more from the natural world. You will hear about the many different ways to collect plants to dye with and techniques used to apply the colour and get texture into the fabric and threads.
Friday September 18 – Angela Daymond – Kantha Block Printed Hare workshop –During this workshop you will combine the centuries old techniques of Indian wooden block printing and kantha stitching. The sign up sheets will be available at the August meeting and the requirements list is below:
Angela will have a range of Indian wooden printing blocks for you to use on the day. We all will use blue fabric paint to avoid any cross contaminations of colour which Angela will supply along with sundries including the hare pattern for £1 per person on the day.
Metric fat quarter of white or pale background fabric
Two layers of cotton muslin (or thin wadding/cotton flannel etc) the same size as your fat quarter
A3 piece of freezer paper (the type that has a shiny side that sticks to fabric with heat)
Sellotape
Tacking thread
Pins
Perlé 12 thread in navy blue (or stranded embroidery floss)
Needles to match your threads
Scissors for paper and threads
Pencil
Table covering, irons, ironing board and greaseproof paper will be available at the workshop along with freezer paper and muslin for anyone who needs it.
Sign up sheets for this workshop will be at the August meeting.
Saturday 10 October– In house workshop – Blocks and Beyond (4) The last of the workshops, the last of the blocks ideas for using the blocks and finishing projects.
Thursday 15 October– Aruna Mene – Fabric Collages – Aruna’s collages and craft works, produced from scraps of fabrics and textile waste with embellishments, convey the joy of living, optimism and celebrate life and are inspired by the enchanting natural world, travel to exotic destinations, humanity, and her work as a Histopathologist.
Thursday 19 November– Mary MacIntosh – From trash to treasure A talk about Mary’s use of recycled materials to create textile art which will be illustrated with lots of examples.
Friday 20 November– Mary MacIntosh - Playing with Pojagi - Using machine piecing to create a double-sided stained glass inspired hanging using the Korean Pojagi technique but with a modern twist. Choice of three designs and lots of colourways. Materials provided for £15 payable to Mary on the day. The sign up sheets will be available at the August meeting.
Thursday December 17– Christmas evening
Workshops – Do look at the upcoming workshops.
- If you have queries about the workshops please ask Jacqui or another committee member.
- If you would like to attend a workshop do add your name (or remove it if you can no longer make it).
- Cost of workshops are: Speaker led £30 for members and £35 for visitors, in-house workshops £15 for members and £20 for visitors.
Carpark - Please don’t forget all drivers who park in the hall carpark must register their car on the system inside the hall to avoid any fines for using the hall carpark.
Mugs and name tags – Please bring these with you to the meeting!
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 2026, the events and shows list for 2026 along with a copy of the newsletter.
Event at Chelmsford Cathedral – They will be hosting ‘Threads through
Creation by Jacqui Parkinson Textile Artist’. Friday, 4th September to Wednesday,
7th October. Tickets are free but booking is recommended. A couple of links
https://www.jacqui-textile.com/bible/#dates and
https://www.chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk/events/event/threads-through-creation
Last meeting in July – Fiona Rose gave a riveting talk on the life of May Morris a
fascinating and a remarkable woman.
Shows and events:
22 August – 23 Sept Alexander Kingswell quilt exhibition at Ely Cathedral
4 September – 7 October Threads through Creation by Jacqui Parkinson Textile Artist at Chelmsford Cathedral
10 Sept – 11 July 2027 Bayeux tapestry is at the British Museum
(Tickets £33 available from 1 July)
8 – 11 October Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace
16 - 18 October Quilt UK, Malvern
5 - 7 November Autumn Quilt show at Newmarket
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 2026 annual membership fee is £30.00. This is reviewed each year at our AGM. Visitors are charged £5.00 per meeting and members £3.00.
Our speaker workshops £30 for members and £35 for visitors, and in house workshops £15 for members and £20 for visitors.
Programme for 2026
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January 15th - AGM with fish & chip supper and quiz
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Feb. 14th - Workshop – Blocks & Beyond (1)
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Feb. 19th - Practical evening
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March 19th - Ginny Edwards – Quilts for charity
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March 28th - Jane Cheshire workshop – Stitching a Journey
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April 16th - Liza Jones - Bullet Bra Comeback
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May 16th - Workshop - Blocks & Beyond (2)
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May 21st - Sit and Sew/Project evening
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June 18th - Warner Textile Museum, Braintree - Museum Quilts
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June 20th - Bias/Stained Glass Workshop (in-house)
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July 11th - Workshop - Blocks & Beyond (3)
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July 16th - Fiona Rose - The Work of May Morris
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Aug. 20th - A Birthday Celebration
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Sept. 17th - Angela Daymond - Natural Dyeing
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Sept. 18th - Angela Daymond Workshop - Block Printed Hare
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Oct 10th - Workshop – Blocks & Beyond (4)
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Oct. 15th - Aruna Mene - Fabric Collages
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Nov. 19th - Mary McIntosh - From Trash to Treasure
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Nov. 20th - Mary McIntosh workshop - Playing with Pojagi
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Dec. 17th - Christmas evening
Other Events in 2026
26 - 28 February Spring Quilt show at Newmarket
19 – 22 March Stitch Festival, Business Design Centre, London
14 – 17 May Quilt UK at Malvern
30 July – 2 August The Festival of Quilts at NEC, Birmingham
8 – 11 October Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace
16 - 18 October Quilt UK, Malvern
5 - 7 November Autumn Quilt show at Newmarket
Committee
Chair Julie Finbow
Vice-chair Terry Millson
Minute Secretary Theresa Pye
Treasurer Lindy McChesney-Tilley
Programme & Workshops Carol McVie & Jacqui Michie
Website & Social Media Erin Laker
Refreshments Theresa Pye
Co-opted Louise Speak
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)
