Please note that this months meeting will be on 17 May 2025 and will be followed by our AGM.
March 2025 Meeting Summary
A community united with creativity at the latest meeting last Saturday. As always, the room buzzed with the joyful hum of shared passion, the vibrant hues of countless fabrics. This month’s gathering was a testament to the enduring appeal of patchwork and the warm, welcoming spirit of our members. From seasoned quilters to enthusiastic newcomers, everyone found something to inspire them.
This month, I was privileged to be the guest speaker, I gave an informal presentation on the history of English Paper Piecing and my journey in developing this technique. Patchwork Plus provided a wonderful display of fabrics at the pop-up shop.
Of course, no meeting is complete without our beloved “Show and Tell.” This month’s display was a kaleidoscope of talent. Cathrine Ryan’s quilt was a beautiful mix of colours and incorporated embroidered names. There were more charity quilts and Joanne Harrington had completed an ice blue carpenters star. It was not only quilts on show but 2 bags and a Jacket. I am always astounded at the array of different projects on display and the mass of talent that is shared by members. The open sharing of knowledge and the genuine appreciation for each other’s work creates such a positive and supportive environment.
Following the meeting a group of members stayed to enjoy an afternoon workshop with me and started to construct a quilted jacket of their own. Every participant used a different colour pallet and an assortment of different patchwork blocks. Over the coming month we will see a fashion parade of vibrate and gifted members on our very own IPS fashion parade.
This month’s meeting was a warm celebration of creativity and community. The Irish Patchwork Society continues to be a haven for quilters of all levels, and I’m looking forward to our next gathering on 12 April. Until then, happy stitching!
February 2025 Summary
The Irish Patchwork Society’s Southern branch recent meeting was a resounding success, drawing a fantastic crowd of over 50 members. It was especially heartwarming to welcome some new faces to the group for the first time. These newcomers were in for a treat, experiencing firsthand the vibrant and supportive community that the IPS fosters. The energy in the room was palpable, with members sharing projects, exchanging tips, and simply enjoying the company of fellow quilting enthusiasts.
New members and seasoned quilters alike were captivated by a fascinating presentation by Tomomi McElwee. Tomomi, of Slaney Quilting Studio. She brought along a stunning collection of her quilts, showcasing her unique approach to working with shape and colour. Her quilts weren’t just beautiful; they told stories. Tomomi’s ability to develop a narrative through her designs truly inspired the audience, offering fresh perspectives and creative inspiration. It was a privilege to see her work up close and learn about her creative process.
The creativity continued with the show and tell segment. Members displayed a wonderful array of their own projects, demonstrating the diverse range of styles and techniques being explored within the group. From intricate piecing to innovative use of colour and texture, the talent was truly impressive. For the new attendees, it was a fantastic introduction to the possibilities of patchwork and quilting.
A special thanks also goes out to Tomomi McElwee’s Slaney Quilting Studio for her wonderful pop-up shop. The diverse selection of fabrics proved a huge hit, providing inspiration and materials for quilters of all skill levels. From vibrant prints to subtle textures, there was something to tempt every taste and project.
Join us for our next meeting on March 8th. Clare Newell will be our guest speaker, and Patchwork Plus will provide the pop-up shop. We look forward to seeing you there!
Coming up at this weeks meeting
The next meeting is on Saturday 8th February. We are so lucky that Tomomi McElwee is coming down from Co Carlow. She is bringing her shop and will also give a talk about working with scraps and how she improvises her designs. I am sure she will have some wonderful quilts to show us.
We would love to see all your latest creations in show and tell.
Date: Saturday 8th November
Venue: Sacred Heart Church Hall.
Door Opens: 10am
Door fee for members: €4
Door fee for non-members: €8
Shop : Slaney Quilt Designs
Talk: Tomomi McElwee
Show and Tell: Please bring you latest creations
Raffle: Only 5 Euro a stripCoffee and Tea : Provided but please bring some of your goodies to tempt us. Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday.
January 2025 Summary
The ice and snow of the past week had melted allowing many of us to gather for our first meeting of the year and a warming welcome was received by all.
It was interesting to find out how little, or how much, members had been able sew over the Christmas period and I think we are all happy to look forward to a productive year ahead.
Moya from Patchwork Plus hosted the pop-up shop, and as always had a lovely selection. She also gave a very informative talk detailing some of the different needles and pins that are available and some of the best brand. She then went on to discuss the different types of batting, discovering the difference in quality, weight and overall affect when quilted was really helpful.
Show and tell as always saw a wide range of work, including a hexagonal quilt made by Heidi from scraps of tweed. Jane O’Brien made a wonderful quilt with silk, Tracy Wardle’s robin cushion was exquisite, and Cathy Davis showed a wonderful reversible sashiko bag.
Patchwork Plus are hosting a big clearance sale this month. From 20th to 27th January there will be lots of bargains to be had. The shop is open by appointment only so please call to arrange a visit on 087 7986972 or email patchworkplus@gmail.com
Our next meeting will take place on 8th February, all welcome.
January 2025 meeting
Happy New Year to you all.
The first meeting of the year will take place this Saturday 11 Jaunary in the hall of the Sacred Heart Church, Western Road, Cork from 10:00 to 12:30. Eircode T12 CA34. Hope to see you there.
December 2024 Summary
The season of fun and festivities was well and truly underway at Saturday’s meeting. A group of around 50 members came together to celebrate all things quilting. Our cakes team provided some delicious home-baked goodies, which went down very well with the hot drinks and chat. Many participated in the Christmas decoration swap, which was a huge success. The range of different decorations was extensive, from decoupage oyster shells to a pink knitted festive chicken (which everyone seemed to want); they all created a wonderful display.
We were blessed to have Ann Prendergast once again as quiz master. All the questions were quilt-related and it definitely brought out the competitive nature of our members. As the rounds progressed, it became a tight race to the lead. We clearly have many exceptionally knowledgeable quilters as there were 5 teams tied for second place.
Our next meeting will be on Saturday 11 January 2025. Doors open at 10am.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members, followers, and friends a happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year.
November 2024 Summary
This was our annual open meeting where non-members are invited to attend and discover the benefits of joining the IPS. The meeting was well attended by members who were eager to welcome several newcomers who were able to see a variety of projects that were on display and learn from members who were demonstrating several different projects, including festive table runners and scrap busters.
Last year the branch organized a fabric swap at the November meeting, it was so successful that it was decided to repeat the swap again at this months meeting. The swap shop took place so that scraps and unwanted fabric in our stashes could be traded and donations made for charity.
October 2024 Summary
A great autumn meeting was held this month with members sharing tips, tricks and techniques in a variety of different stitching methods.
The pop-up shop was hosted by Moya from Patchwork Plus and as usual she bought a lovely selection with her.
November’s meeting will take place on Saturday the 9th. This will be an open meeting for non -members to come along and find out more about the wonderful craft that is patchwork and quilting. All are welcome to join us for tea, coffee and cake and to discover more. Doors open at 10am.
Southern Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society 