Dear Witches in Stitches followers, you have been neglected for far too long and this instalment is well overdue, but we have been sooooo busy this last month, with all sorts of engagements.

News from England is that the offspring is producing stuffed bears and elephants with his new sewing skills, and occasionally one gets asked for advice… BUT… never, ever have stuffed animals been produced from the needle of Chief Witch and therefore any advice is about as much use as a chocolate cauldron. Also, without the aid of any alcoholic tincture, Chief Witch has managed to slice a hand with a roller cutter. Not once, but twice, in as many weeks. Thankfully the auld potion ointment has worked its magic and all ten digits are back in working order.

Unfortunately, what is not in working order is our Roxie. She’s throwing a bit of a strop and despite a few unrepeatable incantations, she is refusing to play the game. It would appear that she has taken exception to a second set of handlebars (who wouldn’t? you may ask) and therefore our quilting education has so far been limited to stippling and wavy lines. The wonderful team at Pinhole Quilting have not encountered this problem before but have assured us that normal service will be resumed, and we trust that we shall tame the beast and work on pantographs. The quilting production line will be in place before very long as deliveries of waddings, fabrics, backing, and blocks have all been received. Completed quilt tops are stacking up, and we must make headway soon before they topple upon us.

Sew… We have continued to explore every avenue to spread the word. A short article should be in the latest edition of the Ulster Countrywoman, the publication of the W.I. in Northern Ireland, accompanied by one of our first photos of the quilt collection, of which we are so very proud. Current completed stock is at 24, and there are as many more in various stages of completion. We also approached the Sunday Life, and on a very dreary Thursday morning, Chief Stitch and Chief Witch set to entertain the journalist assigned to us. The poor girl hardly knew what she was getting into. We take it as a great compliment when someone tells us that we certainly brightened their day! Glad to have sprinkled a little bit of fairy dust. Then a poor photographer was unleashed. Apparently, it was a toss-up between us and the air ambulance making an appearance – we made sure not to disappoint. The poor guy lives locally and he can’t believe he hasn’t heard of us before now – quite literally! Laughter is so contagious. We were not so keen to be asked to pose sitting in a chair with a quilt across one’s lap – we’re not 90 y’know! Please may it be a more flattering photo that makes the cut.

Movilla Abbey Church also facilitated another two sew-in events which were a great success. We have pieced so many quilt tops and enjoyed a wonderful tutorial by Judith Hollies on constructing scrappy blocks. Let’s face it, we all have scraps. One thing we learned was that we all appear to find it extraordinarily difficult to let go of the urge to Be-In-Control, and instead create random blocks. Is this a female thing I wonder? We all have favourite fabrics, and those we are not keen on, but wonderful things happen when they are stitched together. We are reliably informed that this style of quilt top is ever popular by our young care leavers, so everyone made an effort to master it – well, almost everyone! No one was more surprised than us with scrappy triangle blocks producing such unique bright quilt tops and we love the fact that there is a little bit of every one of us in these creations. These sewing dates also provided a great opportunity to meet and make new friends and to showcase some of the finished quilts so the search is now on to find alternative venues and dates across the province.

And sew, we look forward to events to come. Looming very quickly on the calendar is the Quilt Fayre to be held in the Stormont Hotel this coming weekend. Karen of Fiddlesticks Fabrics in Ballymena has generously offered to spread the Q4CL word for us, by distributing information and pattern packs to customers. Tickets have been acquired for the opening day, and we shall be sure to make the most of a morning trip. Why cut the day short you wonder? Because your Witches in Stitches are finally going on a proper road trip, and we are booked on the overnight ferry to England to finally meet up with those in the know at Q4CL. We are headed for a rural idyll in Derbyshire, where we are assured Chocolate, Gin and Wine will definitely be on the menu, and may form the greater calorific intake for a couple of days. So we shall make the most of it, spread a little Norn Irish craic, and this double act may never be invited again!

We promise to make a full post-retreat report, with all names withheld to protect the innocent. Until then, Happy Stitchin’