Friendship Blocks

Every few years, Pioneer Quilters decide to do a friendship block exchange.  Each participant selects a block she'd like to have made for her by the others, and commits to make a block of their choice for each of them. 

The person whose month it is selects her block size and theme or pattern.  She can choose to provide all, some or none of the fabric.  She gives written  instructions and anything else the participants might need.  Sometimes there's a sample block we can look at.

Last spring and summer, members began talking about starting another friendship block exchange.  "It's time," one longtime member told me, when "we have forgotten how hard or stressful the last one was."  Participation is totally optional.  This round, 20 people are signed up, roughly half of our group.  What an adventure--each month is something different,  sometimes stretching our creativity and/or skill level.  It's so fun to see the completed blocks as they are brought in.  And they do trickle in at times, because, well, life is like that.  

Here are some blocks from the first months of our current exchange, which started in September:

Jeanne's tulips:
This block was one of our raffle blocks a few years ago.  Look at the April 20, 2015 blog entry about raffle blocks to see one interesting way of setting them.

Ann's pomegranates:

Robin's crazy quilt:

Block detail

 

Carol's Mariner's Compass:

Wanda's Celtic:

  

Caren's Prince's Feathers:




Blocks for Denise show us what snow people do when we're not watching.  On the right, you get a glimpse of some of the 49 Dresden Plate blocks that we're raffling off during the show.  

Here are photos of several of our quilts made from friendship blocks in previous exchanges:

 I asked our group to share any photos they might have of Friendship Block quilts from the past.  I'm delighted to say that four organized women came forward and showed me photos of many quilts, blocks and instructions from previous exchanges, going back decades.  Thank you Louise, Carol, Joyce and Ann!  What fun it's been to see this piece of Pioneer Quilters' history. 

Detail:

Weekly Show and Tell

Pioneer Quilters have been meeting for a few hours every week since the 1970s.  Our main focus is hand quilting quilts our members have made, but there is so much more!  

One of my favorite perks is Show and Tell.  Every week we have a mini-show of usually just-finished quilts, as we enjoy our coffee and snacks.  Some of these will be in our 2017 show for you to see in person.  Others might be in the 2018 show, or are already in the homes of a person they were made for.  Enjoy looking at these special treats!

 The Hat Shop; Denise's friendship blocks from a 1998 exchange.

Also Denise's.

 Lois's Table runner.

You'll be able to see Pat's Christmas quilt at our show.

 Susan's project was worked on mainly at retreats

Caren made this year's En Provence mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter.  Lois's quilt in the frame.

Jodie made this Pomegranate Quilt with her friendship blocks from the previous Friendship Block exchange, and we hand quilted it a few years later.

A One Block Wonder quilt using African fabrics, made by Susan who has shared the technique in classes with other Pioneer Quilters.

A One-Block Wonder by Jamie

Here's Joyce's.

And this one is by Beth.

Sue's dragon quilt--a gift for a grandson moving up to a big boy bed.

Sue's Double Irish Chain crib quilt for her granddaughter.

Carol's Christmas quilt--blocks by others.

 Beth's Friendship Blocks--Sunbonnet Sue Goes to the Fair.  Quilted by Pioneer Quilters.  Did you see us working on this one at our 2016 show?  And the photo on our 2017 show poster?

Charter member and one of four founders of Pioneer Quilters, Louise shares a vintage Crescent and Star quilt handed down in her family.  It was made by her mother-in-law Leola Prudence Patterson Smith in the 1950s, and then her husband's sister-in-law put the blocks together.

 Detail

 Incredibly, Ann has hand-appliquéd two quilts in this pattern! 

Butterfly Garden by Denise, our 2017 featured quilter.

 Mary talks about her floral quilt.

 Raffle blocks won by Denise's friend. Assembled by Denise, quilted for her turn at the frame by Pioneer Quilters.

Winding Ways by Sue, a Georgetown Law School graduation gift for her son.

Batik Winding Ways wall hanging by Sue, made for our Travel Square Challenge in 2014.

And Queen-sized batik Winding Ways by Sue, a wedding gift for her daughter and son-in-law.

After being shown, the quilts are draped over chairs so we can look at them up close.

Robin longarm-quilted this for her client Beryl, with original designs in the appliqué circles as well as careful work around the herons.

 Caren personalized her Pioneer Quilters apron for the show.

Jean's friendship blocks from a few years ago.  Best viewed with your left ear on your shoulder.

 Sandy celebrates Halloween!

What fun, eh?  This is just a sampling of the delightful and beautiful creations of our group.  The April 2017 show will have 111 quilts by our members and others in the community, plus 10 beauties by our featured quilter, Denise.  Please join us at the Lane County Historical Museum, April 25-30.

It's next month

Every year it seems we've barely packed up the previous show when Pioneer Quilters begin preparations for the next year's Unbroken Thread Show.  The show chair recruits people to head the various committees, and they all start planning.

We've got a great show planned for you this year.  Over the next month, I hope to be tantalizing you with details.  For now, just keep in mind that there will be:

• Over 100 quilts made by Pioneer Quilters and others 
• A talented featured quilter, with her own display of quilts
• Daylong hand quilting of a quilt in the frame
• Daily speakers
• Twice-daily demonstrations 
• Charming items for sale in the gift shop, handmade by members of our Boutique Committee.

Join us at The Lane County Historical Museum on 13th at Jefferson, Tuesday April 25th to Sunday, April 30.  10--4 daily.