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March Block Lotto — Granny Squares

Granny Squares

For our March block, we’re going old school with Granny Squares! These blocks are simple to make but can have a big impact. We found a tutorial that makes a 9″ unfinished block using 2 1/2″ squares.

Here are the details:

  • For the fabric on the outside edges, use solid white
  • For the fabric surrounding the X use solid black
  • For the X fabric, us bright, bold colors – solids or prints

Here is the Mama Sparks tutorial:

https://mamaspark.blogspot.com/2012/04/granny-square-and-tutorial.html

As a reminder, these blocks will be turned in at the April 2023 meeting and the lotto is open only to current, paid members.

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February Block Lotto — The Arrow

For our February block, we’re making a super easy block that can make a big impact. The Arrow block is so easy to make, you’ll want to make more than one!

The block comes from a blog post at Riley Blake Designs, and is simply a Flying Geese unit and a rectangular Rail Fence unit.

The Flying Gees unit measures 3.5″ x 6.5″ – Use your preferred method for piecing these. The Rail Fence unit measures 3.5″x6.5″. For each segment of the Rail Fence, cut three 2.5″x3.5″ rectangles – two background rectangles and one main fabric rectangle. Sew these rectangles together to make the Rail Fence unit. Then sew the two units together to make an arrow. This block will measure 6.5″x6.5″ unfinished


— For the arrow fabrics, use bright rainbow colors, solid or small prints.
— For the background, use low-volume from white to cream.

One Arrow equals one entry in the Block Lotto

On the Riley Blake Design blog, they made a cute pillow with nine arrows. Here’s the link to that blog post:

https://blog.rileyblakedesigns.com/make-it-modern-pillows-april-tutorial/

As a reminder, these blocks will be turned in at the March 2023 meeting and the lotto is open only to current, paid members.

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Spring Retreat 2023 — Updated with COVID Safety Protocol

Our spring retreat is happening March 2–5, 2023 at the FFA Leadership Center in Trafalgar, Indiana, starting at 9 AM on Thursday and ending at 2 PM on Sunday. We’ll have the entire Fellowship Hall space to ourselves for sewing, socializing, snacks, and shenanigans! There is space for 13 overnighters to have their own beds and 8 single-day retreat-goers on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.

Registration for retreat is now closed. If you are interested in attending, please contact the retreat committee.

We are asking attendees to assist us with the planning of the retreat. After submitting your payment, you’ll be taken to a form to answer a few quick questions— the second page has the details about the snack swap for full retreat attendees.

To keep members as safe as possible while we are eating, sleeping, sewing, and laughing in a communal space, the IMQG board has decided on the following protocol to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All attendees must do the following:
— Be able to show up-to-date records for COVID vaccination according to the CDC, which generally includes a bivalent booster shot.
— Test for COVID infection before attending the retreat, at least the morning of their first day of attendance. Testing a few times in the two weeks before the event is encouraged, especially if there has been a suspected (or known!) exposure. Antigen tests done at home are acceptable. Many insurance plans reimburse for at-home tests or provide them free of charge.
— Skip attending the retreat if they test positive within 10 days of their arrival. The guild will refund your money and miss seeing you but there’s always next time!
— Be willing to make concessions for others’ safety if they are experiencing symptoms of a cold or other contagious respiratory illness (e.g., wear a surgical mask when not eating or drinking, sleep separately). This is especially courteous during a cold & flu season when many people have weakened immunity to other infections after experiencing COVID.
— Test for COVID infection 3–7 days after attending the retreat and share the results with the other attendees.

Thank you for caring about others enough to take these measures!