Our key speaker this month is Marlene Wymenga from Pastime Pieces in Blenheim, Ontario. Her shop specializes in wool and fabric kits, bock-of-the-month and embroidery projects.
She enjoys designing patterns for wool applique projects.
Our guild thoroughly enjoyed seeing her trunk show. 
Below you will find Marlene's beautiful quilts, embroidery work and especially her wool applique designs.
Thank you for a lovely presentation.

 IN THE Fun with Fusibles 
​with
Deb Gorman-Smith

​There are many manufactured fun fibres available to make appliqueing easier or add texture or dimension to your work. Please ensure you read manufacturers' instructions carefully. Also, read the instructions for your project as some patterns have the images already mirror image or you may need to reverse them to have the image as shown on the pattern.

Similar products are called by different names depending on the manufacturer. The two-sided fusible used for appliqueing is called Wonder Under by Pellon or Steam-A-Seam 2 by The Warm Company.
Dritz’s product is called Stitch Witchery in a tape and HTC manufactures Stitch Witchery on the bolt and is slightly different.
There is also MistyFuse which is very similar. To learn more about the plethora of products available and their suggested uses, visit the companies ' websites:
• Pellon – www.pellonprojects.com
• The Warm Company – warmcompany.com/warmproductportfolio/
• Dritz – handicraft.com/collections/adhesives-tape
• HTC – htc-retail.com
Pellon has an awesome website with lots of information on their products. Under Products tab you can select Interfacing and find:
• Crafts and Home Decor
• Quilting • Fusible Web and Adhesives
• Embroidery
Or select Batting for:
• Cotton, Naturals and Blends
• Polyester Stitch-It Central has many products by the meter.

FabricLand has products by the meter as well as many prepackaged options.

Product differences:
Both Steam-a-Seam and Wonder-Under are purchased on a parchment-like paper. These products are opaque. SAS2 is approximately twice as thick as SAS2 Lite. If you require heavy adhesion this is the product; however, it is difficult to stitch through. SAS2 is pressure sensitive so you can temporarily adhere it to your work and it will stay in place before permanently attaching with heat.
Wonder-Under is also available in two weights or thicknesses. It usually comes with only one paper so your adhesive side is exposed right away. Also, it is not as “sticky” to the feel as SAS2 and therefore, will not pressure or temporary adhere to your project. Either of these products are not restricted to use with fabric. Use it with paper, metal, wood.
Experiment! Tools required:
 iron
 mini iron is very handy
 parchment paper
 non-stick pressing sheet - Fons and Porter Pressing Sheet ( teflon pressing sheet - 11"x17") - Stitch It Central $29.95; June Taylor's Non-Stick Pressing Sheet (18"x18") - Sew Creative $19.95 or Amazon $27.31;
Dritz Non-Stick Pressing Sheet (18"x18") - Fabricland $27.89  ironing board or portable ironing surface

How to: Lite Steam-A-Seam is perfect for appliqueing onto fabrics. It is referenced with a 2 as the fusible web has a protective paper on either side of it. One side, normally the piece without any grid or other markings, can be easily removed. Trace your design onto the paper side that is firmly affixed. Note when you apply your fabric you will have the mirror image of the design. Some patterns will state if the design is already mirror-image. If not and it is important to you, trace from the backside of the pattern page. Cut out your traced design leaving about 1/8 to ¼ of an inch around your pencil lines. You can remove the protective paper either before or after cutting the steam-a-seam. Press the design onto the back side of your fabric following instructions with product. It is a good idea to have parchment paper between your fabric and iron. Let cool and then with sharp scissors cut out your design.
For detailed step-by-step instructions, visit: https://warmcompany.com/wp content/uploads/2021/11/SAS2-LSAS2-Instruction-Sheet.pdf
​This information is also posted on the TVQG website page Instructions & Tips.
MistyFuse or Stitch Witchery is very fine and almost a web-like product. It can be applied directly to your fabric as it does not have a paper backing with it when purchased. It is recommended for light application such as cotton. You can freeform cut your shape and then adhere it to the fabric. Ensure you place your misty fuse on a non-stick pressing sheet and have either a piece of parchment paper or another non-stick pressing sheet between the fabric and your iron. Trim any product that is remaining on the edges.

Tips for Fusibles: Store in a plastic bag preferably as air-tight as possible. Helps air moisture from making product sticky as well as having threads, pet hairs, etc adhering to it.

Follow manufacturers' instructions!! Do not “iron” your fabric to adhere the fusible product. Press! Lift your iron and place it down on the fabric. This ensures a consistent bond as well as avoiding stretching.
The exception is fusible battings. Use manufacturers recommended times for adhering. Start with the minimum time and then if more is required place iron back on your piece. This avoids over-heating your fusible product and having the glue come through onto the right-side of your fabric. After each time you have fused the adhesive to a piece of fabric, ensure there is not any extra product sticking to your pressing sheets or it may become attached to another piece of fabric or your iron.
Assembling on applique of pressing sheet:
If you want to pre-assemble your applique design before placing it on your fabric, an applique or non stick pressing sheet is perfect. Your pattern can be laid on the ironing board under the transparent sheet. Remove paper backing from all pieces and lay them down on your pressing sheet over their location on the pattern below.. Press lightly with a piece of parchment paper on top. When cool, the entire design will lift off the sheet. The you can adhere the assembled piece onto its location on your work.
Finishing edges: With Steam-A-Seam, your edges will not fray on fibre art. You can either have raw-edged applique, or if you prefer to finish the edges, hand-stitching or machine stitching can used. Use a fine needle in your sewing machine. If you find a bit of the product is sticking to your needle, clean your needle with rubbing alcohol. This can occur if the product has not been completely fused onto the fabric.

STABILIZERS and INTERFACING:
Fusible and non-fusible:
Stabilizers and interfacing are products that are usually placed on the back of your work to provide stability to your fabric for stitching or embroidery work. They can be either fusible or non-fusible and woven or non-woven. Stabilizers are usually removed after the stitching has been completed; whereas, interfacing remains in the garment or fibre art after completion.
There is a great variety of thicknesses available for interfacing and your project will determine which you should use. Also, if making a bag, the pattern will usually recommend the product that should be used. When looking at the end of the bolt, especially with Pellon products, each product has a number and what the product is.
Example: 987F Fusible Fleece. The F defines it is a fusible product but it may be one sided or two-sided.
Ensure you are purchasing the correct product. Normally for making bags, you would want a one-sided fusible.
Karen shared with me that she uses the 2-side fusible to make her decorative bowls. Thanks Karen.
Fusible interfacing is useful for making a t-shirt quilt. Removable stabilizers are called TearAway by Unique or Stitch-N-Tear by Pellon.
​This product is placed on the back of your fabric and then you can machine stitch your design. Simply tear away the stabilizer when stitching is complete.

Freezer Paper: Freezer paper can be used to create own stencil or applique templates. Cut it to letter paper size and put it through your ink-jet printer to print a design on it. Ensure you place it in your paper tray the correct way so the design will be printed on the paper side. Fabric can be pressed on to freezer paper and also fed through your printer to print a design or photo onto the fabric. Ensure your freezer paper and fabric are cut exactly to size and the fabric is attached to the freezer paper. You may need to let it sit for a few hours for the ink to dry before removing your fabric from the paper. Freezer paper can be used many times over. 

Helpful YouTubes:
Comparing Fusible Interfacings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD0C5wzTshcandt=605s

Comparing Fusible Interfacings and Stabalizers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4GkfM9TEyE

How to choose fusible webbing for appliqué https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35NgfVRtGKoandt=140s

Tips and Tricks: My Favorite Fusible Web Products https://youtu.be/Zef6q7WCU4E

Fusible Thread: Fusible thread is manufactured by WonderFil Threads, Superior Threads and YLI. It is a synthetic thread that has a low melting point such that when it is pressed, it liquefies and then cools adhering to the fibres and surrounding surfaces. This thread can be used in the bobbin or on the top spindle of sewing machines or in the looper of sergers or literally placed down on the fabric. Stitch It Central sells Superior for $9.90 a spool.
For detailed instructions visit either : https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2019/12/25/fusible-thread https://www.wonderfil.ca/blog/7-ways-to-use-iron-fusible-thread/6/18/2020
Using the thread in the bobbin for:
• applique
• binding a quilt
• hems (also with a serger)
• curved hem • placing zippers
• crisp pleats or edges
• understitching
• facings
Placing the thread directly on your work for:
• matching stripes, plaids or patterns
• foil or trim application
• adding trim or fine ribbon

Kreinik introduced fusible trim several years ago, but you can also do-it-yourself.
Ensure you use your non-stick pressing sheet.  

.Lisa Hill's trunk Show - "Notion Commotion" was well received by our members.  
She is the sole Canadian vendor for Sassy Sunflower products.  There are patterns and kits that she has available at her store.
Lisa then showed us a variety of notions such as - wool mat cleaners, silicone tools, a variety of seam rippers, the highlight of her notions was the "Glow Ruler

After the break we were shown some of the President's Challenge Row by Row block of the month.  
​Outreach had many placemats donated to the VON in Strathroy and St. Thomas.
The pillowcases are given to Child Can.  These provide comfort to children fighting cancer. 
Outreach will also be donating quilts to the Quilts of Valour program providing wheelchair quilts to local vets.

Mary Rowland, a member of TVQG, demonstrated the use of templates from the library and rulers at our Let's Quilt Day event.
She demonstrated on the use of a ruler to make circles and angles.  Below are some examples of her works.
​Also, Janette Trewartha shared 3 of her projects made from template from the library.
Thank you, ladies, for a wonderful demonstration.

Our first meeting of the year started with a great turn out. 
The executive provided lots of goodies for the members. 

New members registered today, also, and were warmly welcomed.
The slide show on our home page are quilts shown for our Show and Share.  

Committee convenors introduced themselves and shared the what each committee provides for the members.
The Librarian and her assistant have worked over the summer to reorganize the books.  Go check those out.  

The Outreach program collected many quilts, as well as pillowcases and placemats that will be distributed over the year.  Vicki is still looking for someone to help her with this committee.  Please volunteer it will be greatly appreciated.

The workshop of Stupendous Stitching to be held on October 30th has been filled.  

Our president presented a challenge to the guild for the year.  It is a Row of the Month. Each month members will receive a row pattern which will give you the opportunity to use different techniques - ie. piecing, foundation paper piecing, applique.  The website will have a copy to download for the members.  

Our June 12th meeting was our last meeting for this year. 
We brought in a new executive, and said good bye to our current president, Lynda Fox.
Irene Philp is our new president and she presented a gift to Lynda as an appreciation of her dedicated work to the guild this year.

The meeting was also to be a social event.  So the executive decided to have a Strawberry Social and serve up strawberry shortcake for everyone. 

Irene had a game plan for the social.  The executive provided strawberry mug rugs for all. But members had to answer questions that Irene posed to the membership.  If you answered "yes" to any of the questions you were allowed to go and pick a mug rug from the table.  However, if you did answer "yes" to more than one question, you were still only allowed one mug rug.
​Everyone ended up with a prize.

Below is a gallery of some of the Show & Share at the meeting.

Judy Waters was the presenter for the May Let's Quilt Day.
She demonstrated three different techniques for 3D quilts.
One was the Bow Tie, as well as a Dresden Plate with 3D petals, and Yo-Yo's used to embellish the center of flowers in a quilt.
She also gave away some quilting treats to some lucky quilters.

Below are some of our members' Show & Share

Donations to our Outreach Program 
Well done, Ladies!

Today was Market Day at our TVQG meeting. Five vendors from the area came to display their wonderful fabrics and quilt related items

• We had Brenda Miller from the ABQ Sewing Studio in Strathroy. 
• Heather Bell from her studio in West Lorne.
• Marlene Wymenga from Pastime Pieces in Blenheim.
  
• Karen Payton from Kaleidoscope Quilt also displayed her wares of felted wool. 
  
• From Mt. Brydges, Sew Creative's Joan Hilhorst  presented an array of fabrics and notions.

Sew Creative Banner and Joan Hilhorst