Seams Hard to Me - June Meeting
We uncovered the possibilities of 3 challenging seams, and tested out the process in our hands on presentation.
Renewals
Reminder that July is the start of our membership year, which makes June our renewal month. Go in the members only area and use the link to renew and pay online through zeffy. If you don’t want to pay online, you can still bring a check to the meeting. ~Renewing members should use the “Renew” button in the Members-Only portion of the website. Please do not use the “Brand New Member” link on Zeffy. A reminder email will be going out soon with all of the information. Zeffy may send an automated reminder.
Year-long membership : $55 Returning members & renewals: $55
Treasury
We just had a wonderful retreat in May. Although it is not a money-making venture, we did turn a small profit of $119. The full Treasurer’s Report will be at the July Meeting.
Program - Challenging Seams
Our program topic was challenging seams and how to accomplish them. Our members gave 3 presentations and then we broke out to hands-on testing of the 3 types with machines. We used the old room setup for this, and we will go back to the new setup next week. It really highlights how much easier it is to hear in the new room setup on the left.
Curved Seams - Cheryl
Mitered Seams - Connie
Y~Seams - Cheralee
Curved Seams
Cheryl covered curved seams and the tools you need to construct them. They are a step up from a straight seam and worth the challenge for their design possibilities. The addition of fabric stiffener and the consideration of bias will aid you in confidently constructing curved seams.
Mitered Seams
Mitered seams bring together 2 pieces at a 45° angle around a corner. Connie illustrated the options for borders, frames, and binding that you uncover with a mitered join. Just that small change in your quilt design can change the entire character and enhance your design.
Y-Seams
Cheralee led us through the construction of y seams, where 3 pieces are joined together at a point. These can be at any angle. Marking and precise sewing turn these seams from hard to easy.
Q2 Challenge Due in July
Our theme is Patriotism! What does that look like for you?
Due by the July 2026 meeting in honor of the big 2-5-0!
Blocks - 1 ticket, Quilt tops - 5 tickets, Completed Projects - 10 tickets.
No limits!
Free Table
We’re going to try to limit the Free Table to a short amount of time each meeting. At the end of the Fellowship period, all items should be removed. Do not leave things on the table for leadership to dispose of. If this continues to be an issue, the Free Table will only be permitted at Sew Days.
Show and Tell
MQG Charity Quilt
If you were interested in the committee or designing you got an email from Christi to sign up for a meeting time and a meeting invite link. Please contact her if you were trying to be on the committee and didn’t get the meeting invite.
Upcoming Events
Make sure your check out our upcoming activities! See our calendar on the main page of the website. (Click our logo and scroll down.)
Thursday, 6/18, 6-8 pm Shaler North Hills Library Social Night
1822 Mt. Royal Blvd Glenshaw, PA 15116
This is a BYOB/BYOS(nacks) situation ;) We're in the library this month and hanging out. Bring handwork, or not. Stay the whole time, or not. Parking on-site.
https://shalerlibrary.org/location/visit/
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Sunday, July 12, 2026, 1-4 pm Millvale
July's program will all about HSTs and HRTs! (That's Half-Square Triangles and Half-Rectangle Triangles.) We're going to cover the math involved in sewing a pair of HSTs and then how to sew multiples at a time. We're going to cover directional fabric and how to orient your marking lines to the intended outcome. We'll also cover proper trimming techniques. Then, we're jumping over to HRTs and how they differ from HSTs. HRTs are a bit more finicky, with longer bias edges and specific trimming techniques for successful points in your finished block.
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Tuesday, 7/28, 6-8pm Dormont Public Library Social Night
2950 W Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15216
This is a BYOB/BYOS(nacks) situation ;) We're in the library this month and hanging out. Bring handwork, or not. Stay the whole time, or not. There is a parking lot across the street and limited street parking, according to the librarians.
www.dormontlibrary.org
Charity Quilting - April 2026
Our program for April was on Charity Quilting. The opening questions was “Why do we quilt for others?”
Cheralee led us in a thoughtful discussion about the considerations we make when we quilt.
She asked us Do you prefer group projects or going solo?; Does having a connection to the charity affect your sewing?; Do you like strict guidelines or like to design your own projects?; When all is said and done, what is your hope for your charity project?
Members shared their thoughts about these ideas. We then reviewed our guild’s quilts over the years for the MQG Community Outreach Quilts and other donated quilts. We reviewed the various ways we have done them, from solo designed to commercial pattern, and group efforts compared to small group.
Our membership is very passionate and has a variety of approaches. While some expressed the idea that “quilts should be used,” others shared that maybe they don’t expect people to use artistic quilts, but they are harder to donate to an organization that will reap the greatest benefit.
While this could be a contentious topic for some, our members approached it in the friendly way we’ve come to expect. What came through is that no matter how we create our charity quilts, everyone is taking the job seriously and putting their best intentions and efforts into it. Our members do not cut corners.
Detail from the Medallion Quilt
Cheralee also brought the quilt she bought at QuiltCon, and we evaluated it on it’s own merits, and against the QuiltCon parameters. We got to see another guild’s quilt in person and really appreciate the different approach to the Medallion theme.
We’ll review the ideas members bring to the June meeting for this year’s MQG Community quilt.
Show and Tell
Q1 Challenge - Mulligan
January Annual Meeting
Annual meeting: officer elections, ticket drawing, retreat sign up, special Girl Scout Silver Award presentation.
Community Presentation
Cadet Scout Lillie with her service project reusable sanitary napkins and supplies for volunteer sewists.
Our meeting opened with a presentation from Lillie. Lillie is a Girl Scout Cadet. She is working on her Silver Award. Her project is engaging the community about period poverty, where some people are disproportionately affected by the circumstances of menstruation.
Our meeting opened with a presentation from Lillie. Lillie is a Girl Scout Cadet. She is working on her Silver Award. Her project is engaging the community about period poverty, where some people are disproportionately affected by the circumstances of menstruation.
Period Action Day was October 11, 2025. More than 2 million people in Pennsylvania menstruate. One in seven are below the poverty line.
There are 21 states with tax exemptions for menstrual products. They are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid because they are deemed non-essential.
Lillie’s call to action is to create reusable sanitary napkins from the Days for Girls pattern. She is providing materials. The products will be distributed in conjunction with West View Urban Farm.
General Quilting Business
There will be a Southwestern shop hop this year. Local southwest PA shops will be participating. Look for future announcements with details.
Brandywine Valley Quilt Guild has an open submission for their 2026 quilt show. America the Beautiful is their challenge theme. Enter here by April 1st for America the Beautiful and April 15th for their judged show.
Show and Tell
Q4 Challenge
Leadership Elections
Running for the following positions
President - Connie Davies-McFadden
Programs - Cheralee Stover
Treasurer - Christi Welter
Membership - Bernadette Kovac
Social Media - Jennifer Mack
There were no further nominees.
Final Results
38 yes no dissent.
Financials
We added several new members as well as had generous donations to offset the expected shortfall in the 2025/2026 budget. We also had our Jeni’s fundraiser in December.
While we show a surplus now, we expect to pay the MQG at the new rate for 71 members. The remaining funds will go towards meeting space, nominal banking fees to update our address and checks, as well as programming for June. If possible, speakers are planned in April. Our website renews in June, too.
We hope to do another Jeni’s fundraiser and 1-2 small workshops this spring, too.
Quarter 1 Challenge 2026 - Mulligan
Here’s your chance to earn credit for any UFOs you have from previous challenges! If you missed the deadlines, we want to encourage your past efforts. If you don’t have any UFOs, you’re welcome to try out any previous challenge that strikes your fancy. It’s all about getting things done and trying new things in 2026. (This doesn’t apply to completed projects that you brought in for Show & Tell after the initial deadline.)
Tickets:Block -1, Top -5, Completed Project-10 No Limit!
Ticket Drawing
The winner of our ticket drawing was Bernadette. Congratulations!
