Gail Bayly, our Community quilts Co-Ordinator,  along with other members of WAQA had a very busy year, making and giving generously, to those less fortunate in our community.

Each year WAQA members sew Christmas placemats.  These placemats are distributed to many organisations including nursing homes, refuges and meals on wheels.  In November and early December 2017,  306 placemats were delivered.  This was a record number.

Throughout the year donated Christmas fabrics, together with wadding strips too narrow for joining for a quilt, are collected and saved until October.  Members then make placemats of a designs of their choosing.  Designs are many and varied.  Some are strippy, other made of traditional patchwork blocks, mile-a-minute blocks and some with a medallion centres.  Designs often evolve from the choice of available fabrics.

Christmas placemats are made 18” by 12” as this size fits most meal trays. There is some variance and leeway in this size.  They are three layered with joined together strip wadding scraps in the centre.

A very grateful thank you to the many members who provided their time and skills to brighten others Christmas this year.

A very small selection of the lovely placemats that were made and donated.

On a finishing note, it is always lovely though not expected, to receive a letter of thanks and this comes from Graeme Anderson,  who is the Food Services Co-Ordinator at Stirling Community Care

“Sending you all our customers thanks for the lovely placemats, they were as some said a welcome surprise, an unexpected gift that they will gladly use at Christmas.

Thank you from all of the staff and volunteers at City of Stirling Food Services, for making time to generously donate these placemats.

Wishing all your members a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year”.

Thanks again to all our lovely members who sew generously to give to others.