Calendar
See the QuiltNSW Calendar for a comprehensive listing of QuiltNSW activities and events.
Community Quilts
Since 1983 Community Quilts has been making and donating quilts on behalf of QuiltNSW. It is a voluntary project where members meet to sew quilts for the community and to date over 2000 quilts have been donated. Our aim is to encourage a more homely atmosphere for others.
On-going commitments are to Royal Far West Children’s Home in Manly and to foster children in NSW. Quilts are also donated to various nursing homes and for raffles to raise money for community organisations.
All quilt tops are made prior to meetings and the quilts are pinned and machine quilted on sewing days which are held monthly. No hand sewing is done due to the ‘utility’ style of the quilts. The quilts require only basic, straight line quilting so no expert knowledge is required. Pinners and machine quilters are warmly welcomed on sewing days.
Members who are unable to attend sewing days but would like to participate in Community Quilts are encouraged to take quilts home to machine quilt. They are single size and not difficult to handle on a domestic machine.
Roslyn Moules, Community Quilts Co-ordinator, may be contacted through the QuiltNSW office.
External Events
QuiltNSW has information booths at various events throughout the year. We are open to having a presence at events, including our Quilt Hoop Display installation – if you are interested in having us at your event, please contact Margy Syrett through the QuiltNSW office (by emailing office@quiltnsw.com).
Friday Showcase
Friday showcase is an informal but informative meeting is held in the QuiltNSW office (Level 5, 276 Pitt Street Sydney) on the first Friday of most months. A QuiltNSW member is invited to speak about his or her quilting experiences and show their quilts. Many of the quilts that are displayed at the showcase are then hung in the office for a month.
We welcome QuiltNSW members and non-members to Friday Showcase. There is a small charge of $5.00 for members and $10 for non-members. This covers the presenter’s out-of-pocket expenses, (as most presenters have to catch a cab into the city laden with all their quilts!) and morning tea.
If you cannot attend the showcase, come to the office and see a wonderful display of quilts.
The presentation of quilts is from 10.00am– 11.30am. Afterwards you are more than welcome to enjoy the library or sit and sew with your friends. The schedule for 2018 is as follows:
2018
- 7 September Pam Russell
- 5 October Southern Quilters
- 2 November Member Show and Tell
2019
- 1 February Rhonda Langhorne
- 1 March Linda Butcher
- 5 April Lorraine Parker
- 3 May Maree Gerbhardt
- 5 July Brenda Gael Smith
- 2 August Issabella Klompe
- 6 September Maureen Teagher
- 4 October Margie Syrett
- 2 November Member Show and Tell
NB There is no Friday Showcase in January, June and December.
Meetings
QuiltNSW meetings are held at Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftsbury Avenue, Burwood. There is plenty of parking at the RSL club and the venue is walking distance from the Burwood Railway Station.
Doors open at 9.30am. The day starts at 10am with an informative demonstration by a QuiltNSW member and shopping with our guest retailer. Library books are also available for loan. Show and Tell commences at followed by a short business meeting and lunch at the club. The meeting resumes at 1pm with a guest speaker and guest member group. Finally the lucky door prizes, block of the month and special notices and we are finished by 3pm. There is plenty of time for socialising and hand sewing is always welcome. Come along and be involved with QuiltNSW – Visitors are most welcome. Please let us know if you are attending a general meeting for the first time.
2018 Meeting Dates
- 6 October Annual General Meeting (AGM) Burwood RSL (visitors welcome)
9.30am-3pm
Suitcase Challenge “Running Away with the Amish” quilts displayed and winners announced.
Sydney Quilt Show 2019 Raffle Quilt revealed
Guest Speaker: Jen Wulff will speak about her just published book, Towns and Trailblazers
Shop: The Stitches Cupboard
- 17 November General Meeting Burwood RSL (visitors welcome)
9.30-3pm
Guest Speaker: Judy Hooworth who will be speaking about An Introduction to looking for Art in Quilts
Shop: TBC
Country and Away Meetings
Every two years, QuiltNSW travels from the city to the country for a country meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet QuiltNSW members around the state as we visit member groups along the way. In 2017, our country meeting was held in Tamworth on Saturday 18 March 2017.
Every other year, QuiltNSW holds a meeting within a day trip from Sydney. In 2018, our Away Meeting was held at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.
Pop Up Sewing Days
An opportunity for members to stitch together while working on their own project. These ‘days’ are often held in fabric stores all over Sydney and surrounds, on random days of the week and usually start around 10am. Numbers are limited so it is essential that your reserve your place by contacting the office. Morning Tea and a lucky door prize are usually included. Not only are these days a lovely way to spend your time but they are a FREE event for individual financial members only.
2018 scheduled pop-up sewing days are listed in our calendar.
Quilt Study Group
The Quilt Study Group exists to promote interest and research into quilting, particularly in New South Wales and is a sub-committee of QuiltNSW. Members are committed to the study of quilts past and present with this study encompassing the social and historical context in which the quilts were made as well as designs, techniques and materials used in both vintage and contemporary quilts.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks organised by the Quilt Study Group commence at 2.00pm – 4.30 pm at Glover Cottages, 124 Kent Street, Millers Point, Sydney. QuiltNSW members $5.00 and non-QuiltNSW members $10.00 per visit. Afternoon tea is provided.
Upcoming Talks
2018
• 20 October 2018– Melinda Smith (Quiltsmith) – “Quilting from Behind the Counter – A Shop Owner’s Perspective Over the Years”. A journey as a quilter, bricks and mortar shop owner , online shop operator and sponsor of prizes at quilt shows – Melinda will also do a show and tell of her quilts.
2019
• 13 July 2019 – Anita Brown – Modern Quilt Movement
• 7 September 2019 – Chris Timmons – How to get young people quilting
Enquiries or bookings, email office@quiltnsw.com.
Sunday Sew-In
The Sunday Sew-in events are a day of sewing (machine and hand) – like a mini-retreat. Bring usual sewing supplies (and machine if desired with powerboard/extension cord), project, lunch and a cup … and quilting questions or tips to shares. We’ll provide irons/ironing boards, morning tea and scrap fabric and instructions for block of the quarter.
The next Sunday Sew-in is still to be confirmed – we will update the calendar as soon as it has been determined. Our most recent event at Government House was spectacular once again! Definitely a memorable experience so if you missed out this year be sure to register early for any future opportunities.
QuiltNSW Retreat: 13/14-16 September 2018
The 2018 QuiltNSW Retreat will be held at the Hunter Valley Hotel Academy in Kurri Kurri, a two hour drive from Sydney in the picturesque Hunter Valley. This venue has ground floor access to accommodation, restaurant and auditorium and is set in tranquil grounds.
Indulge yourself with time for nothing but quilting, eating, drinking, laughing and shopping with other QuiltNSW members. The retreat is very casual and presents an opportunity to visit local quilt and craft shops. The weekend affords opportunities to make new friends, see others’ quilts and techniques and join in with chatting and laughter amongst those who have a common interest in patchwork and quilting.
You can arrive either Thursday 13 September or Friday 14 September and, in each case, stay until Sunday 16 September – full details were in the May issue of The Template. Online bookings are preferred and will be available from Friday 1 June at 10 am via the Online Booking Form. Alternatively, call the QuiltNSW office to book in.
QuiltNSW Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Arterie Stitch In – Sydney Craft Week
Live Demonstration, Craft Up Late, Exhibition
Visitors are invited to bring along their own project to work on and share with others or add some stitches to a quilt being worked on to hang in the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse building at Camperdown. There will also be quilts on display and QuiltNSW members to chat with about patchwork and quilting.
Sydney Craft Week is jam-packed with wonderful activities throughout the week – see Sydney Craft Website
