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 3,300 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, several refuges such as Street Kids and Baptist Church Inner City Refuge 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 held quarterly in the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts which is right next door to the Guild Office. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DECEMBER 2022 FRIDAY SHOWCASE WILL BE IN THE QUILTNSW OFFICE, LEVEL 5, 276 PITT STREET, SYDNEY
The small charge of $5 members and $10 visitors must be paid at the door. Please bring the exact amount. COVID safe conditions for attending Friday Showcase. The guild office will open at 10 am for members and visitors wishing to drop their bags, library books, community quilts to the office.
- Bring a mask to wear when mingling to look at the quilts at the end of the presentation
- It is not expected that there will be any refreshments offered in the office before or after the Showcase.
(There is a very nice café at street level below the office) - The office will be closed while the showcase is underway and will then reopen at the conclusion of the showcase for the changeover of the quilts hanging.
- Some of the above conditions may change at short notice.
- See the Calendar for the proposed Speakers
General Meeting
Next General Meeting
We are pleased to announce that QuiltNSW is returning to:
Club Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftesbury Road Burwood, for our 18th February 2023 General Meeting.
We are also returning to our regular meeting format, with the rooms being open just before 10.am. Our February meeting is a great chance to reconnect with everyone, meet the new committee and find out what QuiltNSW has in store for 2023. Remember to bring along some hand sewing and your Show and Tell to share.
The formal meeting will start at 10.30am, then the Southern Quilters share the 2023 Raffle quilt with everyone. After lunch we will hear from our Guest Speaker, the talented Trish Bowdler ahead of the Lucky Door prize draw, our Show and Tell and other announcements with time to sit and sew while enjoying the company of other members or more shopping before we wrap up for the day.
February’s visiting shop is True Blue Stitches, a relatively new quilting business that is located in North Richmond. There is sure to be something that takes your fancy, that you need or that just has to go home with you. Robyn is planning to bring a wide range of products, fabrics and notions for you to shop. There will be some exciting newly arrived stock and useful notions that we all love.
You can expect some By Annnie products, rulers, woolmats, applique mats, bags and patterns, lights and some lovely scissor sets. There will also be fabric, fat quarters, by the metre and maybe some widebacks, plus a bunch of other simply ‘must have’ products that make our patchwork and quilting so enjoyable.
Trish Bowdler will be our guest speaker. Trish lived in Canberra before retiring and relocating to Sydney, where she joined the Eastwood Quilters. Trish will share her quilting journey with us, tell us about her way of quilting as she shows us some of her beautiful quilts and tells us about her very interesting quilting experiences.
You will be able to see the 2023 Raffle Quilt that was made by Southern Quilters. The wonderful Southern Quilters will be on hand to talk about the quilt, the process and making of the quilt.
The 2022 Celebration Challenge will also be at February’s meeting for everyone to see first hand.
The Library will be available, please contact Roslyn Miller if there is a book you would like to borrow and remember that you can return books at the meeting.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at our first meeting for 2023.
Kathy Lester
Meeting Coordinator
If you have any suggestions for guest speakers or demonstrators, email Meeting Coordinator Kathy Lester.
QuiltNSW travels from the city to the country for a meetings when possible. It is a great opportunity to meet QuiltNSW members around the state as we visit member groups along the way. We look forward to resuming post COVID-19.
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 now, extending to our regional areas, on different days of the week to fit into the schedule. The days usually start around 10am. Numbers are limited so it is essential that you reserve your place. 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.
For the most part, we hold our Pop Up Sewing Days in patchwork stores. If you are a store owner and would like to host a pop up sewing day in your store, please email us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Jenny Chapman, Pop Up Sewing Day Coordinator
Next Pop Up Sewing Day
Venue: Patchwork on Pittwater 1 Mona Vale Road Mona Vale
Date: Saturday 4 March 2023
Time: 10.00 am to 3.00pm
Robyn will be providing morning tea for members and lunch options are available at nearby shops and cafes.
Parking – the best option is next door in the Council Carpark of which the top few levels are free for 8 hours. Just check spaces are not marked 3 hours.
You may bring hand or machine sewing on the day and if you would like to bring along some Show and Tell to share that would be fantastic.
Members are free to attend the day and have a chance to win a lucky door prize to help with purchases on the day. It is a great way to meet other like-minded members and share your projects. Looking forward to meeting you on the day. Bookings are essential
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QuiltNSW Retreat
Details for the 2023 Guild Retreat will be posted here when available. There are two options for the retreat:
- 2 nights/3 days (Friday to Sunday) – Accommodation (Friday/Saturday) and all meals, including morning and afternoon tea, from dinner on Friday to lunch on Sunday.
- 3 nights/4 days (Thursday to Sunday) – Accommodation (Thursday/Friday/Saturday) and all meals including morning and afternoon tea, from dinner on Thursday to lunch on Sunday.
Quilt Study
Quilt Study 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.
The dates times and venue for Quilt Study talks in 2023 are being scheduled.
Sip and Sew
Do you want to enjoy the company of fellow quilters without leaving home? Kaye Jamieson, President of QuiltNSW, is hosting ‘Sip and Sew’ on Zoom on the second Friday of each month. Just register in advance via the e-newsletter for a Zoom link, supply your own beverage of choice and log in between 6.30 and 9.30pm with your hand sewing ready to go! Hope to see you there!