Quilt Canada 2025

Yesterday, Jeanette chauffeured Jen1, Barb, and me to the International Centre for the Canadian Quilters Association event, Quilt Canada 2025. Taking the 407 made for a quick, traffic-free drive. Upon arrival, we met up with Jeanette's longtime friend, Patty, who had purchased our tickets. Then we all entered the hall.

We decided upon a meeting point and time for lunch and fanned out. I took a zillion photos of the quilt displays - too many to post and I didn't really get shots of information about the creators or patterns. 

I visited several booths of familiar businesses - including Pastime Pieces and Cotton Harvest and many others new to me. I really didn't need to enhance my fabric or pattern stash, however I was interested in buying some fabric suitable for doing Sashiko embroidery.

Kallisti Quilts  had an excellent selection of Sashiko supplies. They are an online business in Waterloo ON and receive shoppers by appointment. To avoid shipping, items can be ordered online and picked up by arrangement. I will be spending some time in Waterloo this summer so will keep that in mind. 

I purchased three fat quarters suitable for Sashiko embroidery.

One of the darker ones has a bit of a pattern.

The other has a somewhat gridded pattern.

I also bought a water-soluble pencil for transferring stitching lines

and a book that looked interesting. I'm particularly intrigued by the patterns that involve weaving threads under other threads like the centre and bottom items on the cover.

My two nieces were also in attendance but I only got to see them briefly as Ana was working at the event and Rosa had a punch needle class all afternoon. Since I had carpooled, I wasn't free to stay until they both were free for a decent visit. I will catch up with them this summer.

I went back to buy another book but the lineup was too big so I'll buy it through another source.

I like making useful items and there were a few interesting patterns and finishing ideas.

I may have mentioned it before but my dear stitcherly friend (and Iceland/Norway roomie), Poppy, brought me a nifty, beginner's sashiko kit from her epic Japanese textile tour last year.

When I saw her last weekend I had to ask her a couple of technical questions about it but now feel confident I can start it then hopefully segue to doing some of the projects in my new books, now that I have all the materials.

This is all part of a slow stitching movement, where embroidery is done in a somewhat meditative manner. I have done a little bit of surface embroidery and have really enjoyed it, as well as English Paper Piecing. All of which I'd like to get back to doing.

I got home in plenty of time to go to one of the Polish pavilions for Fiesta. I'd had Greek food the night before, and Ukrainian food the night before that. Yummo! I'm always up for a meal out that I don't have to cook for myself. 

Today I finished reading an excellent book by Kristen Hannah called, 'The Women'. It's the story about a young nurse who serves in the US Army Nurse Corps in the Vietnam War and adjusting to life back at home. I am not normally that interested in historical fiction but this book really grabbed me, probably because I lived through the era and could relate to some of her experiences and losses. I highly recommend it. Now I'll look for some others of her books.