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Quilter's Beach PartY 2008

"Needle in Hand by the Edge of the Sand"
Celebrating Traditional Needle Arts

SATURDAY AT QUILTER'S BEACH PARTY

Saturday dawned windy and cool and we were glad our outside fabric blueprinting had been the day before! The second day of Quilters Beach Party was completely devoted to needlework techniques from the East.

 

In the morning we learned how to do Easy Origami Patchwork, a folded sew-it-and-quilt-as-you-go pattern. It's very portable handwork and the simple sewing (Big Stitch and basting) made this a quick lesson.

Beach partiers kept up their strength with hot lasagna and garlic bread for lunch and stayed warm in the afternoon as they stitched overlooking a waterside view of Bogue Sound through the huge windows of the second-floor classroom.

 

By afternoon we dove into sashiko, the ancient Japanese stitching style that is an outgrowth of darning. The students caught on right away and were happy to see the larger needle and even learned to use the dish-shaped thimble! Pam Jennings (in red) took to sashiko in a serious way, though she'd previously been dubious that Japanese needle techniques would interest her.

 

Robin Finch (in white) also got into the rhythm of "gather stitches, smooth work, gather stitches, smooth work" that characterizes sashiko work. We started with the classic pattern ishiditami (paving stones) .
In the afternoon, everyone got a massage.

Each person returned to the table dewy-eyed and slightly limp from her experience with the "tender mercies" of the professional masseuses but refreshed and ready to sew. A massage is definitely a must-do at this handwork celebration! Pepper's pin cushion in asanoha (hemp leaf) design.

 

SUNDAY AT QUILTER'S BEACH PARTY

Sunday was even more blustery than the day before but students arrived bright-eyed to greet our special guest teacher. We were so lucky to have Barbara Suess, author of the new book Japanese Temari, come to the Quilters Beach Party to instruct us in the craft of making temari balls. I'd admired these complex-looking ornaments but assumed they were too difficult to attempt-not so!

 

 

Everyone got a good start on their temari ball, beginning with a rice hull interior and even advancing to fancy thread-work. Mary Frankle and Jan Spickett sat together and helped each other with the more intricate work.

All too soon, it was time to pack up and hit the road.....the 2008 Quilters Beach Party was history. Many folks signed up for next year's Beach Party (March 26-29) and if there's too many sign-ups, a weekday version (the 22nd-25th) can be opened.