PATCHING TOGETHER
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden celebrates National Quilting Day
In 1991, the National Quilting Association decided to celebrate a day to honor the lovers of quilting and to encourage others to take up this charming and addictive craft. Thus, Quilting Day was born. Quilting is a form of sewing in which small pieces of fabric are stitched together. It has been practised for hundreds of years and is particularly associated with the pioneering culture of North America.
There are two events in Albuquerque to celebrate the event.
The first is National Quilting Day at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden on Saturday, March 17.
The Botanic Garden has a quilting exhibition set up.
There area also quilting demonstrations at the Heritage Farm on the second Wednesday of each month and the fourth Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
And local fabric center Hip Stitch, 2320 Wisconsin NE, will celebrate Worldwide Quilting Day on Saturday, March 17, with a slate of free activities.
The events include charity sewing projects, quilt “show and tell,” other charity connections and chances to win prizes, including a free EverSewn sewing machine.
According to Hip Stitch, there will be free sewing scissor sharpening all day. Visitors can drop off one pair of scissors, up to 8 inches in blade length, for free and pick up the sharpened item later in the day.
The Studio Art Quilters Association of New Mexico will hold its monthly meeting, which includes a show and tell of the latest creations.
These quilters were strongly represented at the International Quilt Festival in Houston — their world-class quilts will be displayed, according to a press release from Hip Stitch.
Presentation begins at 10 a.m., with quilts on exhibit throughout the day.
Also, an old-fashioned bed-turning — a narrated quilt show — starts at 1 p.m. and features vintage quilts from local collections.
Organizers said there will be other activities for all ages and all levels, including an “add a stitch” quilt where all can grab a needle and bind together a small crib quilt for “Basket of Hope.”