Explore quilting at show

People can explore the bold and beautiful world of quilting in Stratford this weekend.

The Taranaki Quilt Festival is at the Stratford Memorial Hall from Friday to Sunday, featuring a range of functional and art quilts.

The biennial festival is organised by the Taranaki Patchworkers and Quilters and features around 100 quilts in a variety of colours, styles and sizes.

Stratford quilter Jennifer Patterson has six quilts in the show. She was a foundation member of the Stratford Village Quilters group 21 years a go and had never made a quilt before joining. Once she started, she was hooked. “It’s just a passion really.” Jennifer says many quilters start off making their grandchildren quilts. They then branch out into different styles and many start quilting for organisations which help vulnerable people.

Quilting is not only about fabrics but can incorporate a range of techniques like embroidery, felting and beading.

As well as a general exhibition of Taranaki quilters work in many categories, several challenges as part of the festival preparation extend members’ imagination and creativity. Subjects include found objects, a view from my window and reflections monochromatic.

The judges are embroiderer Jo Dixey and award winning quilter Velda Sutton.

There will be a sales shop in the hall where local quilters are selling other pieces of their work. There will also be a merchants’ mall within the hall where a wide range of fabrics and other craft items are available for sale.

In conjunction with the festival, The Percy Thompson Gallery is staging an exhibition of work titled Art Deco from Aotearoa Patchworkers and Quilters. Members submitted their entries some have been chosen to tour New Zealand. Taranaki members have three pieces of work in this exhibition.

■ The Taranaki Quilt Festival is on at the Stratford Memorial Hall from Friday to Saturday between

10am and 4pm and on Sunday between 10am and 3pm. Admission is $5 per person. The Percy Thomson Gallery will have extended opening hours during the festival.

Stratford quilter Jennifer Patterson with a bargello patterned quilt.

The Percy Thomson Gallery is showing 20 quilts from the Aotearoa Quilters Art Deco Challenge as part of the Taranaki Quilt Festival. The winning work is Champagne Che´ re? by Sonya Prchal.