Sewing & Quilt Expo

I spent last Friday afternoon at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo held at the Convention Center in Raleigh.   I didn't sign up for any lectures or classes - nothing was particularly appealing during the only time I could go.



I was somewhat surprised at how light the crowd was.  Perhaps because many people were in class or perhaps because it was a weekday.  (The show went Thursday through Saturday.)


Everyone I did see was clearly enjoying themselves.  One thing I found amusing was the parking garage attendants.  They looked completely bored until this group of ladies appeared to make their goodbyes in the parking garage.  There was much laughing, hugging, shrieking and more hugging.  The parking lot attendants didn't know what to do with themselves and were shaking their heads in disbelief.  I guess that much hugging doesn't normally go on in a convention center parking garage!




I did enjoy a couple of hours visiting the quilts on display and the vendors.  These house blocks are entries into a contest and when the contest is over, they are auctioned on ebay. 


I love all of them - the house with quilts all inside....  the house from Up!.  Isn't that quilter sitting there in her house just wonderful?


I listened to two small lectures on the quilt floor.  One discussed an easy way to construct HST using a triangle ruler.  Much of the time I end up using charm packs to make my HST but easily piecing HST from yardage sounded quite appealing.  Essentially, you lay two strips on top of each other and sew BOTH side seams.  I believe this is called the tube method.  Then you use a triangle ruler and the resulting cut gives you perfectly trimmed triangles.  I did buy the ruler - how could I not with the promise of easy HST (grin).  I'll try it out and report back.

Given the fun I am having with paper piecing, I also bought an add a quarter ruler, foundation paper and the batiks that I intend to make a NY Beauty quilt with.

Happy Stitching!