Jo Avery – the Blog

Stitch Gathering 2018 Report and Goody Bag GIVEAWAY!!

Last Sunday was the 6th annual Stitch Gathering! Every year I organise this one day event which is held in Edinburgh in October. Around 90 quilters come together for a fun filled day of sewing, chatting, shopping, learning and sharing!

This year we had some new teachers such as the amazing Karen Lewis (seen here on the left in full flow teaching lino printing!), Laura Cunningham and Lisa Dolson.  And we welcomed back Lucy Brennan, Mandy Munroe and Sarah Ashford – that’s Sarah’s Modern Landscape class on the right.

I taught my Tiny Improv Streetscape workshop and you can see the results in the top photo.  We put all our wee houses together to make a patchwork town at the end of the class – someone even made a Town Hall!

We hold the event at Napier University’s Craiglockhart campus and they always serve up an amazing buffet spread at lunchtime!

We have a long lunch with plenty to do. There’s shopping from our myBearpaw pop-up shop and from the teacher’s stalls. That’s Sarah’s on the left (under my Vintage Home BOM quilt which I took along to display), she brought along her pouches and decals.

We also swap pincushions (or whatever that year’s item is), having swapped our nametags at registration, the swaps are always such a great mixer for everyone!

Then we have an amazing lucky dip (unfortunately this year I didn’t get any photos of this!), this is my favourite bit of the whole day! Everyone gets a prize, some small like a spool of thread or a fabric stick and some big like an Aurifil large thread box.  We had two this year (as Aurifil are super generous to our little event!) and the reactions of both the winners were a sight to behold!  And everyone applauds!!

At the end of lunch we have a wonderful Show and Tell.  This always ends up quite emotional (I tear up every year) due to the beautiful heartfelt stories behind the quilt. That’s Lesley, Alison and Janice above. Janice started her quilt at Krista Hennebury’s workshop earlier this year and Alison made her’s after being inspired by Krista’s talk! Here are some more highlights…

Margaret and Glynne finished off both their class projects from last year’s Stitch Gathering classes by Mandy and myself!  I do like people who do their homework 😉

Marilynne’s gorgeous quilt is her version of my Squaring the Circle quilt, though she has made it look completely different by her choice of blue and white.

Poppy’s The Avenue quilt has gone right to the top of my quilting bucket list, I absolutely adore her version of Louise Papas pattern. I just love the look on Lynne’s face in this photo! And Sammy is just beginning her quilting journey with this fantastic Elizabeth Hartman unicorn!  Great work by a beginner Sammy!

 Jo pattern tested this Latifah Saafir quilt and changed it slightly so that it accurately represented her mum and dad. This was the story that really got to me – such a wonderful quilt Jo!

Two year’s ago our Stitch Gathering ticket project was making House blocks.  At the end of the event I asked for volunteers to make the blocks into charity quilts and by now three quilts have made their way to Siblings Together.  But there was still one left which Poppy just managed to finish up before Sunday!  Here it is being help up by Janice, what a beauty! This will be heading to Siblings Together too.

This year’s ticket project was Cats and Dogs, you can read more about this here. It must have really inspired our attendees as we got so many blocks this year we had to display them out in the corridor!

I got my amazing Girl Friday Jane to arrange them into groupings and photograph them in the afternoon.

As you can see there were plenty of Juliet Tartankiwi scottie dogs and plenty of the cat from my block tutorial, but also wonderful creative original blocks!

Jane divided these up into enough for 5 quilts and again another 5 very generous volunteers stepped forward and took the piles of blocks home to turn into quilts for both Siblings Together and the Social Bite Village Quilt Drive.  Thanks so much ladies!  And while I’m about it, thank you so much also to the incredible Jane and my amazing helpers Pauline and Ali.  Jane made us all gorgeous embroidered Helper badges this year!  She is a treasure…

Aren’t they fabulous?!

And then I received all these beautiful gifts from other attendees, like a wee crocheted donkey from Jenny, a Clover roll and press from Sue, Manchester Beeswax from Lucy and that lovely pouch from Jane with thread conditioner and chocolate inside!  And best of all my lovely quilty pal Karen made me a tiny hexie nametag!! Thanks so much to all of you! Mwah!!

In the afternoon I taught my Bird Applique class and look how well my students did…

A whole flock of blue tits in differing states of completion!

One last pic before we get on to the GIVEAWAY!  My sweet wee donkey playing with the fabric in the shop 😀

I’ve had such wonderful feedback from this year’s event and we’ll definitely be back in 2019.  If you think you might like to join us then sign up for our newsletter via the Stitch Gathering website, I’ll be ‘saving the date’ by the end of January.

One thing we haven’t mentioned yet is the incredible Goody Bag that everyone gets!  Every year I keep two of these back to giveaway, one here on the blog and one on Instagram, because I want to share the love with all the folks that can’t make it to the best quilting retreat in the world!

And, drum roll, here it is…

WOW!  So much booty!

There are Fat Quarters from Dashwood Studios and Riley Blake, a whole third of a metre from Lewis and Irene and a fantastic bundle of Cori Dantini ‘Little Red’ from Blend Fabrics which along with a pattern for Glove Puppets and Softies makes up a kit!

There is a large 50wt spool of Aurifil thread and a skein of Anchor stranded thread. A copy of Love Patchwork and Quilting, a sewing themed tissue pack, another FQ and a scrap pack from myBearpaw. A Liberty Tana Lawn scrap pack from Duck Egg Threads (a highlight of the goody bag every year!), a Mug Rug Kit from Sewmotion, and mini patterns from both Beth Studley and Cakestand Quilts!!

Thank you so much to all our fantastic sponsors!!

So how do you win all this fab stuff??
Just comment below! Say any old thing you like – it’s pretty simple!  And afterwards head over to my IG feed and enter there as well if you like (for a chance to win a second goody bag!)!

The Giveaway is open to international entries and you have till next Tuesday at 8pm GMT to enter.

Good luck everyone!!

104 comments

  1. Thank you for the lovely photos. It really made me feel better seeing everyone’s fabulous work.
    It just wasn’t meant to be this year but I have the bonus of being pain free.
    Roll,on next year 😄

  2. Thank you for the lovely photos. It really cheered me up seeing everyone’s Fantastic work. I have the bonus of being pain free so roll on next year 😄

  3. Thank you for the lovely photos. It really cheered me up seeing all the fantastic work. On the plus side for having to cancel the Stitch Gathering I am now pain free.
    Roll on next year

  4. Feeling massively inspired and torn between continuing crocheting granny squares to make a blanket, or taking up quilting after seeing these gorgeous quilts, and the beautiful ones at the Social Bite village.
    Thanks for sharing the pictures!

  5. Ooooh! Everything looks awesome! I’m ready to snuggle down for a long winter of quilting… yes, it’s starting a bit early this year. Thanks for the chance!

  6. Looked like everyone had a fab time and amazing work was done by all :-). After missing two years I will definitely come to the 2019 Stitch Gathering!

  7. It looks like another amazing day and I’m looking forward to seeing all the ticket blocks being made up into quilts. Thank you very much for giving those of us who weren’t able to attend a chance to win one of the goody bags, it’s such a thoughtful thing that you do each year x

  8. I wish I lived in Scotland not miles away in New Zealand. The classes and work your students produced looks amazing and lots of fun. Not to forget the yummy looking food. Save the pennies maybe one day I can attend this wonderful gathering.

  9. Looks like an amazing day of quilting fun. I wished I lived in Scotland, not on the other side of the world in New Zealand. Save my pennies maybe one day I can come and join in.

  10. The Stitch Gathering looks like a really fun Event. Love seeing all the pictures. Thanks for sharing and having this great giveaway.

  11. Looks fabulous, I feel another trip to Edinburgh coming on… those houses are so special and the colours! Brilliant cats and dogs, well done all 😊

  12. Looks like an amazing event and a super goodie bag. Would love one to get me back into quilting having just given birth to my second baby three weeks ago x

  13. Having read your report, I am so sorry that I missed the Stitch Gathering. Looking forward to next year when maybe I won’t be on holiday!

  14. Wow what an amazing event. I am sure everyone who participated had a great time. Thank you for the giveaway for those of us who could not make it.

  15. Wow, what an amazing event with so much talent!! I’m still a beginner with lots to learn yet! Thanks for the chance to win an awesome prize to help me keep on learning!

  16. This is simply fabulous! I’ve never done anything like this and maybe I need to start living outside the box! So amazing!!b

  17. It is on my bucket list to attend a quilting/sewing retreat and yours would be so wonderful to be at! None of my friends or family are quilters, so I depend on reading blogs and listening to podcasts to share and learn about quilting. I love it all!

  18. I enjoy reading your blog and instagram account. Unfortunately I live too far away to attend the stitch gathering. Thank you for the giveaway.

  19. Looks like you all had a fab time making. Lovely to see everyone’s work… I particularly love the improv houses..😊. Thank you for the giveaway…x

  20. This all looks like it was so much fun, and there will be some amazing cat and dog quilts to give lots of love to others too. I especially like the tiny town houses. Thank you for a fabulous giveaway. x

  21. I have had to hunt down that rug mug kit. It looks awesome for a beginner quilter.
    The quilts and projects at the retreat are always super inspirational.

  22. What a wonderful community! I went to my first ever sewing weekend and it was inspiring to be surrounded by so many talented women and see everyone’s projects. I can imagine how much fun you all had together! Wish I could’ve been there too!

  23. Thanks for sharing all the photos. The creativity of all the attendees shows through in the variety of the Cats &
    Dogs blocks. Whatt an amazing event.

  24. Love the different projects at the retreat especially the tree on the sunset background.

    Do you have an online class for your Tiny Improv Streetscape buildings anywhere (like Craftsy). I’d love to learn how to do a little town but I’m not capable of getting out to workshops anymore.

  25. Wow, Jo! Looks like such fun!
    Thanks for showing us what went on. Great quilting, love the cat and dog blocks, especially love the helper badges ….. what a great idea!, we have a handicraft exhibition next year, something like these would be ideal! Oh, what a lovely hexie badge, it’s just darling!
    Love the improv houses!
    Thanks for the chance to win this amazing giveaway!
    Barbara x

  26. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway. I would love to join you for next year’s gathering, but sadly, Edinburgh is just too far away!

  27. Looks like you all had such a wonderful time. Wish I could have joined you. Thanks so much for all of the inspiring photos. Really allowed me to get the feel of the event.

  28. Hi Jo, it was such a great day. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys sewing, learning new techniques, making new friends and of course receiving the best goody bag and lucky dip around! Thanks Jo 😍

  29. What a wonderful way to do charity quilts! I wish I could come. Maybe in a few years ☺️ October is the best time here in New Mexico, though!

  30. Looks like another awesome event, Jo. Sadly that’s two in a row I’ve not made it to 🙁 fingers crossed for next year 🙂

  31. It looks like you had a lot of fun!! How wonderful of you to share the goodie bags with us. Thank you for the chance to win one.

  32. The quilt my MIL made for our wedding has worn out after 13 years. We have used it and loved it, and I’m glad I didn’t just display it.

  33. I just started learning to quilt this year. LOVE IT!!! I also went to a quilting retreat and had a blast. It looks like you gals had a blast and I loved seeing everyone’s projects a creativity. But my favorite part is the donating of quilts ❤️ oh what a blessing it is to receive a quilt

  34. Stitch Gathering looks like sew much fun! Thanks for letting us, the ones who couldn’t make it, in on how much fun everyone had!

  35. This looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing the pics, from the food to the makes it looked like everyone had a great time.

  36. Oh wow, you all look like you had so much fun. And those bird applique are just gorgeous! It makes me feel so good to see quilters having a good time together. 🙂

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