I’ve finished my illumination quilt so the countdown begins for the Twelve by Twelve “reveal” on 1 August (California time). I can’t show you the quilt but I can report that it features lots of hand stitching with this thread:

I have a penchant for variagated quilting threads and King Tut by Superior Threads is my favourite brand. I buy my thread from Julie’s Superior Threads and see that Julie is offering an “Open Thread Bar” at Chatswood Sewing Centre (Tel: 9417 5454) in Sydney on 9 August. I can’t make it (I’ll be at the Canberra Quilters Exhibition) but it looks like an informative workshop. Here’s the outline from Julie:

I am looking forward to being able to share my knowledge with you, so that you will have the confidence to use a broard range of threads for your quilting at the completion of your class.

During the first part of the workshop we will be talking about thread quality, weights, needles, tensions and how you can use speciality threads. I will bring along some of my quilts showing the quilting using different threads.

During the rest of the workshop you will be able to help yourself to the “Open Thread Bar” where you will the opportunity to try a large selection of Superior Threads. You can created a panel where you can use the decorative threads while making tension changes to your machine and seeing the differences in the look of the stitches, and noting the tension changes on your panel next to your work. You may continue to work on this for the remainder of the day, thread-play on a floral panel which I will have in class or you may wish to make a small whole cloth quilt. I will provide a few stencils available to mark your project and will be happy to answer any of your questions regarding threads, needles, tensions etc.