For Jennie Green, the motivation to stitch by hand was borne from a reluctance to traipse out into the night and turn on the generator.
Even though she and her husband have since moved from their off-grid property and into the relative convenience of an urban house with mains power, hand stitching is firmly instilled as Jennie’s passion and peace.
Tens of thousands of those stitches – 18 to the inch, she reports – will be on display at this year’s annual quilt show, which begins next Friday.
Jennie is the convenor of the show, which highlights the work of the Motueka Quilting Connection’s 28 members, as well as examples from across the country via an eclectic suitcase of entries from both the national ‘Hoffman’ challenge and the Aotearoa Quilter’s ‘Light It Up’ event.
Jennie says that a wide range of quilting styles will be on show, from hand sewing to applique and piecing.
The Motueka Quilting Connection’s inhouse challenge was on the theme of “Search/Rescue” – a fitting topic, as this is also the group’s chosen charity who will receive a portion of the weekend’s proceeds.
The group is extending a warm welcome to anyone interested in joining the quilting group, which meets at the Motueka Band Rooms on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 9am -3pm.
Jennie says that a range of quilting takes place, as well as visiting tutors.
The group also makes small quilts for the premature babies at the Nelson Hospital.
Entry to the Motueka Quilting Connection Annual Quilt Show costs $5 per person, and raffle tickets for a sewing machine, a hand-sewn single bed quilt and a food hamper will also be on offer.
The show is to be held at the Motueka Recreation Centre from Friday 17 May through to Sunday 19 May from 10am-4pm daily.
