Introducing Cheryl ArkisonQuilt Show Breakfast Presentation and Workshop Instructor2025 Quilt Show Event"Playground Games for Quilters" Friday, June 6, 8:00 am - 10:00 am Breakfast and PresentationFar too often we focus on the results, the product- the finish line in...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceWhere did quilters find inspiration for their creations? Today, there are thousands of books filled with quilt patterns and instructions. You can even buy pre-selected fabric kits, and the internet offers endless ideas and trends from around...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceIn this series of blogs, I have primarily focused on piecing quilts using rectangles, triangles, and squares—methods most likely practiced by early settlers. However, quilting styles vary widely depending on cultural influences and geographic...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceWhile quilting today is no longer a necessity as it was in 1867, it remains a labour of love for many. The invention of the sewing machine transformed quilting, making it faster and easier to create intricate blocks and decorative motifs....

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceFrom the earliest days of European settlement, Canadian quilters relied on natural dye sources found in their environment. Maple and oak bark provided deep purples and violets, walnut husks created rich browns, and sumac berries yielded dark...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceThe Log Cabin quilt block has been a beloved design since the 1850s, deeply rooted in American and Canadian frontier history. The block’s structure, reflecting the log cabins that dotted the wilderness, symbolized shelter, security, and...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceQuilt blocks traditionally feature geometric shapes such as squares, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, and circles. These blocks are first sewn into strips, which are then stitched together to form the quilt top.Most geometric patchwork designs...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceBefore 1800, quilts typically featured a central motif, often surrounded by decorative borders. However, after this period, the block-style quilt—composed of repeated squares, triangles, and other geometric shapes—became the dominant design. By...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceIn England, quilting was primarily an upper- and middle-class pastime, but in 19th-century North America, it became a necessity for survival—especially in the harsh Canadian climate. Early immigrants to Canada, often unprepared for the severity...

Author: Y. Bilan-WallaceWhether for warmth or decoration, quilts played a significant role in English marriage traditions. A young woman was expected to have 12 quilts in her dowry, with the 13th quilt to be made after she was married. Superstition also dictated that...