Stitch by stitch, patch by patch, Big Islanders can get between the layers of quilting Saturday at the Kailua-Kona Public Library.
Local quilter and pattern designer Vivienne Smith will share quilts, as well as a glimpse of the history of quilting, during a Friends of the Libraries, Kona-sponsored presentation. The free one-hour event gets underway at 3 p.m. and culminates with a trunk show featuring dozens of modern and traditional pieces by Smith and fellow Aloha Quilters of Kailua-Kona members Linda Baseman, Annabelle Treacy, Catherine Wynne, Valerie Brewer and Sarah Halstead.
“Whenever you talk to people it is lovely to have something to show, people love to see things,” Smith said. “There will be quilts from different people. We will have dozens of quilts to show.”
Quilting is the process of sewing three layers of fabric together to make a thicker, padded blanket or garment. Typically, quilting is done in three layers: the top fabric, batting (insulating material) and backing material, she said. Over the years, the quilt has transformed from simple and useful to ornate and decorative.
Smith will cover the history of quilting, starting with the oldest evidence of a quilt found on an ivory carving found in Egypt dating back to about 3500 B.C. She will place an emphasis on quilting in America, discussing the progression of quilting from the days of the first settlers and the introduction of the treadle sewing machine in the 1850s to becoming an artistic medium utilizing modern, brightly colored fabrics, techniques and computerized machines in the 21st century.
“I intend to go through the history of quilting in America to today where it’s a sort of international hobby and every country in Europe, Japan, even Saudi Arabia, there are quilters,” she said. “It’s a worldwide thing now and it’s easy to access with the Internet and magazines.”
After the event, Smith hopes newcomers find a new appreciation and undertake the art of quilting. She also hopes to bring together more quilters with local guilds in the community.
“People have time, they have the money and they want a hobby that feeds their talents because different people have different talents and quilting allows you to quilt simple things, intermediate things and advanced things, you can go any way you like with quilting,” she said. “There are always techniques for you to tap into — it’s quite a big hobby, far-ranging, it’s got a lot of opportunities and you can pick and choose what you want to do.”
Saturday’s presentation is the latest in a series of events sponsored by FOLK, a nonprofit that assists the libraries, said Beverly Staley, a board member who coordinates the once a month presentation, as well as book clubs.
“We’re trying to make the library relevant — and remain relevant — and get more people into the library,” Staley said.
Info: 331-1718, email folk@folkhawaii.org or visit www.folkhawaii.com.