The Expo is being planned by a volunteer committee of sewists, quilters, fiber enthusiasts, and color and interior designers. Photo provided by Mary Ann Leinhart Cross

News Release

ELKHART COUNTY — The first ever Elkhart County Quilt Fiber Expo will be held June 8-10 in Elkhart. Hours for the Expo are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 8 – 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 10. The Expo is being held in the Northern Indiana Event Center in the RV/MH Hall of Fame located off CR 17, at 21565 Executive Parkway in Elkhart.

Quilt and Fiber Expo

The Expo is being planned by a volunteer committee of sewists, quilters, fiber enthusiasts, and color and interior designers.  The vision of the committee and the ECQFE is to, “Celebrate, Educate and Inspire through Textiles and Fiber.” The Expo has been recognized as a new and significant community event and the founding event sponsor working with the committee is the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This three-day event will provide nine hands-on half day and full day workshops, nine presentations in a theatre setting, 11 free demonstrations, a quilt and fiber show and exhibits, and over 16 vendors for shopping, including a yarn truck from Arkansas. The ECQFE website, www.elkhartcountyquiltfiberexpo.com offers the full program and details on the entire event, including how to enter your project to be judged/shown, etc.

The online registration for the ECQFE is now open and will close May 24. Walk-in registration on site will also be taken at the ECQFE. The first 500 registrants will receive the very first ECQFE show pin in the Expo bag. The entry price of $15 includes entry for all three days and accesses viewing the quilt and fiber show and exhibits, all free demonstrations and vendor shopping.

The hands on workshops and presentations are an additional fee. The Quilt and Fiber show offers opportunities for entries to be judged and/or exhibited. The project entry fee is $10 and the online entry deadline is May 10. Donna Kooistra, an AQS Certified Quilt and Textile Appraiser will be in the exhibit area by appointment and she offer her services for appraisals. The ECQFE is also on Facebook.

The workshops offer opportunities for a variety of learning experiences for beginners to skilled participants. These workshops require pre-registration and the cost varies.

An item to be presented in one of the workshops. Photo provided by Mary Ann Leinhart Cross.

On Thursday, Tammy Gardner, a Quiltworx certified instructor, will offer an all-day paper piecing quilt workshop. She has designed the “Elkhart Blazing Star” pattern and kit especially for the Expo. Also on Thursday, Saloma Slabaugh is teaching  The Art of Hand Quilting;  “Shattered,”  her own paper pieced small project pattern, is being taught by Connie Kauffman;  and fiber pro Maggie Schnaars is teaching Freestyle Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom to round out the Thursday workshop calendar.

The workshops for Friday, June 9 are Ruler Work Quilting taught by Laurie Bender; Spicy Spiral Table Runner by Jeanne Heyerly; Artistic Embroidery Stitching by Barbie Brooks; and Radioactive with Deb Tucker Rulers by Chelane Priller. The workshops for Saturday June 10 are Sewing a Cork Wristlet by Lynn Gerard;  Knit Like a Pirate by Julene Fitch; and  Sewing a Clear Organized Project Bag with Carolyn Blackburn. Sewing machines are provided onsite for workshops.

The theatre presentations require a $10 fee for each and pre-registration is suggested. Seating is limited to 70 participants.

The topics for Thursday, June 8 are Barking Up the Right Tree by Lynn Gerard; Influence and Inspiration — The Indianapolis Star Quilt Contest 1976 -1987 by Xenia E. Cord and Mary Jane Eichacker-Kaufman; Organization in Sewing, Fiber, Crafting and Ergonomics  with Annetta Jones.

Friday, June 9 topics are Textile Traditions in Folk Costume from Around the World by Melvenea Hodges; Amish Quilt Trunk Show: History & Stories by Rebecca Haarer; and Upcycling for a Great Cause — Soup of Success by Betsy Ayrea. Saturday, June 10 topics are All Wool & Then Some with Barbie Brooks; Color Speaks by Susan Ginther and Jo Willis; and The History of Rug Hooking by Tracey C. Burns.

The three days of free demonstration topics are informal and will take place in the show and vendor area.

Thursday’s are Needle Felting by Maggie Schnaars; Cork Jewelry with Lynn Gerard; Ruler Techniques in Piecing with Sharon Marring; and Tools of the Trade in Wool Applique with Barbie Brooks.

Friday’s demonstrations are Spinning with Cotton with Melvenea Hodges; Finishing Your Steeks and Bobbles with Jean Burstfield; Sewing Techniques with Glue Basting with Beth Raker; and Easy Weaving with Kris Peterson.

Saturday’s demonstrations are Twists and Turns of Cables with Susan Weller; Three Different Ways to Spin with Shirley Hershberger; Pre Viking Nalbinding with Ken Kniesly; and Sewing Hacks with Mary Ann Lienhart Cross.