LOCAL resident, Sue Cameron, has won the free style section at the South African National Quilting Festival recently held in Bloemfontein.
According to Cameron, the festival was attended by national and international quilt makers. They were able to enter the various category-based competitions, attended classes on quilting, and socialise and network with other quilting aficionados. “It was fantastic to meet quilt makers from Australia, Canada, America and New Zealand, and to discuss a similar passion with them,” she said.
Cameron also reported that the free style section required entries that are not fashioned out of traditional materials. They are often made with recycled materials, beads and tassels. “These quilts look nothing like the quilts you would expect to find in the medieval era. Some are even 3D,” said Cameron.
By winning the free style category Cameron has earned the title of Master Quilter, and will only be able to enter master quilting categories in the future. The theme of the quilt that earned her the title was Celebrating My Family. “The quilt has many little details that represent and reflect aspects of my family. For example, the seven circles on the right hand side represent me, my husband and my children. The tree obviously represents our family tree and there is also a letter on the back addressed to my husband,” said Cameron.
The talented and creative seamstress started quilting 12 years ago when her mother-in-law began taking quilting classes. At first Cameron experimented with the hobby at home, but soon she joined a friend, Jeanette Bartlett’s, group of quilt makers and the art of quilting became a passion. Not long after that Bartlett encouraged Cameron to start entering competitions.
In 2004 Cameron won her first competition at the South African National Quilting Festival in Durban. “The competition bug bit me, and since then I have been entering competitions whenever I can,” she said.
Cameron teaches beginning, intermediate and other quilting classes at a quaint little sewing shop in Hillcrest.
The South African National Quilting Festival is held every two years, and local quilting enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that the 18th festival will be held at Kearsney College, Botha’s Hill from Friday 3 July to Tuesday 7 July 2015. The theme of the 2015 festival will be Creative Energy.
