August 2023 Meeting Recap: Laura Hopper on Stash Management

September 10, 2023

August feels like the time for a fresh start, with summer turning to fall. School starts back up and we get to spend autumn evenings snuggled under our quilts. Chicago Modern Quilt Guild is looking forward to our upcoming 15th year anniversary next year. If you would like to be involved in planning programming for next season or have ideas on how to celebrate our anniversary email our Programming chair Dana Tantillo.

Our program at the August in-person meeting was a much looked-forward to Stash Management talk, given by Laura Hopper. She gave us a tour of the before and after of her small studio, tips and tricks on folding different sizes of fabric and an ingenious method of managing fabric swatches. She started out with a reminder from K.C. Davis (author of How to Keep House While Drowning) that care tasks are morally neutral and this lecture was not to shame or foster comparison in how people organize. It was about finding out what works for you and sharing those things that have (and have not) worked over the years. 

Her biggest tip was to start small, go through notions and scissors and build up to the bigger tasks such as fabric and thread. Also don’t think the instagram story is the whole story. You never know what is lurking just out of frame. 

After a short break many of our members shared what they’ve been making. From gifts, to minis to bags to applique our guild is a talented lot! Remember to check out facebook to see all the projects that were shared!

September will be here before we know it when we welcome Sujata Shah for a workshop (September 16) and lecture (September 17). See you there!

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Photo: Triangles quilt by Erika Mulvenna