The Quilters’ Guild Conference and AGM is a splendid gathering of quilters, this year we’ll be in Newcastle for the first time in our 39 year history, enjoying much of what the North East has to offer. Inspired by the North East, this year’s theme is Castles, Coast and Countryside of which the region has much to boast with its rich heritage and natural beauty. The conference is from the 20-22nd April and will be hosted in Newcastle’s Civic Centre in the heart of the city.

The Quilters’ Guild Conference is a fantastic gathering of quilters and a chance to meet with old friends, make new ones and enjoy a fantastic array of quilting lectures, workshops, demos, a gala dinner, our specialist groups, quilt displays and competition and quilt challenge entries and perhaps even a spot of shopping with some local quilt shops and suppliers who will be on hand at the venue.

Each year our AGM and conference travels the UK to a different town or city and is brought to you through the hard work of many volunteers. Each year a local team will make sure you’re able to make the most of what’s on offer in their neck of the woods and to innovate some new ideas of their own.

The Newcastle 2018 AGM team

Maggie Taylor is one of the organising team this year and I asked her about her experiences.

“Currently Helen Pringle and I are wondering why, at the Harrogate AGM & Conference a few years ago, we volunteered for our region (15E) to host the 2018 event. Only joking! We are 3 months away from the event so feeling a little stressed but excited. It has been a very enjoyable process; lots of hard work, organisational skills and patience required. And you definitely require a committed, hard working team, which we have.

The main challenge has been ensuring we get it right for the delegates. This year we tried to organise something different and hopefully this will attract first timers to the event but surprise the die hards who constantly support the conference.“

New for this year the team have devised a Carousel, which is a superb way to be inspired. There will be 11 tutors each giving 30 minutes demonstrations and mini workshops to pick and choose from.  You’ll discover a wealth of talent and inspiration and a marvellously broad selection of tutors teaching all sorts from new ways to paper piece to printing to sashiko.

Offering more for your registration fee this year-Friday now includes a buffet supper meaning you can now catch up with friends and enjoy meeting other quilters whilst enjoying local music in the beautiful banqueting hall.

The half and full day workshops also come with a list of tutors that will leave you scratching your head as to who to choose. This year we’re delighted to host Jo Avery, Margaret Boe, Janet Bottomley, Lilian Hedley, Carol Alimohamadi, Jill Clay, Amanda Ogden, Sharon Robins, Pat Ashton-Smith, Susan Briscoe, Ann Diggory, Josie Dunne, Mandy Pattullo and Gillian Arkley. To find out what they’ll all be teaching see the workshops list.

At your disposal there is also a cracking array of lectures giving insights into a wealth of quilting topics from throughout the world and history. You can even enjoy the tale of ‘Joe the Quilter’ by Geraldine Straker of the Beamish Museum who tells the tale of brutally murdered Joseph Hedley in 1826  and an opportunity to see a locally made replica of one of his quilts.

The AGM and conference is open to all Quilters’ Guild members. If you’ve not yet booked and would like to join us there’s still time! Registration is open until 28th February and you can book online here

If you’d like to come and are not yet a member, why not join