Expo Stage Presentations for Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Raleigh

Raleigh, NC

Expo Stage Presentations

 

See what's new and trending with presentations on the Expo Stage. FREE with your General Admission ticket.

 

Thursday

10:30
Quick Points to the Rescue | Janet Platt of Quick Points Ruler
 11:15 Creative Sewing at Future Fashion Designers | Shawnelle Cherry of Future Fashion Designers
 12:00 Sew Along Hanger Fashion Show | Lindsey Johns of Inside the Hem
 1:00 Do You Wonder Why It Doesn't Fit? | Lorraine Henry for Conselle
 1:45 Straight & Accurate Strips and Squares | Julie Luoma of Off the Wall Quilt
2:30 Tucker Tool Time | Diana Mann of Wish Upon a Quilt
3:15
How to Fit and Use a Thimble | Jan Larson of Thimbles for You
4:00
Comfortable Clothes That Camouflage | Kathy Ruddy of kathyruddy.com
4:45
For the Love of Applique | Dianne Springer of Dianne Springer Designs
5:15
Super Prize Drawing

 

Friday

 

10:30
Adjustable Workstations and Sewing Notions | Stephanie Price for Martelli
11:15 Cut Straight, Sew Straight, Press Straight | Julie Luoma of Off the Wall Quilt
12:00 How to Fit and Use a Thimble | Jan Larson of Thimbles for You
12:45 Fitting Solutions for Shoulder, Neck and Arms | Lorraine Henry for Conselle
1:30 NEW Artist Exclusive Designs | Laurie Kent of Laurie Kent Designs for Wish Upon a Quilt
2:15
Sewing for the Movie Industry | Shawnelle Cherry of Future Fashion Designers
3:00
Sew To Look Slimmer | Kathy Ruddy of kathyruddy.com
3:45
Foot Loose and Fancy Free Motion | Dianne Springer of Dianne Springer Designs
4:30
Fitting Techniques: Costumes from Dancing with the Stars |  Joe Vecchiarelli of French European Inc
5:15 Super Prize Drawing

 

Saturday

 

10:30
Straight & Accurate Strips and Squares | Julie Luoma of Off the Wall Quilt
11:15 Fitting Techniques: Costumes from Dancing with the Stars | Joe Vecchiarelli of French European Inc
12:00 Quick Points to the Rescue | Janet Platt of Quick Points Ruler
1:00
Adjustable Workstations and Sewing Notions | Stephanie Price for Martelli
1:45 How to Fit and Use a Thimble | Jan Larson of Thimbles for You
2:30 Sewing's Next Generation: Youth Fashion & Project Show
3:00 Cosplay Runway Show & Contest | Cheryl Sleboda of Sew Much Cosplay
3:45
Comfortable Clothes That Camouflage | Kathy Ruddy for kathyruddy.com
4:30
Super Prize Drawing

 
Adjustable Workstations and Sewing Notions
Stephanie Price for Martelli
Learn all about Martelli’s adjustable workstation tables and sewing notions that will help make your measuring and cutting a breeze.

 

Comfortable Clothes That Camouflage
Kathy Ruddy of kathyruddy.com
Be entertained as you are inspired to sew something beautiful and learn how designers shape their clothes so they are easier to fit and sew. See clothes that allow you to gain or loose 30 pounds and they will still fit. Kathy uses her body as a human dress form to model clothes that make you look and feel good. Learn about the right style and fit that can take 10 pounds off of the way you look instantly. Sewing can give you a “couture” wardrobe that fits, is comfortable and camouflages your weak points. You will also learn about techniques and tools to make the creative process easier and successful 

 

Cosplay Runway Show & Contest

Cheryl Sleboda of Sew Much Cosplay
Sit back and enjoy a fashion show of creativity and wonder as Cosplayers, Reenactors and Costumers take the stage to show off their creations and compete for a 3D printer and cash prizes!

 

Creative Sewing at Future Fashion Designers
Shawnelle Cherry of Future Fashion Designers
Shawnelle, owner and instructor at Future Fashion Designers and costume designer for the movies, will share some highlights from her classes, sewing retreats, YouTube Channel and online classes. Shawnelle will also share snippets from her fun and whimsical annual Mac and Cheese cook-off & Cheezy fashion show.

Cut Straight, Sew Straight, Press Straight
Julie Luoma of Off the Wall Quilt
It should be the easiest part of quilting! Yet keeping it all straight can be a point of frustration and a real challenge at times. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution so we'll explore several options for walking the straight and narrow.

 

Do You Wonder Why It Doesn't Fit?
Lorraine Henry for Conselle
Want to know what to do to fix it? Is there such a thing as a perfect figure that a pattern will fit without one or more alterations? As a dressmaker I have not seen one. We are all different and have unique needs. Bring your questions and we will discuss as many as time allows. I will show you how to alter patterns for the figure variations we identify in the group. Learn how to read the wrinkles or folds in the garments we wear that give us clues to the figure variation underneath the garment! We can all learn from each other. 

 

Fitting Solutions for Shoulder, Neck and Arms
Lorraine Henry for Conselle

Why does that shirt want to fall away from my neck? Could be one thing or another. Figure variations affecting shoulder/neck area are: the dowager hump large or thin neck, a forward head, high or shallow neck bases, broad or narrow shoulders ,square or sloping shoulders, long or short arm joints (Have you heard of those before?) and how about that forward arm joint! Learn to identify and then correct for these common variations. Then Arms: Large or thin? Short or long? Inward rotation of the elbow. (What is that??) There are a few more that we will discuss in this fun and informative presentation.

Fitting Techniques: Costumes from Dancing with the Stars
Joe Vecchiarelli of French European Inc
Join Joe Vecchiarelli, costume fitter for Dancing with the Stars, as he explains how the garments are constructed and learn how he gets these masterpieces to fit like a glove.

 

Foot Loose and Fancy Free Motion
Dianne Springer of Dianne Springer Designs
Toss the fears and rules of free motion out the window and let Dianne take you on a journey that will elevate your quilting skills. Once you learn her way of free motion, you will never send your quilts to a long armer again.  

 

For the Love of Applique
Dianne Springer of Dianne Springer Designs
Say goodbye to frayed raw edge applique! Dianne will share her best practices for applique that will have your master pieces last a lifetime, even after hundreds of washings.  

 

How to Fit and Use a Thimble
Jan Larson of Thimbles For You
See a selection of sterling silver thimbles and learn how to fit a thimble and use it for quilting and binding.

 

NEW Artist Exclusive Designs
Laurie Kent of Laurie Kent Designs for Wish Upon A Quilt
My journey as an artist is full of twists & turns, and for that, I am grateful because it brought me here to Raleigh NC. I will share with you exclusive panels, kits, with a short demonstration on our monthly thread designs.

 

Quick Points to the Rescue
Janet Platt of Quick Points Ruler
From the creative mind of Janet Platt, inventor of the amazing Quick Points Ruler, comes a collection of fun to make, fun to give projects. See everything from fanciful aprons to sassy towels, from the prettiest pillowcases and bindings to … well, whatever whimsy she’s created lately. There’s an idea for every occasion, and lots of tips for easiest construction techniques so you have more fun making something simple look amazing.

 

Sew Along Hanger Fashion Show
Lindsey Johns of Inside the Hem
Come see Lindsey Johns of Inside The Hem and hear behind-the-scenes stories of the garments she has made as part of a Sew Along on her YouTube channel. She will talk you through the making of each garment and show off the details inside and out. Bonus - if you have participated in a Sew Along with Lindsey, bring your garments to show at the end of the presentation and get FREE admission to the Expo. Click here for details and the entry form.

 

Sewing for the Movie Industry
Shawnelle Cherry of Future Fashion Designers
If you have fashion sewing skills and are curious about costume designing in the movie business, come meet Shawnelle Cherry. She turned her skill of sewing into a career in the movie business. She will share her 22 years involving more than 30 films as a costume designer. Shawnelle will share how the wardrobe departments do their thing! You will leave with tips and guidance for working with the local costume crews and assisting in this creative industry.

 

Sew To Look Slimmer
Kathy Ruddy of kathyruddy.com
The right style and fit can take 10 or more pounds off of the way you look! Sewing can give you a high-end wardrobe that fits, is comfortable and camouflages your weak points! Watch Kathy Ruddy as she models and shows you clothes that make you look and feel good. Learn about techniques and tools to make your creative process fun and successful. 

 

Sewing's Next Generation: Youth Fashion & Project Show
This fashion and trunk show featuring students ages 18 and under will be SEW much fun! Get an insight into the interests and talents of our newest sewing enthusiasts as they show off their latest accomplishments. Whether it hangs in the closet, hangs on a wall or hangs out on beds and sofas, the creativity involved will inspire audiences of all ages. Don't miss it! (If you know a young person who might like to participate, click here for more information.)  

 

Straight & Accurate Strips and Squares
Julie Luoma of Off the Wall Quilt
Cutting straight strips is a breeze with the incredible AQSR (Adjustable Quilt Strip Ruler) and with one turn you'll get the most accurate squares you've ever cut.

 

Super Prize Drawing
Fabulous prize packages and sewing machines are awarded daily at this drawing. You will receive your Super Prize Drawing Ticket at the Expo. Drawings are held at 5:15pm on Thursday and Friday, and at 4:30pm Saturday on the Expo Stage inside the Exhibit Hall. Winners must be present with a photo ID to claim their prize.

 

Tucker Tool Time
Diana Mann of Wish Upon A Quilt
Do you get frustrated with piecing even the most basic units for your quilt blocks? Do you have problems getting your quilt blocks to come out to be the right size? Do you get frustrated with piecing even the most basic units for your quilt blocks? Do you have problems getting your quilt blocks to come out to be the right size? We will go into a sampler quilt built around a gorgeous panel from Laurie Kent Designs.

Thank you to these fine companies who provide continued support.