I can’t believe it has been 18 months since I was a first time steward at Festival of quilts – I had the best time, the perks of this job are the best but that isn’t the only reason I would recommend being a quilt steward – the opportunity to gaze lovingly at quilts for hours on end has to be my main motivation.

In no particular order here is why you should volunteer to quilt steward at FofQ

Cake.  Gavin did warn me that there would be cake, he is the organiser of the stewards and often lives exclusively on cake for the duration of the festival.  The cakes were donated by fellow stewards and were a mixture of home made and purchased and some healthy folks also brought less calorific snacks.

Time to really look at quilts.  For me this is the real reason I want to steward again this year, when I have visited quilt shows and exhibitions I do try and spend time looking at the exhibits but with the best of intentions some quilts only get a glance.  When you are stewarding you can take advantage of the quieter times to really look at the quilts, to see how they have been constructed.  Is that image printed, pieced or appliqué?  Was it hand quilted or machine quilted.  What fabrics have they used.  How has the quilt been finished……etc.  over the course of a couple of hours you will really get to know the quilts in your gallery and develop a favourite or two. 

Free show guide/quilt index – Another financial saving, £xx in your hand, you can answer questions on quilts, give directions to visitors and also find out more about the quilts in terms of inspiration and contraction too.  Having all the info at your fingertips is really all the knowledge you need to be a good quilt steward.

Chat to public and other quilt enthusiasts .  You don’t have to chat to the visitors but if your like me you won’t be able to stop yourself and what is more you will meet plenty of the makers who will pop by to see how there quilt looks in the context of hanging amongst others in the big halls at the NEC – just slightly different to how they looked at home.  It is an honour to be able to meet these makers who have actually got a quilt finished in time for festival which yet again I haven’t managed. 

The power of the white gloves: you will be given a pair of white gloves and a shash to wear while stewarding, that way the public know you are in charge.  In the most polite and helpful way you get to ask visitors to keep their food/bags/hands/pens away from the quilts – do not touch.  The real power of the white gloves is that you can touch the quilts, if a visitor wants to see the reverse of a quilt you can gently lift a corner – oh the thrill!

Free entry to FofQ in return for working the required number of hours.  So you save yourself £xx and also get to wear your pass on a lanyard which looks pretty cool if you like that sort of thing. 

Secure room to store your bag/coat/shopping.  In order to coordinate all the quilt stewards who work a couple of shifts each day so that the quilts are constantly monitored means that you get a room with seating to store your bags and coats and can get set up with white gloves and a sash before hitting the quilt halls.  

A sit down.  After a few hours on your feet you will really appreciate a chair – if you are a ‘normal’ visitor at FofQ you will know that finding a seat is a tricky thing and we have all eaten seated on the floor at the NEC at some event or other in the past.  So this perk is a luxury you won’t forget.

Meet people who share your interest.  Each shift you will be working with one or two others over seeing quilts in a particular gallery, my first session was on the miniature quilts and I got to chat to a lovely lady who was originally from the Netherlands who was extremely knowledgeable on quilting techniques, it was inspiring to look at the quilts with her, she was great company. 

I am certain after reading my ramblings you want to jump at this wonderful opportunity.   You can register your interest with Gavin, the organiser of the stewards, any time via the email : [email protected]